Blog Post #3

The first activity I did was "Chance in Life and The World." A fuzzy screen consisting of yellow and magenta colored dots flashing at you showed up. The visibility started at 50% so both sides were equal, you then had to switch it up towards 100% or down towards 0%. The word "Serendip" would eventually become clear. If you went one way, you would see less yellow and more magenta, while the other way would consist of less magenta and more yellow. The second activity I did was "Seeing More Than Your Eye Does." This was rather intriguing. There was a small picture of a cross on the left side and a dot on the right side. You were to close your left eye while staring at the cross with your right eye. You then gradually moved closer to the computer screen where the dot would suddenly disappear and then reappear. They said it goes to show you have a "blind spot." I learned from these activities that not everything is as it seems and there's more to things that what you can sense, which is your vision in these instances. In my everyday life now, I can use this as to thinking deeper at everything around me, and not just seeing everything as is. If I do this more often in my everyday surroundings, my perception of the world could definitely change, as I probably wouldn't be thinking the same as everyone around me, but in fact, a little deeper.

I learned that neurons help the body to process information, and this is why our bodies function and do the things they do. A sensory neuron, for instance, carries messages to your brain and spinal cord. Another thing I learned about the tools you can use to examine our brains. An EEG or PET scan is an example. With these technological advances, we can research about our brains, as to why we think the way we do. I used to think of the brain as a sometimes big, mushy, gross thing somewhere up there in our heads, but now I can tell how it actually works. I also found it pretty cool how the brain works with "plasticity," how it can help itself after damage has been done.

I found the video "The Man With Two Brains" rather intriguing. It was kind of confusing, but I think I understand it. It's really weird to think that a person can, but at the same time can't, comprehend everyday, simple things with a split brain, having two halves. At the same time, it is a big advance for the researchers involved with the experiment, it's like Christmas everyday, finding out something new and exciting!