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Your Brain May Have Amazing Powers

Posted by jamie on from the uptake dept.

I've never given much credence to the "only use 10% of our brains" urban legend, but this article, Savant for a Day, is making me reconsider. I'd like to see controlled, double-blind studies, but Snyder's machine already sounds very interesting -- hey, anyone can learn to draw, but I want to flip a switch to put my brain into calculator mode. EM-brain experimentation has taken off since Michael Persinger's work and other recent research.

20 of 498 comments (clear)

  1. Screw that by Exiler · · Score: 4, Funny

    I want to flip a switch and get 30 FPS in doom 3

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    Banaaaana!
    1. Re:Screw that by garyok · · Score: 5, Funny

      In my own experience I remember a migraine I had come on at work and it transformed me into a savant (of sorts) by giving me a mini Tourette's episode. I couldn't actually tell my colleagues in so many words why I was being a bit odd (apparently muttering "motherfucker" every third word is normal for me when I'm working on something tricky - who knew?) but I developed an amazing ability to communicate my predicament by pointing at my head, grimacing, and saying "shit motherfucker gnnn!"

      Who knew that talent lay latent within me, just waiting for its release through the method of blinding and nauseating pain?

      --
      One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors - Plato
  2. I always new: Queen rulez! by szo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Brian May has amazing powers!

    Szo

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    Red Leader Standing By!
    1. Re:I always new: Queen rulez! by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Funny
      When I read the headline....i couldn't help but think of.....

      "Your computer is broadcasting an IP address!"

      "Your computer clock may be wrong!"

      "Your computer may be infected!"

      "You may already be a winner!"

      "Your brain may have amazing powers!"

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  3. Now if they only had a switch... by aznxk3vi17 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to make everybody else stop using their 10%, thus giving you the edge you need to succeed in life.

    1. Re:Now if they only had a switch... by Heartz · · Score: 5, Funny
      that could get me a life and a girlfriend....

      God dammit - I must stop reading Slashdot!

    2. Re:Now if they only had a switch... by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 4, Funny
      Now if they only had a switch to make everybody else stop using their 10%

      There already is. You don't use IRC allot do you?

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      Hate me!
  4. Herbert was right by Verteiron · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Mentats are among us...

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    End of lesson. You may press the button.
  5. This is from the NY Times? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmm, do they use these wondrous brain powers to make up stories? Is that how they do it?

  6. I'd rather flip a switch... by cpeikert · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... to put my brain in "counting cards" mode.

    Now, off to watch Wapner. Six minutes till Wapner.

  7. Newsflash! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The USB forum has named the two kinds of brain power 'Full Brain Power' and 'High-speed Brain Power'. Both are now collectively known as Brain Power 2.0.

  8. I bet by handsolo · · Score: 5, Funny

    if your brain was in calculator mode you would find like 40000 variations of "BOOBLESS"

  9. Re:And what about modern CPU's? by Uber+Banker · · Score: 4, Funny

    And that is why we exist - because the other 90% is being used by our evil masters.

    We are more efficient than silicon so they use us.

  10. Download to brain by dfn5 · · Score: 5, Funny
    but I want to flip a switch to put my brain into calculator mode.

    I would rather get on my cell phone and say "Tank, I need a pilot program for a V-212 helicopter."

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    -- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
  11. Re:interesting by sstory · · Score: 3, Funny

    Having been in a position to...ahem...stare at such textures...I agree with you. Tuning out the detail makes it easier to see the 'that lion's about to eat me' picture.

  12. I've known about this for years by Morgahastu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Everytime I see a posting here about a website I crash it with my mind.

    Will power baby.

    Works everytime!

  13. I'm afraid not by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... "I must stop reading Slashdot!"

    I'm afraid you have little chance of stopping. Slashdot uses Variable Ratio/Interval Positive Reinforcement to keep you here. Can't remember the difference right now, but it's a most effective behavior modification tool.

    Better just post again. Your next post might get modded all the way up to 5! Check back often to see if you have a new high score. Come on, you know you want to. ;o)

    1. Re:I'm afraid not by kfx · · Score: 4, Funny

      Partial Reinforcement. Like in gambling. Who knows, maybe this is my lucky post!

  14. Re:It doesn't make it sound like a legend... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    You forgot some stats :

    Elephant: brain = 5kg, body = 5000kg, 0.1%
    Dairy Cow: brain = 400g, body = 500kg, 0.08%
    Human: brain = 1.3kg, body = 65kg, 2%
    American: brain = 400g, body = 150kg, 0.27%

  15. Re:It doesn't make it sound like a legend... by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

    True, but many of the larger dinosaurs also had a nerve sac in their asses.

    Forget dinsaurs. I know people who have half their brains in their ass.

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.