Odd Radio 4 fact of the day

[guest7]

If scientists monitor brain activity between coma sufferers and conscious people, they can see that if you ask the subject to imagine doing a task (the example was to imagine yourself serving a tennis ball) the brain functions involved in imagining that task are displayed the same for the two types of subject.

Therefore, somewhat surprisingly, the brain is operating without the conscious control of the subject whether the subject is conscious or in a coma.

I was mystified by this, but I might re-listen to Melvin Bragg's 'In our Time' to try and get my head around it. I suppose this means that my brain may well have absorbed all of the information and understands it perfectly, but my conscious 'mind' thinks it's confused.

No, damn it, I am confused 
GC

[mini-thumper]

It's a sort of ego thing. If you could detach yourself from your brain and let it get on with things it would do it so much better. The example I heard was in relation to playing golf, but I'm sure it could relate to any activity, and it went something like this:

Place the ball on the tee, pick up the club, take-up the stance, close your eyes, and the very hard bit, let your brain take over totally. As the most powerful super computer the brain already knows exactly what should happen, how it should happen, and what the outcome should be, it should therefore be easy everytime. Sadly, or maybe not, we get in the way and the perfectly predictable becomes anything but. I suppose that's what makes us who we are and not Bill Gates, thank God!

I'll get my lab coat...........

Boyd


 

[guest7]

EGO?! Me?! 

GC

[Steve Lake]

That was one of the more intersting 'in out time' items (for me anyway) facinating to think that a fifth of a second before we are conciously aware of it......somewhere in your brain, whatever you were thinking you might do....is already in progress...scary

[guest7]

Agreed, it knocked spots off some of Melvin's other subjects (Neolithic trading routes and their continued relevance to modern free-trade ecomonics or some such drivel).

Another interesting thing they discussed was Sigmund Freud's earlier work in neuro-science.

GC

[Steve Lake]

So Boyd....what you're saying is.......if i get on my bike...blat off up the road......relax, close my eyes and let my unconcious brain take over.....I'll be riding like rossi?......wow....must give it a go tomorrow!

[mini-thumper]

Exactly! I'm thinking of trying it whilst cycling to work. My brain, and I suspect most peoples, must be smarter than a Wii and a GPS unit combined which are only a simple representation of real life.

Do I win a prize? I'll get my cagoule and flask of weak lemon drink..........

Boyd