inkbluesky

Brain ‘closes eyes’ to hear music

Our brains can turn down our ability to see to help them listen even harder to music and complex sounds, say experts.

A US study of 20 non-musicians and 20 musical conductors found both groups diverted brain activity away from visual areas during listening tasks.

[ ]…What the scientists found was that while activity rose, as expected, in the auditory part of the brain, it correspondingly fell in the visual part.

As the task was made harder and harder, the non-musicians carried on diverting more and more activity away from the visual parts of the brain to the auditory side, as they struggled to concentrate.

However, after a certain point, the conductors did not suppress their brains, suggesting that their years of training had provided a distinct advantage in the way their brains were organised.

I guess I was wrong. I thought most of that eye closing eye closing was an affectation. Maybe its the combo of eyes closed head bobbing to the tempo of people that much of the time were just too reserved to publicly groove to the beat. I guess most of them really are feeling it or at least trying to.

gull talk

18 Years on and Exxon Still Won’t Pay $2.5 Billion for Valdez Oil Spill. Exxon is special. Through the miracle of modern magic, papers of incorporation they don’t feel deep down in the fat recesses of their wallets that they should be held accountable. Shame on those that think they should, you’re probably an anti-American anti-business lefty loon. Oil: Exxon Chairman’s $400 Million Parachute

Last year, Exxon made the biggest profit of any company ever, $36 billion, and its retiring chairman appears to be reaping the benefits.

Exxon is giving Lee Raymond one of the most generous retirement packages in history, nearly $400 million, including pension, stock options and other perks, such as a $1 million consulting deal, two years of home security, personal security, a car and driver, and use of a corporate jet for professional purposes.

imitation manet