Tag: reality
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Supersymmetry. True? False? Does it matter?
A beautiful but unproved theory of particle physics is withering in the harsh light of data. For decades, many particle physicists have devoted themselves to the beloved theory, known as supersymmetry. But it’s beginning to seem that the zoo of new particles that the theory predicts – the heavier cousins of known particles – may…
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Freud. Imagination. Dead Polar Star…
Freud discovered that the mere act of thinking (wishing and fantasizing) is itself gratifying. In fact, what therapists and psychoanalysts commonly observe is that the fantasy is more mentally and physically stimulating fulfilling than the actual, real life action the fantasy is organized around. Is it any wonder that reality doesn’t measure up to the…
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Autism. Senses. Seeing the world as it is. Being philosophically illiterate.
Autism spectrum disorders are generally thought to be caused by deficits in brain development, but a study in mice now suggests that at least some aspects of the disorder - including how touch is perceived, anxiety, and social abnormalities - are linked to defects in another area of the nervous system, the peripheral nerves found…
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Brain, Bayesian reasoning, hallucinations, schizophrenia, obstacles…
By weaving together expectations and information gleaned from the senses, the brain creates a story about the outside world. “The brain is a guessing machine, trying at each moment of time to guess what is out there,” says computational neuroscientist Peggy Seriès. Guesses just slightly off — like mistaking a smile for a smirk —…
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