Comments for Dr. Christopher H. Ramey's Blog http://christopherramey.wordpress.com A blog on psychology, philosophy, phenomenology, and cognitive science. For students in my courses, this is a good place to find answers and even more questions. I welcome all comments, but if you're in one of my courses, please make sure to log in to Wordpress.com first, so that we can all see your picture! (It's friendlier.) Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:42:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on PSY 230: Non-associative learning by anparker10 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/psy-230-non-associative-learning/#comment-3700 anparker10 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:42:48 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3498#comment-3700 As a rather uncoordinated gamer that prefers watching my roommates play video games rather than participating, I have to agree with you that Medal of Honor is a very complex game, and I cannot imagine an inexperienced gamer like myself picking it up even after playing an hour a day for ten days. However, it seems rather impressive that even learning to become even moderately efficient at such a complex game would help visual attention so greatly. It would definitely be interesting to see more research on what kinds of games improve upon specific skills, and also what kind of deficits, such as social ones, they have. The Wii opens up a whole world of questions for me. I often wonder whether it really has the kind of physical benefits for the elderly and wii fit users as seems to be reported, or if it simply encourages people to have an easier and more immediate means rather than going out and really exercising. As a rather uncoordinated gamer that prefers watching my roommates play video games rather than participating, I have to agree with you that Medal of Honor is a very complex game, and I cannot imagine an inexperienced gamer like myself picking it up even after playing an hour a day for ten days. However, it seems rather impressive that even learning to become even moderately efficient at such a complex game would help visual attention so greatly.
It would definitely be interesting to see more research on what kinds of games improve upon specific skills, and also what kind of deficits, such as social ones, they have. The Wii opens up a whole world of questions for me. I often wonder whether it really has the kind of physical benefits for the elderly and wii fit users as seems to be reported, or if it simply encourages people to have an easier and more immediate means rather than going out and really exercising.

]]> Comment on PSY 230: Non-associative learning by anparker10 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/psy-230-non-associative-learning/#comment-3699 anparker10 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:35:45 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3498#comment-3699 Green and Baveller (2003) explored the effects of habitual action video gaming different aspects of visual attention. They tested video gamers against non gamers on assessments of attentional resources, enumeration, useful field of view, and attentional blink. They then trained a group on action video game and administered post-testing on that group as well as a control group trained in a more simple game (tetris). I found all of the tests used to be very interesting and brought to my attention all of the many aspects involved in visual attention. By testing the effect distractors had on tasks of varying difficulty, researchers could see that video gamers had more "spill over" attentional resources to attend to the distractors even when completing difficult tasks. They were also able to identify larger groups of shapes when flashed rapidly (without enough time to numerically count them, but simply quickly identify how many were shown), attend to a larger field of view, and identify targets presented rapidly in succession of one another (this displayed a decrease in blinking as well as an increased ability to alternate between types of tasks, i.e. naming the target and then simply detecting the next target). After training, the group trained in action video games improved on all of these visual tests. This controlled for other variables, such as a preexisting increased attentional ability or an increased visuo-motor ability. It also displayed the increased benefits of multi-faceted action games specifically, different from simpler games such as tetris. This article truly displayed the human brain's ability to learn in an unconscious manner. Much like learning a motor skill, these players were able to draw from their visual experience without actually drawing upon any episodic or semantic memories. In other words, they gained visual attentional skills from a video game without knowing that they'd learned those skills from the game. Exposure to a an environment that has more visual information than our everyday displays our ability to adapt to different environments. This seems to have evolutionary implications, as we will unconsciously adapt to "survive" (I'm not necessarily referring to surviving your virtual life, but rather our ability to quickly adapt to surroundings). This displays a more primitive, mindless form of learning. Here, our brains display plasticity without any involvement of the "mind". In fact, video games are often described as a mindless activity. However, although my argument would support that notion, it seems as though they are not altogether useless when it comes to learning and can have some benefits. Green and Baveller (2003) explored the effects of habitual action video gaming different aspects of visual attention. They tested video gamers against non gamers on assessments of attentional resources, enumeration, useful field of view, and attentional blink. They then trained a group on action video game and administered post-testing on that group as well as a control group trained in a more simple game (tetris).
I found all of the tests used to be very interesting and brought to my attention all of the many aspects involved in visual attention. By testing the effect distractors had on tasks of varying difficulty, researchers could see that video gamers had more “spill over” attentional resources to attend to the distractors even when completing difficult tasks. They were also able to identify larger groups of shapes when flashed rapidly (without enough time to numerically count them, but simply quickly identify how many were shown), attend to a larger field of view, and identify targets presented rapidly in succession of one another (this displayed a decrease in blinking as well as an increased ability to alternate between types of tasks, i.e. naming the target and then simply detecting the next target).
After training, the group trained in action video games improved on all of these visual tests. This controlled for other variables, such as a preexisting increased attentional ability or an increased visuo-motor ability. It also displayed the increased benefits of multi-faceted action games specifically, different from simpler games such as tetris.
This article truly displayed the human brain’s ability to learn in an unconscious manner. Much like learning a motor skill, these players were able to draw from their visual experience without actually drawing upon any episodic or semantic memories. In other words, they gained visual attentional skills from a video game without knowing that they’d learned those skills from the game. Exposure to a an environment that has more visual information than our everyday displays our ability to adapt to different environments. This seems to have evolutionary implications, as we will unconsciously adapt to “survive” (I’m not necessarily referring to surviving your virtual life, but rather our ability to quickly adapt to surroundings). This displays a more primitive, mindless form of learning. Here, our brains display plasticity without any involvement of the “mind”. In fact, video games are often described as a mindless activity. However, although my argument would support that notion, it seems as though they are not altogether useless when it comes to learning and can have some benefits.

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by Peter http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3698 Peter Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:12:32 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3698 That is the sad part. They made a trilogy out of one good movie, and even though the topic is an old one, it is razzable because it entered the mainstream and so many derivative works were based upon it, enlisting as many relativistically favorable as unfavorable elements on its way to the cannibal culture disposal. What I had meant to say explicitly though, isn't it giving people the power, as Valerie brings up, to liberate themselves from the sometimes very real mental prisons that we house ourselves in, healthy or unhealthy in so many paradigms? I think at the end of the movie, what will he do with the power? does he really have power, or was this imagined or programmed as well? Isn't it about giving people the means to remedy their lives and shape their own futures as levy seems to suggest in so many words? I am sorry for the condition of your loved one. Nootropics continue to be tested, and nonviral vectors of genetic modification within the brain (e.g. organic modified silicon nanoplex gene delivery systems) are getting closer to phase II clinical trials everyday (one can hope) and no cancer so far that I have read. Hopefully such means of augmentation (e.g. enticing the growth of progenitor cells for whatever is needed) come to realization. I hear good things about aniracetam in the meantime, but would follow it up in research to date before thinking about taking it. There are so many treatments coming to light. One shouln't stop looking if it is in them. I has hoped to tiptoe past the potential pro choice discussion in the other movie. I guess I'd rather be talking about the matrix than the choice of pro life/pro choice that might go along with a discussion about stem cells in such utility. Although I haven't seen it entirely, in years... did you see it? Was the woman in spotless mind pregnant? I can't help but think about how such a technology might invigorate the debates we have gone through with stem cells. Such a technology could help tragic couples forego terrible memories of failed pregnancies, or abuses in such a right, etc... That is the sad part. They made a trilogy out of one good movie, and even though the topic is an old one, it is razzable because it entered the mainstream and so many derivative works were based upon it, enlisting as many relativistically favorable as unfavorable elements on its way to the cannibal culture disposal. What I had meant to say explicitly though, isn’t it giving people the power, as Valerie brings up, to liberate themselves from the sometimes very real mental prisons that we house ourselves in, healthy or unhealthy in so many paradigms?

I think at the end of the movie,
what will he do with the power?
does he really have power, or was this imagined or programmed as well?

Isn’t it about giving people the means to remedy their lives and shape their own futures as levy seems to suggest in so many words?

I am sorry for the condition of your loved one. Nootropics continue to be tested, and nonviral vectors of genetic modification within the brain (e.g. organic modified silicon nanoplex gene delivery systems) are getting closer to phase II clinical trials everyday (one can hope) and no cancer so far that I have read. Hopefully such means of augmentation (e.g. enticing the growth of progenitor cells for whatever is needed) come to realization. I hear good things about aniracetam in the meantime, but would follow it up in research to date before thinking about taking it. There are so many treatments coming to light. One shouln’t stop looking if it is in them.

I has hoped to tiptoe past the potential pro choice discussion in the other movie. I guess I’d rather be talking about the matrix than the choice of pro life/pro choice that might go along with a discussion about stem cells in such utility. Although I haven’t seen it entirely, in years… did you see it?

Was the woman in spotless mind pregnant? I can’t help but think about how such a technology might invigorate the debates we have gone through with stem cells. Such a technology could help tragic couples forego terrible memories of failed pregnancies, or abuses in such a right, etc…

]]> Comment on PSY 101: Memory, thinking, and intelligence by mw829 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/psy-101-memory-thinking-and-intelligence/#comment-3697 mw829 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:10:56 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3469#comment-3697 Congnition may use several process at once depending upon ones character to process information. It seems this may include but not limited to perception, reasoning and intuition. Your brains ability to use congnition or the process of thought changes and is relevant to your suroundings and virtual atmosphere. Since your brain possesses infinate amount of memory your ability to find the location of a city art museum is based on congnition. You are using applications such as perception, knowledge, awarness, reasoning etc. Given the ecample from the article the effects of the internet on how we think causes beleif that congnition is virtually the same in the minds of young and old alike. The difference here being people that suffer from memory loss may rely on writting information down. Still given they are using perception, reasoning and other processes to the effect. Intelligence opens the playing field of property of the mind and releated abilities. This is more of a general term for what people are capable of doing at a given moment in time. It can be the cause of making the right choice at the right moment. Yet we tend to look at intelligence as being able to apply previous information and or traits to an area that might not be relevent. We find in the article the reason IQ scores are rising children are storing more knowledge from school then ever before. IQ scores have risen on average 18 points. This is proving people are able to reason, solve problems and think abstractly more so then ever before. This is intelligence. Matt Wilson PSY-101 Congnition may use several process at once depending upon ones character to process information. It seems this may include but not limited to perception, reasoning and intuition. Your brains ability to use congnition or the process of thought changes and is relevant to your suroundings and virtual atmosphere. Since your brain possesses infinate amount of memory your ability to find the location of a city art museum is based on congnition. You are using applications such as perception, knowledge, awarness, reasoning etc. Given the ecample from the article the effects of the internet on how we think causes beleif that congnition is virtually the same in the minds of young and old alike. The difference here being people that suffer from memory loss may rely on writting information down. Still given they are using perception, reasoning and other processes to the effect.

Intelligence opens the playing field of property of the mind and releated abilities. This is more of a general term for what people are capable of doing at a given moment in time. It can be the cause of making the right choice at the right moment. Yet we tend to look at intelligence as being able to apply previous information and or traits to an area that might not be relevent. We find in the article the reason IQ scores are rising children are storing more knowledge from school then ever before. IQ scores have risen on average 18 points. This is proving people are able to reason, solve problems and think abstractly more so then ever before. This is intelligence.

Matt Wilson
PSY-101

]]> Comment on PSY 230: Non-associative learning by weezescorcho http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/psy-230-non-associative-learning/#comment-3696 weezescorcho Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:13:23 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3498#comment-3696 First, I’ll review Green and Baveller (2003), and after this, I’ll go into my opinion (rant) about video games, and the effect they can have on people. Their entire experiment was based off of the idea that exposing one to an altered visual environment results in modification of their visual system. The authors wanted to find out if action video game playing is capable of altering a range of visual skills. I’d like to focus on their 5th experiment, which dealt with training non-video game players on an action video game, and comparing the player’s capacity for visual attention before and after game playing. First of all, I’d like to take note of the game they chose: ‘Medal of Honor’. ‘Medal of Honor’, for those that don’t know, is a WWII war-based shooter. It is fairly complex, as far as games are concerned (many different button combinations, strategy, etc), and it is far more complex than the control game, ‘Tetris’. I’d find it hard to believe that a non-gamer would have an easy time adjusting, going from not playing any games to playing a game as complex as ‘Medal of Honor’. Although Green and Baveller (2003) don’t mention it in their paper, I’d be interested to know about the learning curve these participants saw. Imagine your parents just picking up an action video game after barely playing anything else. That would be strange. Well, with the invention of the Nintendo Wii (how I loathe it), I guess this idea is becoming less strange every day. Anyway, the main point of the results is that these non-video game players, after training on ‘Medal of Honor’ for an hour a day, showed marked improvement on their capacity for visual attention when compared to their pre-video game playing scores. This finding seemed significant, as it was universal throughout this experiment. Improvement in visual attention is no laughing matter. Imagine what we would be like with absolutely no visual attention? Not that fun. Well, this brings me to the question of whether video games have good qualities or not. Some history: my first video game system was a regular Nintendo, that I got when I was 5. The first games I ever played all involved Sesame Street, and they ruled. I truly believe that these video games contributed to my understanding of language, and ability to read. At the age of 9 or so, I started playing more complex games, with more difficult to read text. Enter, of course, the Pokemon craze. I played those games quite a bit, and a lot of reading, cognition, decision making, and the like were involved. I truly believe that playing these games and other role-playing games contributed to where I stand today (or, at least, playing didn’t hurt me THAT much). So, do I think that video games have good qualities to them? My answer is a hesitant ‘yes’, though I become more and more hesitant every day. Just like anything in life, there is such a thing as too much gaming. With the invent of online gaming, we see people spend far too much time playing against friends, neglecting other aspects of life. Can games improve your visual attention, even further reading skills? Sure. However, the games like this are going farther by the wayside every day. With the right games (not ridiculously violent, etc), we could see marked improvement in many facets of life. In fact, with games such as ‘Brain Age’, we’re seeing some games specifically made to tease our brains. What I would like to see is some sort of research done on these games that are specifically made for learning. Do they work just as well as private lessons? Do they help, on top of a solid foundation of learning? My guess would be the latter. Overall, Green and Baveller (2003) shows us a few points that we’ve been talking about recently. First, doing something repeatedly can effect changes in the brain. We see this with changes in visual attention. Secondly, we see the effects that stages of expertise can have on the brain. Truly, these non-gamers were novices when they started playing. As they continued to practice, their level of expertise increased, and some important brain structures and abilities changed. Is there a direct correlation? One would think that there is. Importantly as well, subjects also showed learning without ‘trying’ to learn, that is, in playing games, they learned how to gain better visual attention without trying to at all. Thus, we can see that simple exposure to repeated stimuli can have an effect (good or bad) on learning, and the memories we store. Learning something outside of our consciousness shows that we as humans learn far more than we ever think we do, every day. We’re always improving certain facets of our mind, picking up pieces of information, and honing our skills, many times without even realizing it. One would then imagine that things that are learned consciously would differ drastically from those learned unconsciously, but I suppose this is another subject. Spenser Brossman, PSY 230. First, I’ll review Green and Baveller (2003), and after this, I’ll go into my opinion (rant) about video games, and the effect they can have on people. Their entire experiment was based off of the idea that exposing one to an altered visual environment results in modification of their visual system. The authors wanted to find out if action video game playing is capable of altering a range of visual skills. I’d like to focus on their 5th experiment, which dealt with training non-video game players on an action video game, and comparing the player’s capacity for visual attention before and after game playing.

First of all, I’d like to take note of the game they chose: ‘Medal of Honor’. ‘Medal of Honor’, for those that don’t know, is a WWII war-based shooter. It is fairly complex, as far as games are concerned (many different button combinations, strategy, etc), and it is far more complex than the control game, ‘Tetris’. I’d find it hard to believe that a non-gamer would have an easy time adjusting, going from not playing any games to playing a game as complex as ‘Medal of Honor’. Although Green and Baveller (2003) don’t mention it in their paper, I’d be interested to know about the learning curve these participants saw. Imagine your parents just picking up an action video game after barely playing anything else. That would be strange. Well, with the invention of the Nintendo Wii (how I loathe it), I guess this idea is becoming less strange every day.

Anyway, the main point of the results is that these non-video game players, after training on ‘Medal of Honor’ for an hour a day, showed marked improvement on their capacity for visual attention when compared to their pre-video game playing scores. This finding seemed significant, as it was universal throughout this experiment. Improvement in visual attention is no laughing matter. Imagine what we would be like with absolutely no visual attention? Not that fun.

Well, this brings me to the question of whether video games have good qualities or not. Some history: my first video game system was a regular Nintendo, that I got when I was 5. The first games I ever played all involved Sesame Street, and they ruled. I truly believe that these video games contributed to my understanding of language, and ability to read. At the age of 9 or so, I started playing more complex games, with more difficult to read text. Enter, of course, the Pokemon craze. I played those games quite a bit, and a lot of reading, cognition, decision making, and the like were involved. I truly believe that playing these games and other role-playing games contributed to where I stand today (or, at least, playing didn’t hurt me THAT much). So, do I think that video games have good qualities to them? My answer is a hesitant ‘yes’, though I become more and more hesitant every day.

Just like anything in life, there is such a thing as too much gaming. With the invent of online gaming, we see people spend far too much time playing against friends, neglecting other aspects of life. Can games improve your visual attention, even further reading skills? Sure. However, the games like this are going farther by the wayside every day. With the right games (not ridiculously violent, etc), we could see marked improvement in many facets of life. In fact, with games such as ‘Brain Age’, we’re seeing some games specifically made to tease our brains. What I would like to see is some sort of research done on these games that are specifically made for learning. Do they work just as well as private lessons? Do they help, on top of a solid foundation of learning? My guess would be the latter.

Overall, Green and Baveller (2003) shows us a few points that we’ve been talking about recently. First, doing something repeatedly can effect changes in the brain. We see this with changes in visual attention. Secondly, we see the effects that stages of expertise can have on the brain. Truly, these non-gamers were novices when they started playing. As they continued to practice, their level of expertise increased, and some important brain structures and abilities changed. Is there a direct correlation? One would think that there is.

Importantly as well, subjects also showed learning without ‘trying’ to learn, that is, in playing games, they learned how to gain better visual attention without trying to at all. Thus, we can see that simple exposure to repeated stimuli can have an effect (good or bad) on learning, and the memories we store. Learning something outside of our consciousness shows that we as humans learn far more than we ever think we do, every day. We’re always improving certain facets of our mind, picking up pieces of information, and honing our skills, many times without even realizing it. One would then imagine that things that are learned consciously would differ drastically from those learned unconsciously, but I suppose this is another subject.

Spenser Brossman, PSY 230.

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by Julie Bostic http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3695 Julie Bostic Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:23:26 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3695 When you write of the main chracter questioning his wife about their memories and identity, it made me think of the family friend sufferring from alzheimers. He has not yet reached the point of questioning his wife, however she is the only thing he believes in. He questions everything else. While the thought of intentionally manipulating or erasing memories with a procedure or drug is daunting, the idea of a disease doing this without cure and with little in the way to keep it in check is downright terrifying. Meanwhile, is it just me or does this movie sound vaguely like Matrix? When you write of the main chracter questioning his wife about their memories and identity, it made me think of the family friend sufferring from alzheimers. He has not yet reached the point of questioning his wife, however she is the only thing he believes in. He questions everything else. While the thought of intentionally manipulating or erasing memories with a procedure or drug is daunting, the idea of a disease doing this without cure and with little in the way to keep it in check is downright terrifying.

Meanwhile, is it just me or does this movie sound vaguely like Matrix?

]]> Comment on PSY 230: Non-associative learning by christylane http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/psy-230-non-associative-learning/#comment-3694 christylane Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:32:12 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3498#comment-3694 As always, I am looking forward to the discussion and hearing your thoughts about video games and attention. Post away! -Christy Lane (TA), PSY-230 As always, I am looking forward to the discussion and hearing your thoughts about video games and attention. Post away!

-Christy Lane (TA), PSY-230

]]> Comment on PSY 101: Memory, thinking, and intelligence by jk528 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/psy-101-memory-thinking-and-intelligence/#comment-3693 jk528 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:31:36 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3469#comment-3693 I think cognition deals with our ability to process thoughts in a particular pattern. From that notion, I think that intelligence is related to cognition since it takes thought patterns and applies them to solve various problems. With education and experience, the efficiency in which we are able to solve problems increases. However, due to the brain’s enormous capacity to store memories, recalling the relevant information to solve a problem may not be trivial. Over time, older memories may be harder to retrieve and place into working memory. Stress factors, such as malnutrition, may also play a role in limiting our intelligence and/or cognitive processes since without the proper diet, our bodies can’t function properly. Although our minds are constantly processing information, we tend to only focus on the information that is relevant to our present situation. The Zimmer article hints at the need for better filtering of information we get online. Not only from online sources, but filtering information to a point, where that knowledge can be applied to solve a problem, adds to the meaning of intelligence. John Kim PSY-101 I think cognition deals with our ability to process thoughts in a particular pattern. From that notion, I think that intelligence is related to cognition since it takes thought patterns and applies them to solve various problems. With education and experience, the efficiency in which we are able to solve problems increases. However, due to the brain’s enormous capacity to store memories, recalling the relevant information to solve a problem may not be trivial. Over time, older memories may be harder to retrieve and place into working memory. Stress factors, such as malnutrition, may also play a role in limiting our intelligence and/or cognitive processes since without the proper diet, our bodies can’t function properly.

Although our minds are constantly processing information, we tend to only focus on the information that is relevant to our present situation. The Zimmer article hints at the need for better filtering of information we get online. Not only from online sources, but filtering information to a point, where that knowledge can be applied to solve a problem, adds to the meaning of intelligence.

John Kim
PSY-101

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by Valerie Corrigan http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3692 Valerie Corrigan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:52:39 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3692 Dark City is an eerie movie which begins quite abruptly and leaves the viewer confused from the beginning, left to figure out what is going on along with the title character. As his knowledge of his situation increases, so does ours. As the story unravels, the point of the movie becomes clear: what is really at stake is free will, and this is ultimately what the protagonist, the title character, preserves. The Strangers, the antagonists, are an alien race on the verge of extinction whose hubris seems to be overwhelming. Their power lies in their abilities to 'tune', or recreate the landscape as well as everyones reality. Their interest in humans, it seems, is to tamper with identities in order to see how each induvidual human reacts in certain scenarios. In order to do this they strip the citizens of this dark city of all memories, identites, and personalities in order to 'implant' them in the lives of other people. The title character, for example, is made to think that he is a serial killer. We come to find out that he is not, but the power of suggestion is strong enough to make him test himself. The movie ends in a moral. We have the ability to create our own reality. It may not be the exact way that we had once imagined it, but the point is the same. Happiness can be created and manifested. Their seems to be a parallel to me in the way that pharmaceutical companies commercials are geared toward convincing us that we need their products to be happy, and that without antidepressants and the like we will be unable to reach this state. We are left thinking that we are inherently faulted and deficient, but in reality we are all able to create our own realities. Valerie Corrigan Psy 480 Dark City is an eerie movie which begins quite abruptly and leaves the viewer confused from the beginning, left to figure out what is going on along with the title character. As his knowledge of his situation increases, so does ours. As the story unravels, the point of the movie becomes clear: what is really at stake is free will, and this is ultimately what the protagonist, the title character, preserves.
The Strangers, the antagonists, are an alien race on the verge of extinction whose hubris seems to be overwhelming. Their power lies in their abilities to ‘tune’, or recreate the landscape as well as everyones reality. Their interest in humans, it seems, is to tamper with identities in order to see how each induvidual human reacts in certain scenarios. In order to do this they strip the citizens of this dark city of all memories, identites, and personalities in order to ‘implant’ them in the lives of other people. The title character, for example, is made to think that he is a serial killer. We come to find out that he is not, but the power of suggestion is strong enough to make him test himself.

The movie ends in a moral. We have the ability to create our own reality. It may not be the exact way that we had once imagined it, but the point is the same. Happiness can be created and manifested. Their seems to be a parallel to me in the way that pharmaceutical companies commercials are geared toward convincing us that we need their products to be happy, and that without antidepressants and the like we will be unable to reach this state. We are left thinking that we are inherently faulted and deficient, but in reality we are all able to create our own realities.

Valerie Corrigan
Psy 480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by Julie Bostic http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3691 Julie Bostic Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:28:37 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3691 Helloooo Joanne: Yes that was a bit bizarre with him sleeping and Stan & Mary romping there around him...reminded me a bit of a frat party from a long time ago in a land far, far away. No, I don't think the knowldge would change the outcome. They might adjust their behavior for a short time, but eventually they would revert to their true selves. They were not whole as individuals and were looking to one another to fulfill themselves. She was a novelty for him, and that does not provide a solid foundation for a relationship. Julie Bostic Psy 480 Helloooo Joanne:

Yes that was a bit bizarre with him sleeping and Stan & Mary romping there around him…reminded me a bit of a frat party from a long time ago in a land far, far away.

No, I don’t think the knowldge would change the outcome. They might adjust their behavior for a short time, but eventually they would revert to their true selves. They were not whole as individuals and were looking to one another to fulfill themselves. She was a novelty for him, and that does not provide a solid foundation for a relationship.

Julie Bostic
Psy 480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by judy eshelman http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3690 judy eshelman Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:57:57 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3690 Joanne, I was thinking along the same lines. At first, it was so uncomfortable with them each hearing the awful things they had said about each other. Yet, it was essentially true, and maybe that brutal honesty is what the relationship was lacking or at the very least, better communication. Sometimes we see the best in people and ignore the worst, which doesn't really live room for an honest relationship. I was rooting for this fictional couple at the end! Judy Eshelman Psy 480 Joanne, I was thinking along the same lines. At first, it was so uncomfortable with them each hearing the awful things they had said about each other. Yet, it was essentially true, and maybe that brutal honesty is what the relationship was lacking or at the very least, better communication. Sometimes we see the best in people and ignore the worst, which doesn’t really live room for an honest relationship. I was rooting for this fictional couple at the end!

Judy Eshelman
Psy 480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by judy eshelman http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3689 judy eshelman Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:51:11 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3689 That's too funny! Freud would this 'uncanny' perhaps?! Judy Eshelman Psy480 That’s too funny! Freud would this ‘uncanny’ perhaps?!

Judy Eshelman
Psy480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by jlp88 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3688 jlp88 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:47:00 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3688 Hey, Julie. How crazy is it that Stan and Mary were dancing on the bed half naked while Joel was having his memories erased! You mention that you think Joel and Clementine's relationship would end in disaster again. Do you think, by listening to the tapes, they would learn from their mistakes and try to do things differently? Joanne Pomeroy PSY 480 Hey, Julie. How crazy is it that Stan and Mary were dancing on the bed half naked while Joel was having his memories erased! You mention that you think Joel and Clementine’s relationship would end in disaster again. Do you think, by listening to the tapes, they would learn from their mistakes and try to do things differently?

Joanne Pomeroy
PSY 480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by jlp88 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3686 jlp88 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:39:49 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3686 Judy, I feel exactly the same way about Patrick and how he stole and took advantage of Joel and Clementine's memories. It continues to illustrate how vulnerable people were as the underwent the procedure. Joanne Pomeroy PSY 480 Judy, I feel exactly the same way about Patrick and how he stole and took advantage of Joel and Clementine’s memories. It continues to illustrate how vulnerable people were as the underwent the procedure.

Joanne Pomeroy
PSY 480

]]> Comment on PSY 480: Mind Control and Memory by Peter http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/psy-480-mind-control-and-memory/#comment-3685 Peter Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:05:37 +0000 http://christopherramey.wordpress.com/?p=3429#comment-3685 aye Christine, Malformed collective memory seems a scary to face, let alone combat when in opposition to one's self or group. I wholeheartedly agree that the trauma you mention yielded by the perpetual search for authenticity of memory, identity, and self reference would be crushing...never having the amnesty of familiarity, good or bad sounds intolerable. I also agree that memories can have a pertinence to them in their affect despite arguments of permanence to the formation and evolution of our holistic selves (self to self vs. self to others vs. self to all vs all to others, etc) and to potentially be robbed even by one's own volition of a primative which helps to composite what one's sees, feels, knows, senses, etc despite connotation is very scary if only for that notion. Excessive glucocorticoids (e.g. resulting from excessive stress) can decimate hippocampal function and thus the learning of new behavior. While I readily see the negatives you present as it pertains to memory modulation, I believe that the techniques will exist regardless, and that they are (needed) tools which have the power to liberate or imprison. I don't think cognitive behavior therapy should be sold short for its ability to extinct memory behavior associations. One can use a semantic memory to trump an episodic memory, right? Isn't that clinicians attempt, liberate through the use of memory modulation, albeit many times indirect? I agree too that as treatments become more direct/effective/permanent and more invasive physically, psychosocially, spiritually, more robust safeguards must be in place prior to widespread deployment and usage. aye Christine, Malformed collective memory seems a scary to face, let alone combat when in opposition to one’s self or group. I wholeheartedly agree that the trauma you mention yielded by the perpetual search for authenticity of memory, identity, and self reference would be crushing…never having the amnesty of familiarity, good or bad sounds intolerable. I also agree that memories can have a pertinence to them in their affect despite arguments of permanence to the formation and evolution of our holistic selves (self to self vs. self to others vs. self to all vs all to others, etc) and to potentially be robbed even by one’s own volition of a primative which helps to composite what one’s sees, feels, knows, senses, etc despite connotation is very scary if only for that notion. Excessive glucocorticoids (e.g. resulting from excessive stress) can decimate hippocampal function and thus the learning of new behavior. While I readily see the negatives you present as it pertains to memory modulation, I believe that the techniques will exist regardless, and that they are (needed) tools which have the power to liberate or imprison. I don’t think cognitive behavior therapy should be sold short for its ability to extinct memory behavior associations. One can use a semantic memory to trump an episodic memory, right? Isn’t that clinicians attempt, liberate through the use of memory modulation, albeit many times indirect? I agree too that as treatments become more direct/effective/permanent and more invasive physically, psychosocially, spiritually, more robust safeguards must be in place prior to widespread deployment and usage.

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