Musical journeys and move for Alzheimer's - which affects young as well as old
October 23rd 2007 08:18
Signature Tune
Below is an extract from a book review of an exciting journey into the unknown territories of the brain, I read it myself thinking there would be some part of it I could use to illustrate a point. The book sounds fascinating and this journalist has done an exceptional job in reviewing it and promoting its story. I've put the link up the top as I feel sure many will be interested in reading it and perhaps getting the book which I hope reads as well as its review.
Just to whet your appetite here is a brief extract from the review and those who find it interesting should go to the link which may well motivate you to read the book.
"This is how most people live: alive, but not conscious; conscious, but not aware; aware, but intermittently."
In Faulks' account, the mystery of the murderer takes a back seat to the mystery of consciousness itself. As Mike's adult life unravels, so does our confidence in his account, and in turn, trust in our own ability at telling ourselves and others truths about our lives.
In Faulks' account, the mystery of the murderer takes a back seat to the mystery of consciousness itself. As Mike's adult life unravels, so does our confidence in his account, and in turn, trust in our own ability at telling ourselves and others truths about our lives.
From the Malaysian Star comes news of an interesting event.
Dr Zalina, who coordinates the trans-disciplinary research cluster that focuses on the neuroplasticity of memory and learning, says many parts of a brain are activated when a person does something.
She will be sharing some of the findings of her research in her talk entitled Do you use only 10% of your brain? during the Malaysia Festival of the Mind 2007.
She will be sharing some of the findings of her research in her talk entitled Do you use only 10% of your brain? during the Malaysia Festival of the Mind 2007.
Do you know the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. I think you are going to know what I'm going to say already.
More than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimer's, which is a progressive and fatal brain disease, according to the Alzheimer Association. It destroys brain cells and causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
In a fund raising event known as the Neuse regional memory walk, 500 people took part.
This disease is striking younger and younger people, including people with young children, so it is not just a disease of the elderly.
The walk is to raise funds for Alzheimer's research and its theme is "walk" printed on their T shirts.
From the Globe and mail comes intriguing accounts of what can happen with our minds with respect to music and the book
This Is Your Brain offers a beginner's guide to concepts such as pitch and rhythm, and a rough guide to which parts of the brain seem to be involved in musical memory, pitch placement and timbre recognition. Levitin considers such puzzles as why we like repetition in music, why many people's musical tastes are formed for life by the age of 20, and how we recognize a Beatles song even when played at different speeds by a bluegrass band or on a pennywhistle. He wants to know the origins of musical preference, how our brains suppress or extrapolate musical detail, and why some people are more musical than others.
We are learning more and more about the brain each day but these musical treaties seem to offer new pathways in thinking about what the brain can and cannot do and how suddenly that brain can change and people can even hear music when there is actually no-one there playing it.
It leads to some amazing theories regarding the brain and offers untold opportunities for research ideas never before conceived.
I hope you've enjoyed these little snippets about the brain and you never know what you can induce your own to do.
| 68 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Lara, you got it, kid.
katyzzz