I Think Therefore I Yam
I was puzzled by a recent post in PsychCentral. I read it and reread it. I waited a few days to see what comments people would write. I looked at some of the other posts referenced by the author. Finally, I arrived at the same conclusion I had when I first read the post — this [...]
Am I My Own Placebo Effect?
The puzzle of the human experience is that a thought – which comes from somewhere in the mind which comes from somewhere in the brain – can compel me (me? Who is this “me” that’s being compelled?) to engage in physical activity, like running, that in turn changes the physiology of the brain that changes [...]
Gardening, Time & Memory
When I started eating home-grown vegetables (I’ve been doing it for about five years) I learned that the local supermarket was not really selling vegetables. Those objects sold in the produce section looked and felt like vegetables but they didn’t taste like vegetables, at least when compared to my home-grown ones. I also learned that [...]
The Physiological Basis for Consciousness: A Reply to Jeff’s Letter
Transcription Dear Jeff, I like this theory of quantum consciousness but I get worried when it kind of seems too perfect, to fit too well. I did manage to get the library – not an easy trip from where I am staying. Anyway, once I see Deepak Chopra’s name even tangentially associated with something (he [...]
The Physiological Basis for Consciousness: A Reply to Dom’s Letter
Transcription Dear Dominic, Thanks for your letter. Despite the crappy stationary I was still able to read it. Now I know what to get you for Christmas though I’m sure you would prefer another one of those beers of the month things. Your ideas about consciousness definitely got me thinking and, of course, googling. I [...]
What Is The Physiological Basis Of Consciousness?
Note to the Reader: I received this letter a few weeks ago from a good friend. Perhaps he will flesh out the ideas in greater detail at another time but I was so excited to read this that I wanted to scan it and share the letter with you right away. I hope you find [...]
Mapping Clinical Manifestations of Psychiatric Disorders to the Underlying Neurophysiological Lattice: Towards a Vocabulary of the Ecology of Mind
Note to the reader: While cleaning out my attic I stumbled across some items from my college days when I spent a lot of time in the stacks of the Bobst Library. Always fascinated by old books (and, I must admit, the aromatic allure of old paper) I would search out the dark corners of [...]
Filling in the Gap: Some Thoughts on Dr. Parker’s “Psychiatric Diagnostic Labels: Functional or Static?”
Transcription So you’ve got the “traditional” psychiatric community on the left that engages, to some degree, in the “talking cure” whereas, on the right you have the neurophysiology that underlies those terms and have a tangible physical existence within the brain. The problem is that gap between the left side and the right side, the [...]
