Brain complexity led humans to evolve differently than chimps

Brain complexity led humans to evolve differently than chimps: "One gene in particular, CLOCK, behaved very differently in the human brain. Considered the master regulator of Circadian rhythm, CLOCK is disrupted in mood disorders like depression and bipolar syndrome."

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Frontiers | The role of prediction in social neuroscience | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Frontiers | The role of prediction in social neuroscience | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience: "These accounts of the mirror neuron system highlight the potential role of predictive mechanisms, particularly simulation, and inference with the predictive coding, and associative learning accounts, in social interaction. Consequently, these accounts could legitimately be extended to highlight the role of prediction, simulation and inference in other non-motor social cognitions associated with mirror neuron activity. Inference-based accounts of the mirror neuron system could potentially apply to some examples of work in social neuroscience showing that mirror neuron activity has been implicated in the distinction between self and other (Sinigaglia and Rizzolatti, 2011), mentalizing (De Lange et al., 2008; Centelles et al., 2011) and simulation of emotions (Bastiaansen et al., 2009). Even though the mirror neuron hypothesis provides a very appealing explanation for the processing of others' actions, there are other theories also related to predictive mechanisms that propose integrative frameworks for sensorimotor control and social interaction."

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Science of the Heart, Science of Coherence, Heart Rate Variability, Institute HeartMath

Science of the Heart, Science of Coherence, Heart Rate Variability, Institute HeartMath: Dr. Armour describes the brain and nervous system as a distributed parallel processing system consisting of separate but interacting groups of neuronal processing centers distributed throughout the body. The heart has its own intrinsic nervous system that operates and processes information independently of the brain or nervous system. This is what allows a heart transplant to work: Normally, the heart communicates with the brain via nerve fibers running through the vagus nerve and the spinal column. In a heart transplant, these nerve connections do not reconnect for an extended period of time, if at all; however, the transplanted heart is able to function in its new host through the capacity of its intact, intrinsic nervous system.

A Single Brain Structure May Give Winners That Extra Physical Edge: Scientific American

A Single Brain Structure May Give Winners That Extra Physical Edge: Scientific American: "The folks that are performing more optimally are the ones who are able to use that anticipatory cue to adjust themselves and return to equilibrium."

Au lyc�e, des sciences sociales pour former les citoyens

Au lyc�e, des sciences sociales pour former les citoyens

Notes from WSIS High Level Panel on ICTs for post-conflict reconstruction

Notes from WSIS High Level Panel on ICTs for post-conflict reconstruction
"Prof. Ezzine from Tunisia looked at the dynamics of the revolution and how ICTs were inextricably entwined with the dynamics of social and political struggles for democracy and freedom from dictatorial rule. He flagged the importance of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube as platforms that enabled social discussion and mobilisation that resulted in thousands taking to the streets to demand change and reform. Prof. Ezzine said that now the challenge was to strengthen the education system to embrace ICTs to augment social innovation, livelihood development and in sum, to re-engineer ICT policies and practices to make it an engine of growth. ICTs had, Prof. Ezzine noted, radically changed the dynamics between the governed and those in government."

Bizzaro Budgeting and Public Sector Innovation « Civic Innovations

Bizzaro Budgeting and Public Sector Innovation « Civic Innovations: "In addition, if we can create new incentives within the public budgeting process to reward innovation, we will build pressure to reform other government processes that stifle innovation – like the procurement process."

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