2/17/2006 - On Mind Control

interesting ARTICLE about using neurofeedback monitoring and consciously altering brain waves:

read it- i mean-

this kid is playing a video game through the EEG leads glued to his head. Essentially taking the controls with his thoughts (look ma, no hands)

More interesting to me, is having the ability to visualize otherwise undetectable brainwaves as a technology enhanced extension of biofeedback- and the concept of using it to improve cognition. Past all the jargon, it's just meditation- neurofeedback sounds fantastic but almost everything that happens unconsciously from our hearts beating to our ability to focus has a third-party neuroregulatory mechanism... in other words, when you are made conscious of a usually unconscious process within yourself, chances are your brain is sort of passively hardwired into it and with a little long term potentiation (aka, training), you can consciously modulate that process. This kind of seemingly complicated shit is also referred to as 'self-control' and 'discipline'.

I love that there is so much being discussed about the 'improvement of healthy human brains', and not just focus on pathology as in most biological sciences. It seems to extend the investigation beyond the usual physical and social issues it tackles and into the spritual and internal (and also finally, in the past 20 years, with less theory and more substantial concrete evidence). It's just interesting to observe the scientific spin being put on concepts that are already ancient and well-explored in the spiritual sense

I mean, the Dalai Lama was the guest speaker at the last neuroscience convention. That's pretty effin' crazy. and WONDERFUL

The concept of mind control has a bad rep, but on the positive side of things, a little self-awareness and self-improvement never hurt anyone, right?

on a never-completely-unrelated-note:

Last night I went to a lecture with fellow good humans Sally and Keegan given by Dr. Gregg Franzwa (philosophy prof) at TCU on the topic of "Bullshit" (that's right. BULLSHIT.)

I have to say that was one of those most insightful, entertaining and thought-provoking lectures I have ever attended. Not to mention probably THE funniest. Dr. Franzwa is a fantastic speaker. Keegan wasn't fucking around when he said TCU had a solid philosophy department. I'm getting the audio recordings of the lectures from Sally. Prepare to be quoted on incessantly! More on this later. I could go on forever :)