As a neuroscience nerd of I’d say we are all “on the inside looking out.” The various sensory portals (vision, hearing, tactile (skin sensation), vestibular( movement and balance), proprioception (awareness of the body in space), olfactory (sensation of “ole factories), gustatory (taste) are the filters that communicate information from the “outside” to be processed in the brain and create a multi sensory image of the World. If you wish to extend your metaphor I would say that we all live in the “attic” of the embodied brain’s supportive and protective armature (muscles and bones) with its cranial vault, closely related visual windows, and surrounding other portals. It comforts me to know this since it means that the self emerging from such an embodied-brain-mind will be as different as the differences of experience, genetics, and the changes that occur in the portals over time. What troubles me is your bald assertion that St. Peter’s Square is “a stone’s throw” from The Vatican. Have you tested this hypothesis?
Bobby- I like this description: “we all live in the “attic” of the embodied brain’s supportive and protective armature (muscles and bones) with its cranial vault, closely related visual windows, and surrounding other portals.” Great observation. 🙌🏼
It’s explained in my words, but it’s pretty directly from the writing of Antonio Damasio MD, a neurologist who writes so civilians can pretty much understand the richness of his documenting the brain’s various regions, circuits, bodily crosstalk: the notion that you can’t separate the body from the brain. That said, it is most correct to say that only as such can a self-conscious-embodied-brain-mind create a unique sense of a self with a history of the past, awareness of the moment and “memories”of the future. Also noteworthy from an evolutionary/genetic point of view is that the “oldest,” or evolutionary most ancient parts of the nervous system, lie closest to the midline and the most recent developments like the cortical mantle are most distant from the midline. And some of what lies close to midline are the emotional parts of brain while “higher” functions like cognition and a self that is aware of its knowing that it know itself. Animals have well defined emotions but much more limited cognitive capacities than humans, though porpoises might be an exception. Damasio says all this much better than my gurgling. Best way in is his most recent, slim little volume that nicely summarizes all his 30 years of writing: “Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious.”
Hi Thalia, I've always thought attics were cool places. In our family, that's where all the old photos, books and odds and ends were storing their stories. Our Grandpa and Grandma's place in rural Oregon was full of treasures.
Eric- Attics *are* cool. Especially when the grandparents are good at seeing the value of things that are overlooked. Must’ve been fun rummaging through their attic. Any particular things you found that came to mind? 🙌🏼
I can't load it on here, apparently, but take my word, it's great! The grandparents had a couple of steamer trunks filled with things, including photos of my dad and his siblings when they were kids.
Inspiring, uplifting, and intricately woven. A wonderful post, Thalia. I love the way you find the common thread in seemingly disparate sources and weave them together without missing a stitch.
As a neuroscience nerd of I’d say we are all “on the inside looking out.” The various sensory portals (vision, hearing, tactile (skin sensation), vestibular( movement and balance), proprioception (awareness of the body in space), olfactory (sensation of “ole factories), gustatory (taste) are the filters that communicate information from the “outside” to be processed in the brain and create a multi sensory image of the World. If you wish to extend your metaphor I would say that we all live in the “attic” of the embodied brain’s supportive and protective armature (muscles and bones) with its cranial vault, closely related visual windows, and surrounding other portals. It comforts me to know this since it means that the self emerging from such an embodied-brain-mind will be as different as the differences of experience, genetics, and the changes that occur in the portals over time. What troubles me is your bald assertion that St. Peter’s Square is “a stone’s throw” from The Vatican. Have you tested this hypothesis?
Bobby- I like this description: “we all live in the “attic” of the embodied brain’s supportive and protective armature (muscles and bones) with its cranial vault, closely related visual windows, and surrounding other portals.” Great observation. 🙌🏼
It’s explained in my words, but it’s pretty directly from the writing of Antonio Damasio MD, a neurologist who writes so civilians can pretty much understand the richness of his documenting the brain’s various regions, circuits, bodily crosstalk: the notion that you can’t separate the body from the brain. That said, it is most correct to say that only as such can a self-conscious-embodied-brain-mind create a unique sense of a self with a history of the past, awareness of the moment and “memories”of the future. Also noteworthy from an evolutionary/genetic point of view is that the “oldest,” or evolutionary most ancient parts of the nervous system, lie closest to the midline and the most recent developments like the cortical mantle are most distant from the midline. And some of what lies close to midline are the emotional parts of brain while “higher” functions like cognition and a self that is aware of its knowing that it know itself. Animals have well defined emotions but much more limited cognitive capacities than humans, though porpoises might be an exception. Damasio says all this much better than my gurgling. Best way in is his most recent, slim little volume that nicely summarizes all his 30 years of writing: “Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious.”
This piece is fillled with depth and Spaaaciousness.
Especially loved this: “Without a cap around the void, you can’t hear echoes.”
I’m all for anything spaaaaacious, ET-
Hi Thalia, I've always thought attics were cool places. In our family, that's where all the old photos, books and odds and ends were storing their stories. Our Grandpa and Grandma's place in rural Oregon was full of treasures.
Eric- Attics *are* cool. Especially when the grandparents are good at seeing the value of things that are overlooked. Must’ve been fun rummaging through their attic. Any particular things you found that came to mind? 🙌🏼
A relatively formal black and white studio photo of my Grandpa's baseball team in Nebraska, 1920s era. All of them in uniform with their mitts.
Oh wow! That vintage photo must’ve been amazing! ⚾️🏟️
I can't load it on here, apparently, but take my word, it's great! The grandparents had a couple of steamer trunks filled with things, including photos of my dad and his siblings when they were kids.
Inspiring, uplifting, and intricately woven. A wonderful post, Thalia. I love the way you find the common thread in seemingly disparate sources and weave them together without missing a stitch.
Thank you, Andrew. Glad you enjoyed it. Doing alright this week? 🙌🏼
🌹🌻🌸💐💚💜❤️🌼😍🥰