Phantoms In The Brain

As an observer's point of view, the world- from a tiny atom to a vast galaxy, seems no less than mystery and apparently can only be comprehended through 'something'that is more mysterious than  mystery itself and when we search for this ‘something’ , nothing seems more reasonable than  our brain- A three pound jelly type structure consisting billions of neurons. There would be times when most of us ponder over the purpose of existence, the feeling of ‘I’ emanating from the deep inside, the observer sitting inside the brain going into a recursion and many more abstract aspects of life. It would not be exaggeration to say that since advent of the existence, these fundamental questions have been searched and what we see today as religion, belief and philosophy are merely by-products of this mysterious expedition.

Some weeks before, I got familiar with the work of the one of most sought neuroscientist of contemporary world, V. S. Ramchadran through his lecture-video on TED where he was describing his experiments with the patient diagnosed with different brain disorders in an attempt to unlock the mystery of brain. It was quite intriguing and interesting. To understand brain is more like a crime investigation where every clue, however small and trivial, should be logically deducted to conclusion with logical consistency of assumption. If someone, Ramchandran’s video on TED and his book “Phantoms in the Brain” made me remember, it was Sherlock Homes and it would not be an exaggeration to crown him as “The Sherlock Homes of Neuroscience”.

A world where the line separating real and imaginary, feeling and substance seems blurred and enigmatic, the book “Phantoms in the brain” not only stimulates with the questions but also provide answers, very much like a scientific explanation with logical consistency that unveils the long-hidden facets related to reciprocity of mind and body.  The simplicity of writing with systematic elucidation is riveting. Once I got hold of book, it took me into a mysterious world where I could relate my electrical circuits very much to the functionality of mind. The question whether the technology is abstraction of mind or understanding of mind is mere widening of our understanding of electrical circuits (pattern-finding-behaviour) is similar to much notorious question- which came first, the egg or hen.

The case-studies of numerous patients described in the book will not only provide the deep insights and complexity of brain but also provide the glimpse of inevitable and indisputable link of mind and body and consequently, it kindles the possibility of a new kind of therapy in medical field in coming future. And, no doubt it emergence in near future might create a paradigm shift. 

Nothing sounds so interesting to me when a book which defines the humour in neurological way and also illustrates the possible reasons behind having a sense of humour exclusively in human-beings is quoted as one of the most funniest and original book (Guardian, Newspaper). The simple experiments devised by V. S. Ramchandran outlines the illusory nature of self. Through intriguing relationship between perception and conception (Blind-Spot), he delves into utter mystery of existence. With Various references of philosophers and scientist like Freud and Darwin, this book provides insights from various dimensions.  

 Read this book, it may hammer your notions of GOD but I am sure it will give you sense of humility- the ultimate purpose of religion, for being an inevitable part of cosmos. Somehow, this book points towards a window from where, I firmly believe, one day we would be able to discern the mysticism and spirituality which are hitherto been perceived as incomprehensible.

Swelling Technology & Waning Spirituality

In this era of technological revolution, our efforts are merging towards an absolute control of everything. Just push a button and apparently, everything from lighting, AC, TV or even opening and closing of doors are at our finger tips. Sometimes, I wonder what would be the end of this revolution. Would it be like as we see in Hollywood movies in which they repeatedly show the control of humanity by human-made ROBOTs or would it just start mitigating as everything in nature does after reaching its peak. I cannot say if the evolution followed by revolution is cyclic or linear but a little observation in the changing scenario can provide a substantial clue for coming future.

From the inception of Mankind, religion and science are the two basic structures which have been supporting humanity. If Science feeds you, religion gives you the taste of food. Both are distinct but inevitable for Mankind. The lack of anyone would create havoc in the system.If we go slightly deeper into the realm of science and religion, we acknowledge that comparison of science and technology is pointless. Religion is just an application of spirituality as technology is of Science. Science is journey of outwards and spirituality is of inwards. Science is pursuit of discovering the things which are...But just hidden. It is just like demystifying the unknown. Technology is the exploitation of this hidden knowledge for our use. In a same way, spirituality is a journey of knowing our inner self...the purest form which is aptly described in scriptures...Satya- Chita- Ananda...Religion guides us to embark the journey of inwards. Prayers, worshipping and scriptures are just few applications of spirituality to lead us towards inner self.

Somewhere, in the high decibel and dazzling development of technology, we have become oblivious to the basic structure of technology....Science. On the other side...Religion is also contaminated by preposterous and dogmatic thought which has blurred the true purpose of religion and more often, it is appearing devilishly in the form of war and genocide.  No doubt...Technology is providing a lot of things...But also taking a lot of things...More things are coming in our control...Less controlled we are getting. The incessant pursuit of technology has overshadowed the inquisitiveness of mankind and hence, pursuit of science.

So, where are we leading... towards a path of glorious Mankind or doomed Mankind? It is hard to envisage the future of Mankind but with little interpolation of swelling technology and waning spirituality in the wake of nuclear Bombs...it would not be an exaggeration to say that if your light, AC and door can be controlled by a push switch, presumably the life of whole planet could also be at someone finger tips...and we, who are losing our own conscience in imparting intelligence to steel-bodies...it would be really disastrous and might be, the culmination of Mankind. 

My Random thoughts

It has been quite long since I have written anything for my blog. Sadly, I have written just one poem in these two months. Sometimes I wonder if it was me who has written so many articles on my blog. Today when I remember how passionate I was for writing during those jobless days I envied of me of those days. The happiness of writing was something I realized late in my life. I owe to writing since it revealed something that was unknown, hidden and suppressed with too many layers of weighing life. It was obviously not something great... if “Great” only means an objective parameter for measuring achievement and accomplishment. But it was self-satisfying, like happiness blossomed through his creative effort.  This feeling is so personal that it creates a charm for self and invigorates our self with beauty, appreciation and sense of accomplishment. Writing teaches a lot. It is the best mirror to see our self. It lets us to ponder over things which seem trivial for others, and most importantly it taught me is to think systematically. It is indeed a joy to see how a systematic approach simplifies a complex problem.

Complexity is just web of simplicity. It just depends how you look into the system. Even the most complex system can be deduced to certain integration of simple systems. Systematic thought is discrete in nature. We can easily see the chunks of independent thought woven with well defined responses of others. I love simplifying things. It is a same force of creativity which guides when a painter simplifies the complexity of countless emotions and undefined ambiance onto such a small canvass or when a writer writes intricate and abstruse feeling into words. Though, it is abstract for others but complete for them. The pursuit of Simplification has been continuing for centuries. Philosophy and science, are actually the way to simplify the seemingly complexity of nature. Formulations of scientific laws are just outcome of these attempts. “Theory of Everything” might be the culmination of scientific ways to simplify things.  But somehow, I feel the quest of simplifying things will be continued till this world exists. 

This all shows how innate the quest for simplifying things is. It is the same thing which ignites a passion for exploring things, questioning systems and facing challenges. It is embedded in Artist’s Creativity as well as scientist’s curiosity.

I have started a blog exclusively for photography. Please go through the link and let me know how you feel about it. 

Feeling Of ‘I’.

Caution: Dear Readers! Please read if you really want to read my nonsensical (bakwaas) thoughts; otherwise please leave it and wait for another post.....

One of the most intriguing questions that make me to think is how I feel it’s my body. I can feel my legs, hands, eyes; in short, every parts of my body. I can think and even watch what I am thinking. One can witness oneself as a third person, standing in the corner of the room. From where, this feeling comes. Is it my mind or is it governed by my soul?

People, who believe in the existence of soul, no doubt, would say this feeling to be governed by soul. More or less, in every religion the concept of soul is accepted. Hinduism believes the soul as an immortal element that changes itself from old body to a new body; every living thing has a definite soul and the ultimate goal of soul is salvation.

“Living things”? How can one discriminate between living thing and non living things are itself a puzzling question? Some centuries ago, trees were not understood as living beings. And today, they are. If we read apocryphal stories like Mahabharata and Ramayana, even the inanimate (Sun, Moon and stars etc) things (which is considered by Science today) are depicted as living things. (Sun, Moon and stars etc). Science is progressive and still trying to reveal the hidden secrets. And it might be possible that we would hear the new definition of ‘Living Things’. Human body is made of billions of cells. Scientist says every cell is living thing as it can grow, reproduce etc. So if we conclude according to science and Hinduism, we had better say that our body consists million of souls. If not, tell me what would you say these cells, bacteria, virus; living or non-living?

 If we follow the concept of soul then it seems logical to assume that number of total soul would be fixed at a certain moment. It is somewhat like the law which says total energy of the universe is constant. So souls change it cloths (as Gita explains) and wear new. But if we observe current increasing population that simply implies that more and more souls are placing themselves in the new body. So from where these souls are coming. Is this increase in human beings being compensated by decrease in the population of other species? I do not think so. What I find, population is increasing in every species and so is soul which itself contradicts the constancy in the number of souls.

Before drawing any conclusion, I asked this question to my younger brother who is currently doing M.B.B.S. What he told me was purely scientific, more suited for doctors to understand. He explained that in our brain there is limbic system which is responsible for making one to feel about his body.

But the next question that I put forward was,” Medical is doing so many miracles as today it is possible to changes one heart, kidney, eyes , would it be possible in future to change one’s brain.”

He said,” Might be.”

Well, then it would not be a way to immortality. Only we would have to find a body and then a Doctor who could transplant our brain to the body. We would get the feeling of “I’, so a new life.

 But intuitively I feel it is not possible, is it?

It is amazing to know that we, who might have soul or mind or both of them, are made of inanimate things, like amino acid and other complex chemical compounds.

Our cells divide (mitosis and meiosis) and hence form new cells. This is the way we grow or any living thing grows. But at every division the size of something(size of chromosomes) get reduced. This reduction leads to oldness. It is quite amazing that at one side something is growing where at other something is reducing too. Hope!  in future Scientist would control this reduction and hence our age.

Specific hormones are responsible for specific actions and again your actions are responsible for secretion of certain hormones. What an amazing cycle this is! Cause and effect are so amazingly interrelated.  

I don’t know how I should conclude this post. So, please excuse me. It is just what came in my mind in random fashion. Thanks a lot for bearing me. Hope, your comments would make it somewhat conclusive.

An Extraordinary Mind

Recently, I watched a documentary and it really took my breaths away. I have read about the people with more abilities of mind, like Einstein; like Stephen Hawking, but what I come across was totally different, it was about a man who feels emotion in numbers; calculate complex multiplication and division, spontaneously; learn any language in just 1 week; remember the value of pi to 20,000 digits.  His name is Daniel Paul and he is a British citizen.

Well, one can raise question over his ability as useful as a calculator, but important thing is that it has opened a new stream of research, the interaction of number and image.  Scientifically, the part of brain which deals with number and which deals with images are different.  After a series of experiment done on Daniel, It was revealed that for every number he creates a unique image in his mind. If he is given a multiplication of two numbers, the interaction of these two creates third image, and important thing is that it happens spontaneously.

Infinite number; infinite images, does it not bother you how he remembers and recognizes these image and decodes into numbers?  For every number 1 to 9, he feel different emotions. Numbers are well tuned with his emotions and in this way he answers any multiplication and division spontaneously.

Daniel is not alone in his extraordinary abilities. There is also a man who is living encyclopaedia, who can read any page and memorize too in 30 seconds which a normal man can hardly read in 3 minutes. There is also a boy who can paint anything with complete precision with amazing speed.

The most notable thing with Daniel is that he is not handicapped or weird as other two people as he can tell what is happening in his mind, and in the way useful for lighting hidden secrets of marvellous mind.

It is fact of amazement for scientist that, at a narrow line separating ability and disability how these extraordinary abilities take shape. Of course, life is marvellous mystery and we, with our marvellous mind want to dig the hidden secrets.

Black Holes And Baby Universes and other essays

Mind is a marvellous thing. From the beginning of civilization, human has tried to know the mystery, miracles and destiny. His search is still going on. Is it going to end or is it never ending process? What is the origin of universe? What is its future? Is everything determined? There are thousands of question which stirs the mind with huge complexity and sometimes to think them; to understand them appears beyond our ability. But Stephen Hawking has made it an exception. His book “Black Holes and Baby Universes and other essays” has streamlined these complex issue in such a simple narrative format, with a stimulating wit   that even a non-scientific person can understand. The book is collection of essay that he wrote over the period 1976 to 1992, contains fourteen chapters, written in autographical way. The first few essay deals with his childhood, his studies in Oxford and Cambridge and how did he cope with his incurable disease precisely known as Motor Neuron Disease. His lines are motivating and encouraging. In one of his essay, he writes,” Before my condition was diagnosed, I had been very bored to life. There had seemed to be anything worth doing. But shortly after I came out of hospital, I dreamt that I was going to be executed. I suddenly realized that there were lot of worthwhile things I could do if I were reprieved.” There are other captivating moments like how he saw the boy, suffering with leukaemia and felt realized that there were people worse off than him. In the next chapters, he has dealt with public attitude towards science. About the conventional studies of science in schools, he writes, “Science, in schools, is often presented in dry and uninteresting manner. Children learnt it by rote to pass the examination, and they don’t see its relevance to the world around them.”

In further chapters, he explains what a complete and unified theory is and if there is such theory how we can model it. He says that modelling physical reality comprises two parts.

First we have to find the local laws that govern various physical quantities and second we should have sets of boundary conditions that tell us the state of some regions of the universe at a certain time and what effects propagates into it subsequently from the rest of the universe.

He further explains what the greatest mistake was made by Einstein(which Einstein himself accepted) and how he realized it.  A detailed discussion was made on the origin of universe, starting with different school of thoughts and then reaching to the modern concept of singularity that most of the scientists accept. He gives us optimistic thought of finding the one of the complex question,” How did the universe begin.” But why it bothers to exist, will be mystery.”

In the next chapters he explains the quantum mechanics of black holes, black holes and baby universe and rules out any possibility of space travel in near future due to uncertainty principle .In his essay entitled “Is everything determined?”  He says,” yes, it is. But it might as well not be, because we can never know what is determined. “

About the future of universe, he lucidly explains the different possibility of universe in future. With a clear understanding of words like ‘chaos’, ‘singularity’, ‘critical density’, ’law of inflation’ he gives us insight that really  thrill us to catch a glimpse of dark mystery of universe.

 Read this book, you will as enjoy as you enjoy your favourite science fiction movie. You will never find such a simple book, without any equation (except E=m.c^2), on such a convoluted topic.  

Theory of Everything

“Theory of Everything”. To understand this, first we have to know what ‘theory’ is and what significance of ‘everything’ is.
A certain phenomenon is analyzed, based on the observation. We try to present the analysis into a conceptual and abstract thought which is called theory. Observations may not be absolute, so theory is revised. Many times, certain observation may contradict the fundamental assumption taken while presenting theory and hence may falsified the theory.
Everything means everything surrounds you, effect directly or indirectly or is affected directly or indirectly. Everything is not limited to mechanical world where beauty, love and compassion are abstract senses; but here everything includes all; the feeling after seeing a rose; the happiness after getting a success; the desperation after departing your lover. The question remains whether we can be able to formularize or conceptualize these things and can predict a theory. For this, our observation should be infinite and some-times; it seems a never-lasting process. It may have two reasons. Either the complexity of nature is truly bottomless or the way we have chosen to describe the universe is inaccurate, asymptotic approximation of reality. But whatever will be, the nature is so much arranged, regulated, automated that it stills claims a certain theory which encompasses all. As the Newtonian mechanics describes the motion as a function of mass, position and time, may be ‘Theory of Everything’ requires more parameters and dimensions to explain everything. The quest of this theory is quest of these parameters. It’s amazing to visualize the similarity of quantum physics to the universe, the similarity of human physiology to the universe (as described by Patanjali in Yoga Sastra). When it is said that Universe is expansion of our self, it means that the same phenomena that occurs in your body happens in universe in a gross manner. It is question of future whether we will be able to find this theory or not. According to Stephen hawking, even if we will be able to find the ‘theory of everything’, it will be necessarily a set of equations. So let’s wait when we will have equation to demonstrate the smell of rose, joy of love and distress in disaster.