Re: Zapping your brain during REM = %8 more memory

[Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu]

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:30:58 EST, Dude VanWinkle said:
> They may have to update this because I will take the route of saying
> that our brains run at 10 efficiency or that 10 percent of its
> potential.

<and goes on to cite several examples that don't prove much of anything
other than (a) there's a bell curve and (b) much of the cited behavior is
actually trainable, and *has* been for most of known history (hint -
how do you think all of Homer's works were preserved?)>

Note that it's also unclear what "100% efficiency" would *mean* - if all
neurons are firing all the time, you can't distinguish as many distinct neural
states. Also, most of the time, not much is going on, and you really *don't*
need to be using 100% of the capacity.  But sometimes you need a *lot* of
capacity *right now* (for instance, I'm sure that Saturday when I startled
a bobcat in his lair when only 2 foot or so from the opening, I went through
a *lot* of neurons comparing the snarl to every sound I ever heard, and coming
up with a good response...)

Consider it the cognitive equivalent of trying to pass at Talledega with a big
honking restrictor plate....

Also, firing the neurons more often means you burn more glucose, which means
both more cooling issues, and the need to eat more.

> This is why, even though its listed on snopes.com as being untrue,
> that I will still continue to quote that fallacy.

Ya know, Dude, if you *used* the other 90% of the neurons, you could do
amazing stuff.... like change your mind when confronted by evidence. :)

Attachment: _bin
Description:

_______________________________________________
Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts.
https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec
Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.