Mood, focus, motivation, migraines have a profound effect on our life. They make us productive, apathetic, or self-destructive by a simple chemical switch. Controlling this switch effectively is still out of reach for modern science, but at least we can understand some effects and try to build working strategies. Reward system Neurons in the different …
Funny visualizations and memory humor
Some of our visualizations are creative and funny. If nothing logical pops up, funny is probable the best choice. Funny visualizations are memorable, cheerful, and fun to revisit. Just like funny youtube clips! However, there is a caveat. Some of us cannot remember a joke! More reading here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. …
Memory engram
Most animals do not learn as we do. Their behaviors are guided by powerful instincts. Some instincts are activated by hormones, others are dormant memories encoded on a genetic level. These memories are called engrams, and today I want to explore this subject. For more reading check out here. Memories can be encoded into DNA! …
The six layers of neocortex
The thing that makes us humans intelligent is a huge neocortex. It is the most recently developed area of the brain and it has a very interesting structure. The neocortex is a huge sheet build from six distinct layers folded in the brain many times. It takes a lot of space inside human skull, and …
Color discrimination
Some women can distinguish four colors. They are called tetrachromats. What does it feel like to see colors others do not see? How can we make our world richer? Some more stuff here and here. Average human The visible light spectrum ranges from about 380 to 740 nanometers. Spectral colors (colors that are produced by …
Ramanujan, math intuition and the voice of the goddess
Intuition takes many forms, but what is it exactly? Why do genius scientists talk about mysterious forces? Do we really need the supernatural or there are more plausible explanations? Can we train it? The story of the goddess Ramanujan was one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century. He wrote down several astonishing results …
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