Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 2947

Wierd Science

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_105441.html

Food for thought?

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"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." -Robert Heinlein

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 19192

BREAKING NEWS:


Scientists discover 'second brain' in the stomach

Scientists are claiming to have discovered a second brain - in the human stomach.

The breakthrough, involving experts in the US and Germany, is believed to play a major part in the way people behave.

This 'second brain' is made up of a knot of brain nerves in the digestive tract. It is thought to involve around 100 billion nerve cells - more than held in the spinal cord.

Researchers believe this belly brain may save information on physical reactions to mental processes and give out signals to influence later decisions. It may also be responsible in the creation of reactions such as joy or sadness.

The research is outlined in the latest issue of German science magazine, Geo, in which Professor Wolfgang Prinz, of the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research in Munich, says the discovery could give a new twist on the old phrase "gut reaction".

He said: "People often follow their gut reactions without even knowing why, its only later that they come up with the logical reason for acting the way they did. But we now believe that there is a lot more to gut feelings than was previously believed."

Professor Prinz thinks the stomach network may be the source for unconscious decisions which the main brain later claims as conscious decisions of its own.

The second brain was rediscovered by Michael Gershorn, of the University of Colombia in New York, after it was forgotten by science. He says it was first documented by a 19th century German neurologist, Leopold Auerbach.

He discovered two layers of nerve cells near a piece of intestine he was dissecting. After putting them under the microscope he found they were part of a complex network.

Recent research has already raised the idea that many reactions may be made in the stomach. Benjamin Libet, of the University of California found the brains of volunteers asked to raise their arms only registered activity about half a second after the movement had been made. He believes his work implies another part of the body may have been involved in making the decision.



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Don't argue with me.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

Very cool. Guess the Egyptians were not too far off after all.

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By your demons be drivin.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 681

Stomach brain says: Hey you tubby we need more food!

Head Brain says: That is not very nice.

SB: Look pal put some more food in here pronto!

HB: I am not going to be your friend if you keep this behaviour up mister.

SB: SHUD UP you fruity bastard gimme some food!

HB: I think I am going to cry.

It goes on like this for another two hours and I get a headache.

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The Four Noble Truths are....

DUKKHA

SAMUDAYA:"The arising of Dukkha."

NIRODHA:"The cessation of Dukkha."

MAGGA:"The path"

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Delaware
Posts: 5713

hmmmmm, I always wondered where my gut instinct came from.

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=^..^=

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Los Gatos, California, USA
Posts: 368

quote:

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Originally posted by Timeenoughforlove:


Food for thought?

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: canadian rockies
Posts: 1526

That's not where my second brain is.


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A thousand thousand slimy things lived on and so did I.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Delaware
Posts: 5713

quote:

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Originally posted by bowmore:
That's not where my second brain is.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: In a Blue, Blue State
Posts: 13224

I know for a fact that half the people I work with have their brains in their ass.

The other half are brainless.

I do have a brain in my head, but my SO says I'm a brain-dead male, like all the other men in her life.

I hope my stomach has a brain. And I think it's getting smarter, because it's growing all the time.

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The Word of the Day is Callomania (n.) - The delusion that one is beautiful.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 2593

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"The direction of the Nile [river in Africa] has been changed, and that was when people wanted to change its course. If the mainstream is flowing in the wrong direction, change it."

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Bangor, ME
Posts: 10191

hahah emerald

thats pretty fucked up if you ask me

i wonder why i have heartburn so much? too much beer? ....nah

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If God = Love and love = blind: wouldn't that make Stevie Wonder god?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 2593

quote:

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Originally posted by AlcoholSoopaFiend:
hahah emerald

thats pretty fucked up if you ask me

i wonder why i have heartburn so much? too much beer? ....nah

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Nawww.....not too much beer. Either, not enough cheese, or not enough lovin'.



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"The direction of the Nile [river in Africa] has been changed, and that was when people wanted to change its course. If the mainstream is flowing in the wrong direction, change it."

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