HAVE you ever experienced that eerie feeling of a thought popping into your head as if from nowhere, with no clue as to why you had that particular idea at that particular time? You may think that such fleeting thoughts, however random they seem, must be the product of predictable and rational processes. After all, the brain cannot be random, can it? Surely it processes information using ordered, logical operations, like a powerful computer?
Actually, no. In reality, your brain operates on the edge of chaos. Though much of the time it runs in an orderly and stable way, every now and again it suddenly and unpredictably lurches into a blizzard of noise.
Neuroscientists have long suspected as much. Only recently, however, have they come up with proof that brains work this way. Now they are trying to work out why. Some believe that near-chaotic states may be crucial to memory, and could explain why some people are smarter than others.
In technical terms, systems on the edge of chaos are said to be in a state of “self-organised criticality”. These systems are right on the boundary between stable, orderly behaviour – such as a swinging pendulum – and the unpredictable world of chaos, as exemplified by turbulence.
Hey this is really interesting…these avalanches might well be the road to explaining (extreme)exploding head syndrome´ as that too feels like a reset-happening, or a renewal or regrouping of neurons…blah, can´t half explain it properly…butbutt
whaddaya mean, on the EDGE? we’re here!
It’s maybe not about how it moves .. but how you use it ….
I dont really bother what happens beyond if that would be the case (I myself will not see it like those scientists … how many did they have in their research … people I mean .. what type of conditions .. controlled lab I guess .. which is never reality … etc etc … it’s just one way of many to look upon it … ).
I actually can turn my brain into chaos on purpose …. ever heard about brainstorming …. and how it is supposed to work … not all people dare to brainstorm …
It’s about seeing patterns in chaos … pick the things you need … fetch them if you like it .. like the old program .. fetch … or google …
Blablabla …
And if you dont have fetch …
I myself can quite often explain quite properly why it pops in my brain .. and not earlier … check systems in which you are … some things will not get in to your brain if you are onto another system (in another state) …
Oh, and also fun about the brain … go as far as possible in your brainless me … the one who does not think I mean but just feels and has fun and laughs (comes from the brain as well, but hey ..) … and then start typing … make sure not to get your reasoning in, nor try to think from conscious …it’s sort of a trance …. it’s surreal what can happen then … exact opposite opinions can come out of yourself … male energy … but lots of other stuff as well. …. And then read later on back from your normal self what you have written … weird enough it does make sense in a way you yourself would at times not even have seen … the two headed dragon inside … or add as many heads as you wish …
Quite funny … it really feels as if it does not come from your self and in reality it indeed did not come from your normal self … so … who is steering it ? If you have had the same experience you will know what I mean …
We’re so much more wise at times than we wished for? Want to be? Or is that stuff our normal self is not ready for yet, it has not digested it enough inside yet to recognize it as ourself …
It’s not everyday stuff I refer to … very original stuff …
Other people might not want to recognize dumm stuff inside as part of theirself … or vicious stuff … etc etc …
Chaos huh .. to get back to the topic .. is it really chaos or is there really good structure in it but do the scientists not see the links yet .. and they will see chaos when they dont have a focus …
I was just reading that article on flight home from London the other day, it’s a really interesting read. I think the same issue, or it was possibly Scientific America, where they had an article about how the brain acts as if a tool, such as a toothbrush, is an extension of one’s limb. Pretty neat stuff.
defrag a hard drive lately?
yes @whodat,…something like that, imagine that happening in your brain, and being a concious observer of it …eek…
@ReliegiousMarie
imho, a major aspect of self awareness is scheduled maintenance
things are made of little things
parts
~the tragic flaw of the charming man is exactly as it seems, too much grease can break down a machine~
Nice… nice