Go Back   Flash Flash Revolution: Community Forums > General Discussion > Critical Thinking
Register FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-14-2005, 11:11 PM   #21
The_Q
FFR Player
 
The_Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Age: 31
Posts: 4,391
Send a message via AIM to The_Q Send a message via Yahoo to The_Q
Default

Eating brains would be the quickest way to get information, in that case. That way it doesn't have to trickle. Unfortunately, we know that this isn't true because memory is one of two things. Our brains got shaped a certain way and the shapes are read as memories or (more likely) our memories are just electric patterns in our brains that remain relatively constant over time.

Either way, when something decomposes and loses it's shape or the body stops producing electrical currents. The memories are lost. It also means they cannot be passed into the soil.

Memory loss during life can be the result of parts of the brain losing their shape or weakening currents.

I'm not doctor, don't take me too seriously.

Q
The_Q is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2005, 11:31 PM   #22
Cenright
You thought I was a GUY?!
FFR Veteran
 
Cenright's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Beaumont (A town with 25 times fewer people than this site)
Age: 33
Posts: 3,139
Send a message via AIM to Cenright Send a message via MSN to Cenright Send a message via Yahoo to Cenright
Default The Passing of Knowledge

Interesting, but no matter what I am thinking at this instant, it is in no way transferred to the cockatoo across the room.

I could believe your theory Mal if one thing existed, and that would be Telepathy/Telekinesis. Then I would feel that those thoughts and feelings could be transferred, because they would already be able to pass as energy to others.

All the chemicals in our brain work because of their connection to the brain. When we die, those chemicals are broken up. Now think of the next thing to eat it. It has to be digested and broken to pieces before getting all the way around to the brain.

If I believed in your theory, and Telepathy/Telekinesis, then I would sleep with a book acting as my pillow.
Cenright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2005, 11:48 PM   #23
ggpcin
FFR Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3
Default RE: The Passing of Knowledge

One time Austaph touched my ass and I liked it.
__________________
www.goatse.ca
Takes a Lickin and Keeps on Tickin
ggpcin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 12:19 AM   #24
Austaph
FFR Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 75
Default RE: The Passing of Knowledge

The Q: You're actually on to something.

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Q
Our brains got shaped a certain way and the shapes are read as memories or (more likely) our memories are just electric patterns in our brains that remain relatively constant over time.

Either way, when something decomposes and loses it's shape or the body stops producing electrical currents. The memories are lost. It also means they cannot be passed into the soil.

Memory loss during life can be the result of parts of the brain losing their shape or weakening currents.
I'm not sure exactly how memories work, but the shape of the brain plays a big part in cognition: the ability to think, reason, and store knowledge. More specifically, the brain's surface area. The surface of the brain (also called the cerebral cortex) is folded and wrinkled so that the most possible surface area can be packed into the smallest possible volume. The cerebral cortex is also the most advanced layer of our brain, controlling things like language, personality, heightened reasoning, sense perception, pattern recognition, etc. If your brain was flattened out, the cerebral cortex would be roughly the size of a large pizza; wouldn't be able to fit it all in the head without wrinkling it.

Some forms of memory loss are also attributed to the weakening of the currents in the brain - right again. Brain disorders called degenerative neurological disorders may be influenced by the decay of the myelin sheath, which insulates your nerves the same way an audio/video cable needs insulation. It keeps your nerves from coming in contact with each other and short-circuiting.

This is interesting, the idea that experience shapes our brain to form memories. Talk about mind-over-matter. What are everyone's thoughts on memory? As far as I know, science is almost clueless about this.
__________________
Believe nothing, question everything.
Austaph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 12:33 AM   #25
emptiness
FFR Player
 
emptiness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 52 Spooner St.
Age: 33
Posts: 453
Send a message via Yahoo to emptiness
Default Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

Quote:
Originally Posted by ggpcin
One time Austaph touched my ass and I liked it.
not necessary in the thread...and mine either
__________________
Back in 5 mins
emptiness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 01:15 AM   #26
Austaph
FFR Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 75
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

It's not worth getting worked up about.
__________________
Believe nothing, question everything.
Austaph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 01:10 PM   #27
The_Q
FFR Player
 
The_Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Age: 31
Posts: 4,391
Send a message via AIM to The_Q Send a message via Yahoo to The_Q
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

Also, we can't have our memories and thoughts be matter because that would just make our heads grow constantly. Eventually, Einstein's brains would have it's own gravity well. It's just simply physically impossible.

Q
The_Q is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 05:52 PM   #28
Austaph
FFR Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 75
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Q
Also, we can't have our memories and thoughts be matter because that would just make our heads grow constantly. Eventually, Einstein's brains would have it's own gravity well. It's just simply physically impossible.
Well, maybe that's where the brain folds come into play. Maybe our brain doesn't grow, so much as it grows more complex. It's like how you can divide an inch down into infinity; half of a half, of a half, of a half, etc. The folds and valleys in your brain would simply grow more complex, like ripples on a lake. So far, I guess the best theory of memory that neuroscience has is that memory develops with increasing complexity of neural networks: clusters, or "cities" of brain cells. But none of that really explains how memory is stored or retrieved. I barely even understand how memory is stored in silicon, how electricity can translate into data. Yes, I know about binary, but what makes a zero a zero, and a one a one?

It's funny you mention Einstein's brain. He actually had an enlarged parietal lobe: the region of the brain dealing with sensory input, body sensations; and the math region of his brain lacked hemispheres. Instead of being divided into a left and right - like an average cerebral cortex - it was just one hunk of mathematical power.

You have a point, though. Maybe memories don't really translate into matter, but rather our memories influence the matter that already exists in our brains. I'm at a loss, though. I don't know that much about how brains work, just what the different parts do. It's like how our bodies are made of various organs, which are made up of cells. Our brains are made up of various regions, which are made up of cells. What I have trouble figuring out is how? How is one specific region of the brain responsible for one specific function? My best guess is that it has something to do with the interneural pathways of the spinal cord and where they connect with the peripheral nervous system. But that still only explains what is being done, not how.

How does our brain translate an electrical impulse into "move your arm," or the hard question: how does our own personal intention translate into electrical impulses? I'm burying myself in my own argument. I'm going to go take a shower and clean the demons off of me, then I'm going to stare at my anatomy poster for an hour or two.
__________________
Believe nothing, question everything.
Austaph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2005, 09:56 PM   #29
The_Q
FFR Player
 
The_Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Age: 31
Posts: 4,391
Send a message via AIM to The_Q Send a message via Yahoo to The_Q
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

Quote:
How does our brain translate an electrical impulse into "move your arm," or the hard question: how does our own personal intention translate into electrical impulses?
We don't know yet. Come back when we've mapped the brain.

Quote:
Well, maybe that's where the brain folds come into play.
He is suggesting that increasing memories and thoughts increases the matter in your brain. That would in effect increase the mass. Pretty much, it'd either weigh down the brain or make it incredibly dense (still making it heavy).

The ripples, though, would help in making it more dense, however, they can't be made into infinity. There's a book series by Orson Scott Card that deals with a computer like this. Essentially, the binary programming of the computer deals with indentations on the surface of the memory area. A groove is cut for a one and there is no groove for a zero. On the groove another may be cut to make more detailed data. This can keep going on, theoretically, ad infinitum. Unfortunately, like the computer in this series, our brains can only read grooves so fine. Thus giving us a memory cap. This could also be the cause of memory loss.

In fact, if we combine both electric and shape theories, you could say that the shapes are read by the electrical currents and the resistance caused by the grooves. Then again, that could essentially mean your brain glows when it gets older.

Q
The_Q is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2005, 04:44 AM   #30
Austaph
FFR Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 75
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

Quote:
Originally Posted by Q
Unfortunately, like the computer in this series, our brains can only read grooves so fine. Thus giving us a memory cap. This could also be the cause of memory loss.
That does make sense. Over time, the grooves would become so fine that we wouldn't be able to read them. So that would mean that memories aren't really lost, we're just unable to retrieve them. I decided to stop thinking so hard about it. Even if someone did sit me down and explain to me the exact details of how the brain works, I probably wouldn't even understand it. Haha. Oh, the simple pleasures.
__________________
Believe nothing, question everything.
Austaph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2005, 09:44 AM   #31
The_Q
FFR Player
 
The_Q's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Age: 31
Posts: 4,391
Send a message via AIM to The_Q Send a message via Yahoo to The_Q
Default RE: Re: RE: The Passing of Knowledge

This is all simply my speculation. Don't take it seriously.

Q
The_Q is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright FlashFlashRevolution