Neuroscience
A Reality Club Discussion on the Work of Daniel Kahneman
April 13, 2014
Daniel Kahneman turned 80 on March 5th and Edge noted the occasion with a reprise of a number of his contributions to our pages. (See "Kahneman Turns 80"). At that time, Kahneman's longtime colleague, behavioural economist Richard Thaler, suggested that Edge follow up the birthday announcement by doing what it does best, asking Edgies who work in fields including, but not limited to, psychology, cognitive science, behavioral economics, law, medicine, a question. For their responses to...
April 13, 2014
Daniel Kahneman turned 80 on March 5th and Edge noted the occasion with a reprise of a number of his contributions to our pages. (See "Kahneman Turns 80"). At that time, Kahneman's longtime colleague, behavioural economist Richard Thaler, suggested that Edge follow up the birthday announcement by doing what it does best, asking Edgies who work in fields including, but not limited to, psychology, cognitive science, behavioral economics, law, medicine, a question. For their responses to...
Surden: Machine Learning and Law
April 9, 2014
Professor Harry Surden of the University of Colorado has published Machine Learning and Law, Washington Law Review, 89, 87-115 (2014). Here is the abstract: This Article explores the application of machine learning techniques within the practice of law. Broadly speaking “machine learning” refers to computer algorithms that have the ability to “learn” or improve in performance over time on some task. In general, machine learning algorithms are designed to detect patterns in data and then...
April 9, 2014
Professor Harry Surden of the University of Colorado has published Machine Learning and Law, Washington Law Review, 89, 87-115 (2014). Here is the abstract: This Article explores the application of machine learning techniques within the practice of law. Broadly speaking “machine learning” refers to computer algorithms that have the ability to “learn” or improve in performance over time on some task. In general, machine learning algorithms are designed to detect patterns in data and then...
Why Preschoolers Can Outsmart College Students
April 5, 2014
Simple test of logic produces surprising win for 4 and 5-year-olds over college students. Preschoolers can outsmart college students because they are less biased and more flexible than adults, a new study finds. The conclusion comes from research published in the journal,Cognition, which put 170 college undergrads up against 106 four and five-year-olds in a test of learning and reasoning (Lucas et al., 2014).
April 5, 2014
Simple test of logic produces surprising win for 4 and 5-year-olds over college students. Preschoolers can outsmart college students because they are less biased and more flexible than adults, a new study finds. The conclusion comes from research published in the journal,Cognition, which put 170 college undergrads up against 106 four and five-year-olds in a test of learning and reasoning (Lucas et al., 2014).
Intelligent People Are More Inclined to Trust Others
April 5, 2014
Seven ways that trust benefits both individuals and society as a whole. Intelligent people are more likely to trust others, according to a new analysis of US public opinion poll data. This may be because more intelligent people are better judges of character. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analysed data from the ‘General Social Survey’, which asks a nationally representative sample of Americans about their attitudes and characteristics (Carl & Billari, 2014).
April 5, 2014
Seven ways that trust benefits both individuals and society as a whole. Intelligent people are more likely to trust others, according to a new analysis of US public opinion poll data. This may be because more intelligent people are better judges of character. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analysed data from the ‘General Social Survey’, which asks a nationally representative sample of Americans about their attitudes and characteristics (Carl & Billari, 2014).
Cool Brain Visualization
April 5, 2014
This is an anatomically-realistic 3D brain visualization depicting real-timesource-localized activity (power and “effective” connectivity) from EEG(electroencephalographic) signals. Each color represents source power and connectivity in a different frequency band (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) and the golden lines are white matter anatomical fiber tracts. Estimated information transfer between brain regions is visualized as pulses of light flowing along the fiber tracts connecting the regions.
April 5, 2014
This is an anatomically-realistic 3D brain visualization depicting real-timesource-localized activity (power and “effective” connectivity) from EEG(electroencephalographic) signals. Each color represents source power and connectivity in a different frequency band (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) and the golden lines are white matter anatomical fiber tracts. Estimated information transfer between brain regions is visualized as pulses of light flowing along the fiber tracts connecting the regions.
How to Keep Calm and Carry On
April 3, 2014
One of my scientific heroes, positive-psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson, published a study a few years ago showing that the largest variable in determining our level of life satisfaction is resilience – the ability to bounce back quickly from life’s small and large upsets. It wasn’t having a great boss or a happy family or regular vacations, but the capacity to get our emotional balance back when we are blown off balance by negative emotions. Easier said than done, you say – “I...
April 3, 2014
One of my scientific heroes, positive-psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson, published a study a few years ago showing that the largest variable in determining our level of life satisfaction is resilience – the ability to bounce back quickly from life’s small and large upsets. It wasn’t having a great boss or a happy family or regular vacations, but the capacity to get our emotional balance back when we are blown off balance by negative emotions. Easier said than done, you say – “I...
Mysterious Brain Region That is Vital to How You Decide
April 2, 2014
Whether you’re choosing between job offers or deciding which car or house to buy, this region is probably involved. One of the smallest parts of the brain has a vital role in decision-making, a new study suggests. The area of the brain, the lateral habenula, near the centre, has previously been associated with avoidant behaviour and depression, but is now being looked at again. Professor Stan Floresco, one of the study’s authors said: “These findings clarify the brain processes involved...
April 2, 2014
Whether you’re choosing between job offers or deciding which car or house to buy, this region is probably involved. One of the smallest parts of the brain has a vital role in decision-making, a new study suggests. The area of the brain, the lateral habenula, near the centre, has previously been associated with avoidant behaviour and depression, but is now being looked at again. Professor Stan Floresco, one of the study’s authors said: “These findings clarify the brain processes involved...
How Body Language Lets Us Down
April 2, 2014
It is not just ordinary humans who want to believe in the power of body language. The New York Times just posted John Tierney’s article, “At airports, a misplaced faith in body language.” Tierney notes that the federal government poured about $1 billion into training airport personnel to tell if you might be a terrorist just by looking at your nonverbal behaviors as you stand in line waiting to get screened. (I discussed the program here previously.) The problem with relying...
April 2, 2014
It is not just ordinary humans who want to believe in the power of body language. The New York Times just posted John Tierney’s article, “At airports, a misplaced faith in body language.” Tierney notes that the federal government poured about $1 billion into training airport personnel to tell if you might be a terrorist just by looking at your nonverbal behaviors as you stand in line waiting to get screened. (I discussed the program here previously.) The problem with relying...
The Limits of Emotional Intelligence as a Negotiation Skill
March 31, 2014
The concept of emotional intelligence burst into the cultural imagination in 1995 with the publication of psychologist Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book of the same name. Experts have predicted that scoring high on this personality trait would boost one’s bargaining outcomes. After all, the qualities that characterize emotional intelligence—awareness of our emotions and how they affect others, the ability to regulate our moods and behavior, empathy, the motivation to meet meaningful personal...
March 31, 2014
The concept of emotional intelligence burst into the cultural imagination in 1995 with the publication of psychologist Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book of the same name. Experts have predicted that scoring high on this personality trait would boost one’s bargaining outcomes. After all, the qualities that characterize emotional intelligence—awareness of our emotions and how they affect others, the ability to regulate our moods and behavior, empathy, the motivation to meet meaningful personal...
Inside Mickey Hart’s Brain: How Tech and Neuroscience Are Converging
March 28, 2014
As highlighted by SXSW this week, health is becoming a major focal point for technology entrepreneurs and investors. The health care and medical industry — from the research of new treatments to patient care — is poised for dramatic disruption, as more money and effort goes into the development of sensors, robotics and big data software. Change could come from the collision of unusual bedfellows, such as academic institutions and gaming companies, and the creative application of emerging technologies...
March 28, 2014
As highlighted by SXSW this week, health is becoming a major focal point for technology entrepreneurs and investors. The health care and medical industry — from the research of new treatments to patient care — is poised for dramatic disruption, as more money and effort goes into the development of sensors, robotics and big data software. Change could come from the collision of unusual bedfellows, such as academic institutions and gaming companies, and the creative application of emerging technologies...
