Two [neuronal] groups can only communicate efficiently with each other when their rhythms are coordinated, or synchronized.

Scientific American, one of my favorite mags, included an article on brain rhythm. It makes perfect sense to me that our inner communication system should rely upon specific rhythms – which may explain why we like music so much – especially music with a strong beat. Here are some outtakes with my comments:

In an attempt to understand what makes us tick, researchers have been probing various regions of the brain, such as the premotor cortex, which helps make movement possible, and the auditory cortex, responsible for processing what we hear. But neuroscientists now say communication between regions – as opposed to within the areas themselves – may be the key that has eluded analysis until now, in part, because of technological obstacles.

Earl Miller, a professor of neuroscience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, says that today’s faster computers and more advanced electronics may provide scientists with the tools they need to unlock the brain’s mysteries.

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Even with advanced degrees in physics and mathematics, iTunes and the iPod Touch did her in.

My mother recently sent me an iPod Touch that she could not figure out how to use. She is a very intelligent woman in her seventies with advanced degrees in physics and mathematics. But iTunes and the iPod Touch did her in. The instructions were so arcane and confusing she just gave up and sent the thing to me.

I’m no genius – just younger than she is – and able to figure the iPod Touch out after some time with the instruction manual and lots of trial and error (mostly error). And the iPod Touch is not the only thing I find confusing as I get older.

My telephone has become a subject of considerable confusion as it adds more and more “features” – when all I want to do is talk on it. Now my phone tells me where I am (here), keeps my calendar (so I won’t forget), shows me pictures of my family (the same pictures I keep in my wallet), takes lousy pictures and video (“is that a picture of me?”), does text messaging (numbers to letters – no kidding!!), and plays my music (isn’t that what the iPod is for?). It has so many features I forget sometimes how to place a simple phone call – and that’s why I have the damned thing in the first place! I’m so confused!! Is it my age? Am I just “getting older?”

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I believe Dr. Ramachandran is describing the essence of compassion. It’s scientific!

Cause and effect thinking tends to tunnel our thought processes.

Cause and effect thinking tends to tunnel our thought processes over time. That is, we believe one thing happens because of another – then we tunnel that cause-effect relationship into an “only” relationship. One thing happens only because of another.

Reality Tunnels have the form or structure of:

X causes Y

Therefore – (Reality Tunneling)

Y must be caused (only) by X

What if Y is caused by Z? Or X+Z or X-Z? Or something else entirely? According to many quantum physicists, causes and effects are so entwined together it’s impossible to separate one from the other. Basically, there is never one cause for one effect or one effect for one cause. Perhaps reality is a big mess when it comes to cause and effect. To imagine that there is only one cause for any given effect tends to deny reality.

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My mother and I often engage in small talk – but it’s code for “I love you.”

Researchers investigated the difference between happy and unhappy people in the types of conversations they tend to have. Their conclusion – happy people tend to have more substantive conversations and less small talk than do unhappy people. In fact, the study showed the happiest participants had twice as many substantive conversations and one third as much small talk as the unhappiest participants.

“Just as self-disclosure can instill a sense of intimacy in a relationship, deep conversations may instill a sense of meaning in the interaction between partners,” say the researchers.

It’s okay to talk about the weather or basketball scores, but why do you talk about such things? Are you nervous or anxious or concerned about the person with whom you’re having a conversation? Then why not just come out with it instead? Well, for many of us, just “coming out with it” is uncomfortable and sometimes opens windows or doors into worlds of hurt and shame. So we “code” our conversations so as not to directly shake the tree, so to speak.

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