The Brain on Trial.

Eideteker — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:43:18 -0800

The Brain on Trial. Advances in brain science are calling into question the volition behind many criminal acts. A leading neuroscientist describes how the foundations of our criminal-justice system are beginning to crumble, and proposes a new way forward for law and order.

"We may someday find that many types of bad behavior have a basic biological explanation—as has happened with schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, and mania."

[Charles Whitman] requested in his suicide note that an autopsy be performed to determine if something had changed in his brain—because he suspected it had. "I talked with a Doctor once for about two hours and tried to convey to him my fears that I felt [overcome by] overwhelming violent impulses. After one session I never saw the Doctor again, and since then I have been fighting my mental turmoil alone, and seemingly to no avail." Whitman’s body was taken to the morgue, his skull was put under the bone saw, and the medical examiner lifted the brain from its vault. He discovered that Whitman’s brain harbored a tumor the diameter of a nickel. This tumor, called a glioblastoma, had blossomed from beneath a structure called the thalamus, impinged on the hypothalamus, and compressed a third region called the amygdala. The amygdala is involved in emotional regulation, especially of fear and aggression. . . . Whitman’s intuition about himself—that something in his brain was changing his behavior—was spot-on.

The joystick is you.

homunculus — Thu, 13 May 2004 14:06:52 -0800

The Wild Divine Project. "Kurt Smith and Corwin Bell have designed a computer game that teaches players to use biofeedback sensors worn on three fingers to help them control various events... By using breathing techniques to stimulate or soothe their biological responses, players can start an onscreen fire, juggle brightly colored balls and direct the flight of birds."

Great Ghu, what will they think of next?

Cerebus — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 10:41:13 -0800

You're in control. I think this will be the Next Big Thing in Japan.

HP-Diddy!

geronimo_rex — Wed, 14 Nov 2001 11:21:16 -0800

HP-Diddy! Forget the desktop - HP's coming after your boo-tay!

MetaFilter posts tagged with biofeedback

The Brain on Trial.

The joystick is you.

Great Ghu, what will they think of next?

HP-Diddy!