Fascinating video shows scientifically how we are connected

[sybster1000]

http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html


This is a wonderful scientific talk by a Cal Tech professor/neuroscientist. If you watch it, make sure and see the ending..About the "Ghandi" neurons! TED.com is a great website with lectures from the great minds on the planet.

[rumpel]

1. Oy, he talks fast. :) it IS fascinating!

Thank you for the link - and it looks like site to explore more..

:)

[Kind of Blue]

2. Thanks for the link, Sybster 1,000 :)

As far as I'm concerned Dr. Ramachandran is a San Diego treasure. I love that guy. I was introduced to him by a German journalist years ago who flew here to do a series of interviews on him, and I couldn't believe my ears during his lecture on phantom limbs. Simply and truly a Brilliant man!

[rumpel]

3. I am eager to hear more and read more

of Dr. Ramachandran's findings.

[Kind of Blue]

6. Wiki has an excellent write up

:hi: of Dr. Ramachandran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V.S._Ramachandran

And his Mirror Box studies that led to relief of pain from phantom limbs suffered by amputees http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V.S._Ramachandran#Phantom_limbs

Thanks to Sybster1000, I hope to find more of his lectures on the innernets.

I suspected that he would move towards an holistic theory of mind, science and spirituality because he hinted at it several times during the lectures I heard over 10years ago. It's nice to see that he has moved along that path.

[sybster1000]

4. I really can feel your pain..

If I don't have my skin receptors! Why can't we all see that when I hurt you...I hurt me!!

He had another lecture in TED a few years ago. You can pull it up. I love TED. I believe Bill Gates was instrumental in forming the lecture series. You can attend the lectures if they are in your city..we had one here last year and a friend went.

[Delphinus]

5. Can't wait to watch!

Perhaps a good thing for Memorial Day, which I am taking off.

[Celebration]

7. Thanks!!

Finally had the chance to watch this (was too busy making the slideshow yesterday, LOL).

Deserves to be posted in Science!

The question becomes, of course, are neurons connected just by being neurons, or do we actually have to watch? As an example, would a person's phantom pain be relieved at all if another person's limb was massaged, but no conscious awareness of the other person in the room being massaged? I am guessing that watching helps a lot, but there may be some effect even without watching. Or, it might differ from person to person, and if DNA codes were similar. Those would make interesting studies.


But this helps me realize how a slide show like I made really actually CAN make a difference--it connects our neurons by observing the same thing.

[Kind of Blue]

8. I think it's based on observation.

When "Sensory neurons in the brain are activated in response to that person being touched ... a certain proportion of these same neurons also fire when someone watches another person, being touched (mirror neurons) as if the neuron was 'reading' the other persons mind or 'empathizing'." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V.S._Ramachandran#Phantom_limbs


From Wiki: "These mirror neurons may be important for understanding the actions of other people, and for learning new skills by imitation. Some researchers also speculate that mirror systems may simulate observed actions, and thus contribute to theory of mind skills, while others relate mirror neurons to language abilities. It has also been proposed that problems with the mirror system may underlie cognitive disorders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_neurons

But I think you're also onto something saying there may be some effect even without watching. Remember when the studies came out saying prayer does squat? But there is a big difference when people who know and love each other send good vibes or pray. Check out the study of loved ones sending in different rooms at

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104351710

After running 36 couples through this test, the researchers found that when one person focused his thoughts on his partner, the partner's blood flow and perspiration dramatically changed within two seconds. The odds of this happening by chance were 1 in 11,000. Three dozen double blind, randomized studies by such institutions as the University of Washington and the University of Edinburgh have reported similar results.