Aug 11, 2017 06:03 AM
Do You Hear What I Hear? Auditory Hallucinations Yield Clues to Perception
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...erception/
EXCERPT: [...] Normally when the brain receives sensory information, such as sound, it actively works to fill in information to make sense of what it hears—its location, volume and other details. “The brain is a predictive machine,” explains Anissa Abi-Dargham [...] “It is constantly scanning the environment and relying on previous knowledge to fill in the gaps [in] what we perceive.” Because our expectations are usually accurate, the system generally works well. [...] One theory posits hallucinations arise when the brain relies too strongly on these expectations, filling in details even when an actual auditory input does not exist. Culture and religion may also play a role in interpreting what individuals perceive, and whether the voices they hear are helpful or disruptive. To test the idea that hallucinations are the result of an over-expectant brain, Powers and fellow Yale University psychologist Philip Corlett decided to study a diverse group of people who reported hearing voices on a regular basis...
MORE: https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...erception/
Most common myths about the brain that are completely wrong
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/most-common-myt...ng-1634432
EXCERPT: [...] If someone believed one of the neuromyths, they were very likely to believe in a whole host of others, the researchers found. "We were surprised to see that these 'classic' neuromyths tend to cluster together, meaning that if you believe one myth, you are more likely to believe others," said McGrath. The solution is not likely to be a simple one, the researchers say, as even neuroscientists frequently got the answers wrong....
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...erception/
EXCERPT: [...] Normally when the brain receives sensory information, such as sound, it actively works to fill in information to make sense of what it hears—its location, volume and other details. “The brain is a predictive machine,” explains Anissa Abi-Dargham [...] “It is constantly scanning the environment and relying on previous knowledge to fill in the gaps [in] what we perceive.” Because our expectations are usually accurate, the system generally works well. [...] One theory posits hallucinations arise when the brain relies too strongly on these expectations, filling in details even when an actual auditory input does not exist. Culture and religion may also play a role in interpreting what individuals perceive, and whether the voices they hear are helpful or disruptive. To test the idea that hallucinations are the result of an over-expectant brain, Powers and fellow Yale University psychologist Philip Corlett decided to study a diverse group of people who reported hearing voices on a regular basis...
MORE: https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...erception/
Most common myths about the brain that are completely wrong
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/most-common-myt...ng-1634432
EXCERPT: [...] If someone believed one of the neuromyths, they were very likely to believe in a whole host of others, the researchers found. "We were surprised to see that these 'classic' neuromyths tend to cluster together, meaning that if you believe one myth, you are more likely to believe others," said McGrath. The solution is not likely to be a simple one, the researchers say, as even neuroscientists frequently got the answers wrong....
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