"Your Brain Works Like a Radio" and other mind matters

[Wombaticus Rex]

My, my. All our brains are full of holes.......wormholes !

Stuart Hammeroff has been saying that since the 70s. My first introduction to the idea was actually a strange children's book called Space-Time and Beyond: Toward an Explanation of the Unexplainable.

With respect to the brain as radio, recent development of functional interest:

Via: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2 ... -its-head/

... neuroscientists have made a discovery that turns 160 years of neuroanatomy on its head.

Myelin, the electrical insulating material in the body long known to be essential for the fast transmission of impulses along the axons of nerve cells, is not as ubiquitous as thought...

“Myelin is a relatively recent invention during evolution,” says Arlotta. “It’s thought that myelin allowed the brain to communicate really fast to the far reaches of the body, and that it has endowed the brain with the capacity to compute higher-level functions.”

In fact, loss of myelin is a feature in a number of devastating diseases, including multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.

But the new research shows that despite myelin’s essential roles in the brain, “some of the most evolved, most complex neurons of the nervous system have less myelin than older, more ancestral ones,” said Arlotta, co-director of the HSCI neuroscience program.

What this means, she said, is that the higher one looks in the cerebral cortex — closer to the top of the brain, which is its most evolved part — the less myelin one finds. Not only that, but “neurons in this part of the brain display a brand-new way of positioning myelin along their axons that has not been previously seen. They have ‘intermittent myelin’ with long axon tracts that lack myelin interspersed among myelin-rich segments.”

“Contrary to the common assumptions that neurons use a universal profile of myelin distribution on their axons, the work indicates that different neurons choose to myelinate their axons differently,” Arlotta said. “In classic neurobiology textbooks, myelin is represented on axons as a sequence of myelinated segments separated by very short nodes that lack myelin. This distribution of myelin was tacitly assumed to be always the same, on every neuron, from the beginning to the end of the axon. This new work finds this not to be the case.”

Wiki: Phased Array

[nashvillebrook]

In one set of images I realize every night this week I've been dreaming of a black skimmer flying by and just barely seeing it as it flies away from me. I've been chasing black skimmers around to photograph them in real life.

That's such an interesting image. Hypnagogic imagery and dream recognition is a big part of what helped me get my first real glimpses into the autonomous nature of the mind. The mind just flits from here to there running thoughts and images like your black skimmers. I'm sure it has some sort of emotional charge to it that is metaphorically significant to you that they are appearing both inside and outside. It's quite interesting.

I get a similar set of hypnagogic images related to riding bicycles … a rider will come from behind me and practically brush right up against me as he zooms past … there is a real feeling of close motion, proximity, and familiarity that is really hard to describe. I've also had the rider come towards me and swerve away at the last moment before we run into each other. Sometimes I just have to laugh and think "Where the heck did that come from!!"

I hope your MRI results were encouraging nashvillebrook … prayers and blessings to you this evening.

You know, you mention bike riding, this hypnogogic looping phenomena might actually have something to do with muscle memory. For me, photographing these damn skimmers is a full-body thing. Once you find where they're feeding, you have sync up with them and follow them with the camera. I've been doing with- and without a tripod, and it takes a lot of concentration, movement and luck. In the dream loop, when I miss the bird, I think the same thing -- where in the heck did he come from. I didn't have a chance to catch him.

As far as metaphorical baggage, there's "skimming the surface," which is a constant theme in work. There's "missing the shot," also a work theme. I run a non-profit advocacy for a national affiliate, and it's fine. But it really is "skimming the surface," and I frequently "miss the shot," in all manner of ways.

Will find out what the MRI says this week. Just getting in to get it done is a miracle in itself!

[nashvillebrook]

...

Might as well share this too…I've always had a feeling that brains were like receiver-transmitters, and got into some trouble with the idea in Philosophy of Mind class b/c I wasn't yet good enough at rhetoric to do anything interesting with the idea, but just couldn't leave it alone. My professor was a libertarian skeptic just to make things a worst case scenario. Somehow I passed the class.

That's funny, man.

Libertarian skeptic eh?

I guess you didnt mention the ultra dimensional elves then?

I'm supposing it's always better not to mention the ultra dimensional elves.
...

The elves had requested anonymity. I respect that.

[BrandonD]

The area of "brain as radio" is one of the areas where intuition is extremely useful - more so than other fringe topics. Words are something like a crude tool in this instance, a stone chisel when what is needed is a laser incision - it is through intuition that one can best discern the landscape of what exactly the mind is.

Words are a crude bridge between the 'internal' and 'external' worlds, and as a means of divining the nature of one's own consciousness they are nearly useless. It is almost comical, I picture a dragon who refrains from breathing fire when talking to his friends, and the habit becomes so ingrained that on his own time he still refuses to breathe fire, and cooks his food bit-by-bit in a small toaster oven.

[Ben D]

Stuart Hammeroff has been saying that since the 70s.

Yeh..and when he got together with Roger Penrose, his work got real traction...and attention.

[Wombaticus Rex]

Fast forward to 2014, and it is The Most Important New Idea on Youtube.

Cheers to being the last generation to remember a single fucking thing!

Of course, on a planet with 10 billion people, maybe we won't need functional long-term memory anymore...

[DrEvil]

... maybe we won't need functional long-term memory anymore...

You're looking at it.

[Ben D]

As requested, moved from "Global Warming" thread...

I just see it as an inevitable essential step of technological evolution.

Then you see development of knowledge to be essentially incremental and made up of 'building blocks', whereas I see models as being potentially incommensurate, such that the building blocks of one system do not fit well or at all with a new system.

The duality is thinking that the 'spiritual' path is somehow competing with the 'material' journey of cosmos.

Are you suggesting that because you (say you) do not see these two paths competing that you are not a dualist?

In my mind, you do treat them as being competing paths. And you see them as being fundamentally different, and you subscribe to a dualist derived science.

You are a dualist.

For the way I model reality, they do not compete because they are (essentially) the same thing.

This is OT, so I will move any further comment over to the mind matters thread.

I never said anything about building blocks, I am referring to the fact that understanding of complexity mostly requires prerequisite understanding of the underlying principles of the aspects involved in the complexity....the hundredth monkey sort of affect.

Of course when I use my conceptual mind, it obscures the non-duality, that goes without saying, but when my mind is in a state of non-duality..there is no 'I' to arise to disturb the cosmic oneness...until, naturally since permanent maha-samadhi has not yet been realized, some distraction will cause the 'I' to re-arise and bingo...the duality is present again. My ego self can't ever be in a state of non-duality.

If you watch the Hammeroff/Penrose video...the cosmic mind is always in contact with the ego brain mind through interaction in the micro-tubules of the axons..the vibrational wavelengths of the omnipresent zpe/dark energy/spirit/quantum vacuum are always inputting content...but generally in the normal awake state of ego consciousness, it can't be noticed.

If dhyan meditation is practiced with success, and all ego self derived brain neuron firings stop...the sacred 'aum' will be heard whereby the hearer and hearing become one....a state of maha-samadhi ensues.

[Sounder]

I never said anything about building blocks,

Deflection and avoidance, -no you didn’t say that, I did (duh) as a way to characterize incrementalist thinking.

I am referring to the fact that understanding of complexity mostly requires prerequisite understanding of the underlying principles of the aspects involved in the complexity....the hundredth monkey sort of affect.

Yes, and I would say that you ‘think’ you understand the underlying principles, but you do not.
We all connect to universal mind in various ways depending on our temperament. But while universal mind provides the material of our existence, it’s up to us to create the framework and shape that the (subtle) material will take. The framework then in turn, influences future connection to universal mind (God, source). The framework mediates our connection to the ineffable and will both cultivate connection and limit the depth of connection depending on how one relates the framework to the conditions of our existence.

This is where I’m coming from:
Faqir Chand says this at the end of his railroad story; “Whosoever remembers God in whatever form, in that very form he helps his devoted.” He came to this conclusion after his guru appeared in a vision, gave advice and saved the lives of many men. He was then confronted by a bunch of men intent on worshiping him, because he also appeared as an apparition to them, again saving lives. He concluded that the originator of the apparition produced the effect, not the Guru.

(Sea Baba or whatever the ass-hats name is, did not 'make' those baubles, his students made them, and the Guru never fills them in on that fact, or, more likely he was ignorant of that fact himself because he was so full of himself.)

If you watch the Hammeroff/Penrose video...the cosmic mind is always in contact with the ego brain mind through interaction in the micro-tubules of the axons..the vibrational wavelengths of the omnipresent zpe/dark energy/spirit/quantum vacuum are always inputting content...but generally in the normal awake state of ego consciousness, it can't be noticed.

Yes, we are in constant contact and indeed are fed by a general consciousness field. Our focus (the tuning aspect of radio) determines that aspect of consciousness that will feed us. Our ego and conscious mind formulations determines the nature of the ‘food’ we consume.

Our ‘problems’ are not due to ego, our problems arise from allowing ourselves to be a tool of ego rather than properly using ego as a tool of consciousness.

[minime]

I think you're both right: The other guy is wrong.

IMO it isn't as important to establish what ego is finally--noone knows what ego is--as it is to reach a consensus. You certainly have not done that. (The same goes with consciousness. And samadhi. They've been debating that for centuries. Better not to use the term without clarifying whose samadhi you're referencing.)

I have found that Occidental Orientalists tend to view the ego as something bad in itself, something to be controlled, even obliviated.

Others see ego, in the sense of self-esteem, as being essential to a vital human organism.

For instance, duality, as I define it, is essential to existence.

Otherwise, you might as well go walk in front of a train.

It's a question of balance.

[Ben D]

I never said anything about building blocks,

Deflection and avoidance, -no you didn’t say that, I did (duh) as a way to characterize incrementalist thinking.

I am referring to the fact that understanding of complexity mostly requires prerequisite understanding of the underlying principles of the aspects involved in the complexity....the hundredth monkey sort of affect.

Yes, and I would say that you ‘think’ you understand the underlying principles, but you do not.
We all connect to universal mind in various ways depending on our temperament. But while universal mind provides the material of our existence, it’s up to us to create the framework and shape that the (subtle) material will take. The framework then in turn, influences future connection to universal mind (God, source). The framework mediates our connection to the ineffable and will both cultivate connection and limit the depth of connection depending on how one relates the framework to the conditions of our existence.

This is where I’m coming from:
Faqir Chand says this at the end of his railroad story; “Whosoever remembers God in whatever form, in that very form he helps his devoted.” He came to this conclusion after his guru appeared in a vision, gave advice and saved the lives of many men. He was then confronted by a bunch of men intent on worshiping him, because he also appeared as an apparition to them, again saving lives. He concluded that the originator of the apparition produced the effect, not the Guru.

(Sea Baba or whatever the ass-hats name is, did not 'make' those baubles, his students made them, and the Guru never fills them in on that fact, or, more likely he was ignorant of that fact himself because he was so full of himself.)

If you watch the Hammeroff/Penrose video...the cosmic mind is always in contact with the ego brain mind through interaction in the micro-tubules of the axons..the vibrational wavelengths of the omnipresent zpe/dark energy/spirit/quantum vacuum are always inputting content...but generally in the normal awake state of ego consciousness, it can't be noticed.

Yes, we are in constant contact and indeed are fed by a general consciousness field. Our focus (the tuning aspect of radio) determines that aspect of consciousness that will feed us. Our ego and conscious mind formulations determines the nature of the ‘food’ we consume.

Our ‘problems’ are not due to ego, our problems arise from allowing ourselves to be a tool of ego rather than properly using ego as a tool of consciousness.

No problem..if my understanding is in error on any of the points you assert it is...my life's actions will incur consequential feedback appropriate for one to learn from and correct it...the goal always remains the same...to be one with the cosmic source rather than mistake the ego mind's dualistic apparent reality as reality.

Well if that's where you are coming from, so be it....all the best.

You say..."Our ‘problems’ are not due to ego, our problems arise from allowing ourselves to be a tool of ego rather than properly using ego as a tool of consciousness.".....please explain what and who it is that is allowing themselves to be used by ego rather than using ego?

[Sounder]

You say..."Our ‘problems’ are not due to ego, our problems arise from allowing ourselves to be a tool of ego rather than properly using ego as a tool of consciousness.".....please explain what and who it is that is allowing themselves to be used by ego rather than using ego?

It occurred to me after I left for work that the phrasing was wrong in the sentence you cite. I will sleep on it and try to get it right in the morning.

[Ben D]

I think you're both right: The other guy is wrong.

IMO it isn't as important to establish what ego is finally--noone knows what ego is--as it is to reach a consensus. You certainly have not done that. (The same goes with consciousness. And samadhi. They've been debating that for centuries. Better not to use the term without clarifying whose samadhi you're referencing.)

I have found that Occidental Orientalists tend to view the ego as something bad in itself, something to be controlled, even obliviated.

Others see ego, in the sense of self-esteem, as being essential to a vital human organism.

For instance, duality, as I define it, is essential to existence.

Otherwise, you might as well go walk in front of a train.

It's a question of balance.

The state of maha-samadhi is not grim...can't be compared to committing suicide, but it is a difficult path to the pathless land. But for those who think the dualistic perspective on reality is all there is, go for it...all the best.

[minime]

I think you're both right: The other guy is wrong.

IMO it isn't as important to establish what ego is finally--noone knows what ego is--as it is to reach a consensus. You certainly have not done that. (The same goes with consciousness. And samadhi. They've been debating that for centuries. Better not to use the term without clarifying whose samadhi you're referencing.)

I have found that Occidental Orientalists tend to view the ego as something bad in itself, something to be controlled, even obliviated.

Others see ego, in the sense of self-esteem, as being essential to a vital human organism.

For instance, duality, as I define it, is essential to existence.

Otherwise, you might as well go walk in front of a train.

It's a question of balance.

The state of maha-samadhi is not grim...can't be compared to committing suicide, but it is a difficult path to the pathless land. But for those who think the dualistic perspective on reality is all there is, go for it...all the best.

Thanks. You seem to have it down. I'll take your good example to heart.

[justdrew]

maha-samadhi is a nice way of saying suicide. (oh but I can make that comparison) (let's just say I take consideration also of the mistaken among us) if one is really so enlightened, just vanish please.

remember, if you think you can fly, TAKE OFF FROM THE GROUND FIRST.

are you with the SRF Ben?