Tag: brain

The science of studying (as opposed to studying science)

  Ah, spring. Even though I haven’t been in school for fift–um, several–years, it used to be in spring that this young man’s fancy turned to thoughts of…final exams. Final. Exams. The phrase has a kind of closing-of-the-crypt-doors solemnity, doesn’t it? But, we were told, final exams need not be a time of panic, of …

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Memory

What’s the biggest single difference between you and a dandelion? Think about that for a moment. You both take in nutrients, air and water; you both grow, you both age. So what’s the difference? Remember the last time you saw a dandelion? An argument could be made (and in fact I’m going to make it) …

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The brain

“I think, therefore I am” may be great philosophy, but let’s face it, there’s more to life than thinking. Most of us also have a body of some description (some descriptions are better than others), and our bodies and brains working together make us us–which is not to say that there’s any doubt about who …

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Sleep

  “To sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there’s the rub . . . “ Aye, there’s the rub indeed–the rub being, nobody’s really sure why we sleep. Or why we dream. Or why either is important. Some scientists doubt that dreaming is of any great importance. They don’t have those doubts about sleep. We know …

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Music

Want to start an interesting discussion? Go up to someone and say, “I think Barry Manilow represents the pinnacle of music in the rock era.” Assuming you can avoid being locked and/or beaten up, you will have demonstrated the fact that music is a topic of great interest to just about everyone. Topics of great …

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Perception

Is what you see what’s really there, or is it all in your head? “Well, I don’t know about you,” I hear you say (which is a good trick, considering this is a newspaper column), “but I see what’s really there. This newspaper is really here in my hands–I’m not imagining it.” No, you’re not. …

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