Stanford psychologist’s 18-month study of his own brain reveals surprises

Russell Poldrack scanned his brain to create the most detailed map of brain connectivity ever.

Source: Stanford psychologist’s 18-month study of his own brain reveals surprises

#Thankful for #Science and “Sciencers” #Thanksgiving

I am thankful for science and people who science. Not just because I have epilepsy and without pharmacology I would sporadically behave like an alien breakdancer. I’m not just thankful for the surgeons who implanted my cyborg hip and Alice in my synthetic hip, Trixie. I’m grateful to the material sciences who developed the titanium and ceramic substances to the engineers figure out the exact angle that the implants should good rest most strongly and snugly within. I’m grateful to the immunologist who rigorously test the parts to make sure my body won’t rejecting it.

And again, through my various surgeries, big love to the pharmacologists for the Dilaudid.

I am specifically grateful to those who science human behavior even more acutely, sciencers of the brain for making it easier to forgive people.

You have to struggle to be mad at someone when you realize their argumentativeness may be nothing more sinister than an overactive insula or their lethargy a mere underproduction of dopamine receptors for their appearance heartlessness a not uncommon malfunction in the either the anterior or posterior pituitary.

Studying the effects of brains on human behavior reminds me best we are all born in the bodies we did not design, into a world we did not create having reactions to which on one can explain.

The writer Evelyn Waugh says to, understand all is to condone all. I do not condone all but hey, I’m still studying here.

#Neuroscience of #Chicago #Cubs Fans – YouTube

C2ST Artist in Residence Aaron Freeman pretends to interview Stanford University Neurobiology professor Robert Sapolsky on the difference between the brains of Chicago Cubs fans and those of lesser beings.  According to Sapolsky part of the difference may have  to do with higher sustained levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Using fMRI to explore how dogs love us. Happy #NationalDogDay #neuroscience

8 science-backed signs you’re smarter than most people – Business Insider

8 signs you’re smarter than most people – Business Insider.

To rebuild takes optimism – How Dopamine Enhances an Optimism Bias in Humans #katrina #neuroscience

When predicting financial profits [1], relationship outcomes [2], longevity [3], or professional success [4], people habitually underestimate the likelihood of future negative events (for review see [5]). This well-known bias, termed unrealistic optimism [6], is observed across age [7], culture [8], and species [9] and has a significant societal impact on domains ranging from financial markets to health and well being

How Dopamine Enhances an Optimism Bias in Humans.