I actually pulled the book off the shelf and looked it up. By "turn off" I was referring to the process of transcranial magnetic stimulation. I first learned of this when I was perusing Mind Hacks (it's Hack #5). The process seemed interesting to me, though I admit to some fear on my part which would prevent me from actually trying it out. Intellectual curiosity does not overshadow the risk of brain damage (which they say is slight... but still).
Interesting to hear about the sociopath study. I've heard similar in relation to the interesting abilities that autistic people have. Basically, it's not that they have any natural ability a non-autistic person has, it's that their brain rewards the work needed to hone such a talent in ways that other brains do not.
I agree with your ethical implications statement, but it would seem (from a just two sources) that such research is progressing. Whether it's applicable to the study of morality, however, is well beyond my layman understanding of brain science.
That's true, but some of them have savant-like abilities that often revolve around memorization: know pi to thousands of decimal places, can sketch photo-realistic scenes from memory, rapidly mentally calculate complex algorithms, etc.
Not to say there's not a significant cost or that their brains are wired differently. I'm just saying that I've read that part of what is wired differently is the motivation/reward piece.
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branchandroot
Re: Fear
Date: 2008-02-09 08:25 pm (UTC)Interesting to hear about the sociopath study. I've heard similar in relation to the interesting abilities that autistic people have. Basically, it's not that they have any natural ability a non-autistic person has, it's that their brain rewards the work needed to hone such a talent in ways that other brains do not.
I agree with your ethical implications statement, but it would seem (from a just two sources) that such research is progressing. Whether it's applicable to the study of morality, however, is well beyond my layman understanding of brain science.
Re: Fear
Date: 2008-02-09 08:36 pm (UTC)B
Re: Fear
Date: 2008-02-10 04:15 am (UTC)Not to say there's not a significant cost or that their brains are wired differently. I'm just saying that I've read that part of what is wired differently is the motivation/reward piece.
Re: Fear
Date: 2008-02-10 01:50 pm (UTC)B