Scientists identify brain's region for introspection

[neverwas]

good stuff

I wonder what some users of psychedelics and those in touch with spirit/more enlightened individuals could teach?

 

[Dimitrius]

"....Does this area develop as we get better at reflecting our thoughts, or are people better at introspection if their prefrontal cortex is more developed in the first place?"

Both!

"If we understand self-awareness at the neurological level, then perhaps we can adapt treatments and develop training strategies for these patients."

I like this.

 

[Shayku]

Cool.

Dimitrius, I like your first quote, but not so much the second. It seems to me like every article that speaks of some type of brain research feels compelled to justify it with imminent medical applications. We don't see that as often with space or sea exploration, or with math or physics research. I wish we could collectively get to a point where the quest for knowledge would be fine in itself.

 

[benzyme]

that doesn't surprise me at all. humans are the only animals with a prefrontal cortex.

btw...this area is far from the Brodmann areas where psychedelic effects occur. different ball park

 

[neverwas]

btw...this area is far from the Brodmann areas where psychedelic effects occur. different ball park

I know. I meant that maybe since some users of psychedelics are more prone to introspection and self awareness, due to usage of said drug, that maybe this area is more developed than those with little to no usage of them. This is of course not taking into account those who achieve similar mind states through meditation or whatever.

 

[Infundibulum]

Dimitrius, I like your first quote, but not so much the second. It seems to me like every article that speaks of some type of brain research feels compelled to justify it with imminent medical applications. We don't see that as often with space or sea exploration, or with math or physics research. I wish we could collectively get to a point where the quest for knowledge would be fine in itself.

It is the bitter truth, this is unfortunately how science and funding work. If you want to get funding in biomedical research then you have to throw in (in)direct cues to potential medical applications in your grant applications. I get funding for my project from a Cancer-associated trust, and guess what, I can honestly draw very little connections between my research and cancer cure.

Nobody pays you money to do research that has no implications for the society in general. Doing science for science died 100 years ago. Even physicists and mathematicians have to justify their research with imminent applications, might be electronics for instance, communications etc etc.