Frontal language areas do not emerge in the absence of temporal language areas: A case study of an individual born without a left temporal lobe

Abstract:

Language processing relies on a left-lateralized fronto-temporal brain network. How this network emerges ontogenetically remains debated. We asked whether frontal language areas emerge in the absence of temporal language areas through a ‘deep-data’ investigation of an individual (EG) born without her left temporal lobe. Using fMRI methods that have been validated to elicit reliable individual-level responses, we find that—as expected for early left-hemisphere damage—EG has a fully functional language network in her right hemisphere (comparable to the LH network in n = 145 controls) and intact linguistic abilities. However, we detect no response to language in EG's left frontal lobe (replicated across two sessions, 3 years apart). Another network—the multiple demand network—is robustly present in frontal lobes bilaterally, suggesting that EG's left frontal cortex can support non-linguistic cognition. The existence of temporal language areas therefore appears to be a prerequisite for the emergence of the frontal language areas.

http://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393222000434

Some people just want to watch the world burn: the prevalence, psychology and politics of the ‘Need for Chaos’

Abstract:

People form political attitudes to serve psychological needs. Recent research shows that some individuals have a strong desire to incite chaos when they perceive themselves to be marginalized by society. These individuals tend to see chaos as a way to invert the power structure and gain social status in the process. Analysing data drawn from large-scale representative surveys conducted in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, we identify the prevalence of Need for Chaos across Anglo-Saxon societies. Using Latent Profile Analysis, we explore whether different subtypes underlie the uni-dimensional construct and find evidence that some people may be motivated to seek out chaos because they want to rebuild society, while others enjoy destruction for its own sake. We demonstrate that chaos-seekers are not a unified political group but a divergent set of malcontents. Multiple pathways can lead individuals to ‘want to watch the world burn’.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2020.0147

Biochemical Pathways in Humans
pathwayz.org/Tree/Plain/BIOCHEMICAL+PATHWAYS

The Art of Space Filling in Penrose Tilings and Fractals

Abstract:

Incorporating designs into the tiles that form tessellations presents an interesting challenge for artists. Creating a viable MC Escher like image that works esthetically as well as functionally requires resolving incongruencies at a tile's edge while constrained by its shape. Escher was the most well known practitioner in this style of mathematical visualization, but there are significant mathematical shapes to which he never applied his artistry. These shapes can incorporate designs that form images as appealing as those produced by Escher, and our paper explores this for traditional tessellations, Penrose Tilings, fractals, and fractal/tessellation combinations. To illustrate the versatility of tiling art, images were created with multiple figures and negative space leading to patterns distinct from the work of others.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1106.2750

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6B-7M43Hpg
sometimes a man just needs a girl with whom he can escape out of this Pareto type III world

Superior pattern processing is the essence of the evolved human brain

Abstract:

Humans have long pondered the nature of their mind/brain and, particularly why its capacities for reasoning, communication and abstract thought are far superior to other species, including closely related anthropoids. This article considers superior pattern processing (SPP) as the fundamental basis of most, if not all, unique features of the human brain including intelligence, language, imagination, invention, and the belief in imaginary entities such as ghosts and gods. SPP involves the electrochemical, neuronal network-based, encoding, integration, and transfer to other individuals of perceived or mentally-fabricated patterns. During human evolution, pattern processing capabilities became increasingly sophisticated as the result of expansion of the cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex and regions involved in processing of images. Specific patterns, real or imagined, are reinforced by emotional experiences, indoctrination and even psychedelic drugs. Impaired or dysregulated SPP is fundamental to cognitive and psychiatric disorders. A broader understanding of SPP mechanisms, and their roles in normal and abnormal function of the human brain, may enable the development of interventions that reduce irrational decisions and destructive behaviors.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4141622/

"Can A.I. do our literature reviews for us? Stop everything and try http://elicit.org, an amazing new tool that uses large language models to answer research questions via empirical research- in the video below I ask it "Does social media negatively impact mental health?"

It immediately finds several of the most important reviews, and further refines results after you give it feedback. For now, it's limited to Semantic Scholar, which only covers about 60% of research articles, but the proof of concept here is amazing...

Even more impressive, it includes tools to help you a) find definition of concepts (like "social media") and even identify unanswered research questions...

It even let's you sort research by number of participants in the research, whether it includes a randomized controlled trial, and many other impressive filters."

Thread: https://mobile.twitter.com/chris_bail/status/1517158680025870339