Humans are different from other species, but not as much as weve assumed.
‘It makes you think” used to be a sales pitch for the University of Wellington. I assume that is because going to university makes you think. I loved it, because it lent itself to so many variations relevant to the marketing of psychology. I still have my “Your brain – it makes you think” t-shirt. It’s a collector’s item.
Brains are rubbery things, and, probably to gasps of my colleagues who work more closely with them, I think it’s safe to say we’ve not got a complete handle on how they work.
Which isn’t to say we don’t know quite a lot. We know that different bits are associated with different faculties. For example, the amygdala, buried deep and just behind the eyes, is associated with processing emotions. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the bit up front and that’s important for complex behaviours like decision-making.
Denne historien er fra October 27 - November 2 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 27 - November 2 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
