Comments on: A New Phrenology?

By: Bill Perron

Bill Perron — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:11:04 +0000

Oh yes, by the way, thank you also for admiting that Randi the Liar is your false god and guru. Finally some truth from the professional pseudo skeptics.

By: Bill Perron

Bill Perron — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:43:02 +0000

I want to congratulate the writer who commented very humourously on the rejection of my May 21st comment. I had no idea skeptics could have such an intelligent and open sense of humor, very good, it gave me a laugh as well. Thank you, Bill Perron

By: John Eric Holmes MD

John Eric Holmes MD — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:28:37 +0000

I agree with Michael Shermer. Changes in blood flow to are interesting but far from definative. I have taught neuroanatomy for many years, but we are still guessing how the damn thing works. Broca discovred an area of cortex that related to speech by examining the brain of one patient. Some of these new methods of defining function may be a step up, but they must be examined with great care a scepticism. One or two increases in blood flow may not mean much in terms of function. Broca was making a lucky guess.
To see interesting and amusing use of brain scan studies, check “Neuroeconomics” in Annual Review of Psychology vol 59, 2008. JEH

By: Mickey

Mickey — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:07:54 +0000

How are the scientists involved fMRI scanning studies ensuring consistency in word associations? In other words, can they be absolutely sure that when they ask a subject to think about the word or concept “Republican” that his or her thought pattern will be identical to every other person who is given the same task. I would argue that it is not possible and that, depending on the subject, the term “Republican” may evoke multiple diverse associations, some very concrete like the identity of a specific individual, and some much more abstract like a political platform or even a party-associated color. If there are truly modules, shouldn’t these very different word associations with their varying cognitive styles translate into differ areas of functional activity? Instead we see supposed “modular” patterns. These studies are interesting first forays into brain function, but really can only be viewed as curiosities at this point.

By: Gligadakamenen

Gligadakamenen — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:06:13 +0000

Once I had a ladyfriend. We went to visit her mother. In Ma’s house were items that would would call siren-like to admirers of antiquities, knicknack lovers, and inveterate readers. Ma had lived in the same house for over sixty years and the clutter was astounding. The cleaning lady was admonished that things may be tossed if they smelled bad but, everything else was valuable “stuff”.

Ma was known to her children as the Queen of the Pack Rats. If they remembered a favorite long lost toy. All four children could be confident that if it had been in her house when they left home, it was still in that house somewhere. Of course finding it would take amazing focus. There was just too much mesmerizing stuff to look through without getting distracted.

Ma’s house was a metaphor for my brain. The organizing principle was “I want it to stay”. No modularity here. It’s a soup full of tasty tidbits. The first phone number I ever learned (415) 359-3718 is logged right next to a beatiful turn of phase I got from Dianne Ackerman. “a mouse-gray parliment of cells like too many clothes in a gym bag”

I appreciate the Title “A new phrenology?” People do the same phrenologic whoop-dee-doo with Gene sequences. (AD INFINITUM) There has recently been discovered a gene for which cheek you lift when you flatulate (Et Cetera, Ad Nauseum).

So whats my point? Modularity, to me, fails Ockhams law of parsimony. Like Montgomery Scott says “The more doo-dads you cram into something, the easier it is to foul it up.”

By: Russ

Russ — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:49:24 +0000

Gandalf’s Law: First psychic to use the word ‘nazi’ in a comment loses.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:45:57 +0000

I suppose the modules are great – until you have to explain how the kid born with half of a brain functions like everyone else. Great article!

By: tps

tps — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:29:15 +0000

A quote directly from the first poster’s Web site: “Welcome to the enchanting fantasy world of Bill Perron.” Indeed.

By: Bill Perron

Bill Perron — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:39:20 +0000

We reserve the right to remove all comments that are frivolous or flippant in nature, as well as comments that point out how biased we are, or comments that go along with our narrow agenda and thought nazi policies. And any comments critical of any skeptic no matter how ridiculous they are or how much they lie, and definately if they are critical of our false god and guru James Randi.