Pure Pedantry

Not Exactly Rocket Science discusses research that uses an fMRI scanner to tell what you are looking at. A veritable machine for decoding images it is! (Although if you think about it, the brain had that job handled pretty well already.) Likewise, he looks at the brain activity of an improvising jazz musician.

The Phineas Gage Fan Club breaks down the complicated domain specificity model of visual recognition. Limitations of this model are discussed, and everyone is enriched.

Neuroanthropology discusses dissociation strategies, and how it is sometimes better when you are an athlete not to think. They also show a visual illusion -- the Ponzo illusion -- that affects some visual systems but not others. Finally, they look into all the subtle gray areas associated with mental enhancement through drugs.

The Neurocritic has a two-parter on why you pay more attention to food when you are hungry (here and here). Shocking, I know, that hungry people pay attention to donuts, but the mechanisms of this increased focus are still important to work out and is poorly understood.

Sandra from Channel N links to a useful web-cast for kids about neuroscience stuff. (If you are a biology teacher, it might be something to consider for class.)

On Sharp Brains, guest blogger Adrian Preda discusses the do's and don'ts for brain-related benefits of exercise. Eric Jensen talks about how he is trying to apply what we know about brains to make better teachers. Finally, they give a market report of available brain fitness software.

Yikes. Advances in the History of Psychology looks at why the term "industrial psychology" might be the result of a typo (here and here). They also take the NYTimes to task over an article suggesting that Kafka's Metamorphosis was based on a true story.

PodBlack Blog wonders whether being a politician makes you more superstitious and looks at some psychological reasons for why. Examples of the current Presidential candidates are presented. Also, apparently aromatherapy really is bunk.

Finally, Providentia looks at a great case of someone who couldn't forget -- which is probably for the best because he has a really, really long name: Solomon Veniaminovitch Shereshevsky. He also talks about the influence of linguist Alfred Korzybski

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful and insightful submissions to Encephalon this issue! The next Encephalon is being hosted at Of Two Minds on Monday, March 31st. Email encephalon {dot} host [at] gmail {dot} com to submit.