In a case of life imitating art, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) reported today that they had successfully reversed mental retardation in mice, just as scientists did in the classic 1966 novel Flowers for Algernon. In the book by Daniel Keyes, scientists use experimental surgery—first tested on a mouse named Algernon—to dramatically boost the intelligence of a mentally retarded janitor named Charlie Gordon. Now M.I.T. scientists report in Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences USA that they ameliorated brain damage in mice caused by a genetic disorder known as fragile X syndrome by blocking an enzyme involved in cellular development.

Fragile X affects one in 4,000 boys and one in 6,000 girls. It is caused by a mutation in the fragile x mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1)—located on the X sex chromosome— that results in the loss of the fragile x mental retardation protein (FMRP). The resulting illness is characterized by hyperactivity, attention deficit, repetitive behavior, anxiety and cognitive difficulties ranging from learning disability to mental retardation.

More here

Linguistics and Cultural Surroundings connected

The New Yorker posted a great article about a new theory of linquistics that defies Noam Chomski’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformational_grammar as defined in his break through book, Logical Structure of Linguistic. Chomsky (the Einstien of modern linquistics) has revised his theory over the decades. But the basic premise is the same. The theory states that the way in which the human brain creates meaning is instinctual. As such, all of the world’s languages must have the same basic structure. The most fundamental part of this universal structure is the ability to make recursive sentences - the ability to string many different beads of thought into one large continuous bead of thought. For example: The hat is red. The man is wearing a hat. AND IN MOST LAGUAGES YOU CAN THEN TAKE THAT SENTENCE AND SAY: The man is wearing a red hat.

Then came Dan Everett. Dan has been interacting with an isolated Brazilian tribe known as the Pirahã who don’t fit into Chomskian theory. They don’t use their language recursively. So it can be argued that it is not their brains that have shaped the structure of their language but the culture that shapes language. Could this be true of every person?

Dan Everett’s theory reminds me of what Ken Wilber says about how much influence our culture has over how we interpret reality. There is nothing to fear as far as Chomsky being wrong… That is the beauty of science. Newton was right about gravity but Einstein’s theories explain certain things that Newtons classic view of the universe can not. And now modern physics theories can explain some things that Einstein’s view could not.

Chomsky’s theories are providing a look into how the brain processes language and our innate ability to concoct meaning from the words we create while Everett’s theory introduces the impact that culture has in shaping our language.

Science of the Soul? ‘I Think, Therefore I Am’ Is Losing Force

here is a cool article from the NYtimes. Its good to see people with a different idea about the human soul and evolution:

“Evolutionary biology shows the transition from animal to human to be too gradual to make sense of the idea that we humans have souls while animals do not,” wrote Dr. Murphy, an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. “All the human capacities once attributed to the mind or soul are now being fruitfully studied as brain processes — or, more accurately, I should say, processes involving the brain, the rest of the nervous system and other bodily systems, all interacting with the socio-cultural world.”

Therefore, she writes, it is “faulty” reasoning to want to distinguish people from the rest of creation. She and Dr. Haught cite the ideas of Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century philosopher and theologian who, Dr. Haught said, “spoke of a vegetative and animal soul along with the human soul.”

“Everything we know about the biological sciences says that life is a phenomenon of physics and chemistry, and therefore the notion of some sort of spirit to animate it and give the flesh a life really doesn’t fit with modern science,” said Dr. Miller, a Roman Catholic whose book, “Finding Darwin’s God” (Harper, 1999) explains his reconciliation of the theory of evolution with religious faith. “However, if you regard the soul as something else, as you might, say, the spiritual reflection of your individuality as a human being, then the theology of the soul it seems to me is on firm ground.”

NYTimes Article, “Science of the Soul?..”

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (entrainment 2.0?)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is the next step in the evolution of entrainment.  Instead of using sounds to influence brainwaves, it uses noninvasive electromagnetism. 

Sound entrainment has been used to coax brainwaves into a certain pattern. 

If a tuning fork designed to produce a frequency of 440 Hz is struck (causing it to oscillate) and then brought into the vicinity of another 440 Hz tuning fork, the second tuning fork will begin to oscillate. The first tuning fork is said to have entrained the second or caused it to resonate. The physics of entrainment apply to biosystems as well. Of interest here are the electromagnetic brain waves. — Science of Binaural Beats Brainwave Entrainment

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is the application of variable magnetic fields to the brain — Open-rTMS 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a VERY effective way to induce states of consciousness:

BBC article on Dr. Persinger’s TMS helmet 

How does Dr Persinger induce artificially religious experiences in his patients?

Dr Persinger has designed a helmet that produces a very weak rotating magnetic field of between ten nanotesla and one microtesla over the temporal lobes of the brain. This is placed on the subject’s head and they are placed in a quiet chamber while blindfolded. So that there is no risk of ’suggestion’, the only information that the subjects are given is that they are going in for a relaxation experiment. Neither the subject nor the experimenter carrying out the test has any idea of the true purpose of the experiment. In addition to this, the experiment is also run with the field switched both off and on. This procedure Dr Persinger claims will induce an experience in over 80% of test subjects.

What sort of experiences do subjects report?

This is very dependent on the belief system of the individual subjects [ADDED Wilber-Combs Lattice]. Dr Persinger talks about his subjects feeling a ’sensed presence’ - feeling that somebody was in the chamber with them. Subjects who are strongly religious are likely to interpret this presence as god. Whereas, atheists may also report a ’sensed presence’ but attribute the phenomena to a trick of brain chemistry, perhaps comparable to when they have taken drugs in the past.

TMS is so effective that “Among more sensitive individuals, tests show that their skin will turn red if they believe a hot nickel has been placed on their hand. That’s a powerful psychosomatic effect of the brain on the body. Suppose we could make it more precise?” — This is Your Brain on God, Wired.  

TMS is currently in the hands of reductionists who believe that ALL mystical experiences can be summed up by electromagnetic disturbances.  Mass sightings up UFOs and other strange phenomenon are simply chemicals in our brains being influenced by electromagnetism.  

Perhaps inducing certain electromagnetic frequencies allows our biominds to access a perspective of reality we would not have otherwise been privy too without years of meditation.  Like devices that allow us to see infrared (frequencies that are beyond our normal domain of visible light), perhaps getting to certain states of consciousness allow us to “see” things we are normally oblivious too.    

Science and religion used to fully subscribe to a flat earth the was the center of a static universe.  We have found the complete opposite to be true.  Modern mainstream scientists now agree that we are likely the only sentient life and there are no subtle spiritual type energies and all spiritual experiences are completely the product of the human brain.  All of that seems just as ridiculous as a ”flatworld” theory.  A neo-atheistic reductionism is fine as belief systems and religions go, but what I don’t like is how science marginalizes anyone outside of their mainstream belief structure. 

I love science but its champions seem to have fallen prey to a dogma that is similar in close minded stagnancy to that of some religious denominations.       

TMS links:

BioMag - TMS reasearch

This is your Brain on God, Wired. 7-11-1999

God Helmet, Shakti

Toward a Quantum-Etheric Theory

I am beginning to feel like a Ken Wilber fan boy here. I am reading Excerpt G: Toward a Comprehensive Theory on Subtle Energies and I am nearly brought to tears by Ken’s gorgeous thoughts on subtle energies (etheric, astral, psychic etc).
What are Subtle Energies:
Theories on subtle energies go back thousands of years. There are versions of this model in Egyptian, Chinese, European, Jewish, Islamic, Indian (and many other) traditions. Ken’s version:

Table 1. Levels of Energy and Consciousness (from Excert G)
Is Quantum Potentiality a Subtle Energy?
One point that I have been confused on is Quantum Mechanics. Where does Quantum Mechanics fits in the Great Chain of subtle energies? Quantum Mechanics (and lately string theory/M-theory/k-theory or whatever the hell Ed Witten is calling it these days) is extremely popular among the New Age, metaphysics, Law of Attraction rock stars (Deepak, the Secret, What the Bleep.. no hate here, I love them). Philosophers, new agers, shaman, mystical fanboys/girls throw around the words “quantum mechanics” all the time (usually without knowing what the hell they are talking about, or at least I don’t know what the hell they are talking about).
Is Law of Attraction a Modern Mesmerism
I can’t help but be reminded of mesmerism and 1920s spiritualism of when I read some new age material. Animal magnetism (aka Mesmerism) was the metaphysical theory of Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. Mesmer’s theory was based on what he called “magnetic fluid” that he claimed was in every one and could be used to cure the sick (sound familiar… Reiki and qi gong have similar theories but different practice, east Indians have myriad practice and theories on something similar… maybe he was on to something). Like our modern day metaphysical theories on Law of Attraction and other new age theories, Mesmer’s animal magnetism had a following in France, but the scientific community didn’t accept it. Some of his clients claimed to be cured by his techniques. Although animal magnetism never took hold in modern science, a 19th century physician named James Braid took his techniques and developed a little something called “hypnosis”.
Like Mesmer’s animal magnetism, I believe some new age theories (Law of attraction, mystical connections to quantum mechanics) are on to something but as of right now the theories are to vague, simplistic and perhaps (as Ken says) naive to take hold in the community (namely science and academia) that can develop it. There is clearly a hunger for answers as people (laypersons, even some scientists and religions) all over the world flock to the latest new age, material-spiritual, quantum mechanics theories such as the material we see in things like “What the Bleep do We know?!” and the Secret.
The Philosopher with the Einstein’s Brain
Ken Wilber has blasted the new age movement, the Secret, What the Bleep and anything even remotely similar. He’s got a lot of arguments about the material, but his main problem (beside what he calls “Boomeritis“) seems to be their theory of reducing nondual spirit to (physical) Quantum phenomenon. Having read HIS version of how Quantum Reality relates to spirit, I must say that he has made me a believer.
His theory makes perfect sense. From what I understand, he is saying that spirit by itself is nondual, meaning it has no opposite so it is truly beyond infinite/finite (for even ‘infinite’ has and opposite, ‘finite’). Spirit has NO reference and no qualities that we can somehow measure and quantify, whereas quantum material do have qualities and opposites. Essentially, even though Quantum potentiality is incredible magical (spookiness at a distance, as Einstein called it) it is NOT equal to spirit as spirit.
Although spirit is manifest as soul (spirit-as-soul), as mind/causal (spirit-as-mind), as prana/etheric/astral (spirit-as-prana), as physical/gross/atoms/matter (spirit-as-matter), and each of the those have opposites, spirit-as-spirit has none so there is nothing we can say about it. It is beyond what we can symbolize with words and thought. Many mistake quantum potentiality for spirit-as-spirit but it is actually spirit-as-prana.
Ken Wilber’s Summary of Quantum Realities
Following the great philosopher-sages (such as Nagarjuna, Plotinus, and Shankara), we can summarize the reasons that any sort of quantum or subquantum events are not Spirit:

1. Any quantum reality has some sort of characteristics, qualities, or dimensions that set it apart from manifest matter; but Spirit is radically shunya of drsti (empty of any and all qualities, including that characterization itself)—e.g., quantum vacuum has vast energy, spirit is unqualifiable.
2. Any quantum reality is different in some important ways from gross matter; but Spirit is not different from any manifestation, but is rather the Suchness or Isness of whatever arises.
3. Quantum reality has an opposite (e.g., non-quantum reality), but Spirit is radically nondual.
4. Spirit is dimensionless; quantum reality is merely in a different dimension.
5. And, most important, quantum material energy comes directly out of prana, not out of spirit (i.e., matter crystallizes out of spirit-as-prana, not spirit-as-spirit).

The Secret is Fake: talking to Mr. Kjerulf

 My response to Alexander Kjerulf on the Secret:

Hi Alexander,

Good stuff.  I love theSecret and I’ve referred to many people.  But you makes some good points.

1. No proof that famous historical people knew the secret:  I guess this depends on context.  Many of the famous people eluded to on the site [thesecret.tv] are world class go-getters (especially in their prime).  But did they know the “law of attraction” by that name… I doubt it.

2. No proof that the Law of Attraction was kept secret (conspiracy):  I kind of saw that bit as a dramatization put in the Secret. 

Although one might argue that the Holy Roman Church [et al] annihilated many sects that actively practiced the Law of Attraction (i.e. Rosicrucians.. if you look closely you will see this name flashed in the title sequence of the secret BTW..  The Rosicrucians -occult,societies, gnostics, heretics and others- that practiced the Law of Attraction a.k.a “magic, thought forms, visualization” or anything that did not conform was destroyed… this purification was done by Nazi Germany, the Holy Roman Empire, and other nationalistic empires that wanted complete control.  Many churches go out of their way to discredit to this day.) 

3-5. The Secret is Pseudo Science:  As I’ve said in a previous post, I won’t even pretend to understand what quantum physics has to do with mysticism, but I do have pretty strong oppinion about the dogmatic even religious steps that science seems to have taken.

Apparently, the belief in pseudo science is on the rise in the U.S. http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/070218_ap_us_science.html
This includes UFOs, psi, astrology, mind over matter and many others.
The scientific incrowd throw them ALL out wholesale.  There is such a stigma in the “accepted” scientific community that even an honest open minded question into the POSSIBILITY of the above areas deemed pseudo science can be career ending.  Personal experience and phenomenology are also thrown out so that one is supposed to question their own sanity prior to believing their own eyes. 

I often ask myself, who has a monopoly on reality?  Science or Religion?  Neither, of course.  Both are simply measurements and guides on life and reality but somehow people have completely reversed this.  Somehow, we have become the mere measurements of science and the puppets of religion with human perspective and life as a passing anomaly or a sin to be cleansed.

So do I believe that the human mind can influence the physical reality?  I believe that an awakend mind is the most power force in the world.  Able to split atoms, influence others, attain deeper understanding of the environment and more importantly, able to make up its own damn mind.

spiritual mystical quantum physics

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