A.I. Movie Project: Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie assignment. I think it was a fun project because we got to explore great movies about artificial intelligence and be creative in the process. The assignment was also a fantastic opportunity for deep thinking and analysis, not just about the movies, but also about the class, human and technological progress, and the world in general. Furthermore, my partner was a real pleasure to work with, and we had a blast with each other.

Admittedly, my partner and I had a lot of trouble narrowing down AI movies that were not already selected. This problem is the only aspect of the project that I didn’t like. I think the assignment needs to modified so that everyone has an easier time in making make movie decisions as soon as possible. Furthermore, the project should use a broader theme, because AI movies that are not in the mainstream can be quite hard to track down.

The only other downside, which was not directly related to the project itself, was the difficultly my partner and I had in meeting; we had very busy and conflicting schedules. However, in the end, we were able to work around any challenges and create an incredible Powerpoint show.

To conclude, I want to thank Professor Harris for an excellent class and the amazing opportunities presented by this project. It is a great send-off for the semester, especially considering Christmas is almost here!

http://hplusmagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/feb10/artificial-intelligence.gif

My Experiment: Motivated Object Encoding

I participated in an experiment called Motivated Object Encoding. This study had two parts. In the first phase, I was shown pictures of various objects inside a red, blue, or green frame on a computer program. Using parts of the keyboard, I had to rate the plausibility of the object being the color of the frame. I then had to follow a series of left or right arrow cues that immediately followed each object. I had to react quickly. Afterwards, I filled out questionnaires regarding my current emotional state.

In the second phase, carried out two days after the first, I was again shown pictures of objects. Also using keys, I had to state whether I had seen the object two days ago and what color it was, as well as how certain I was of my answers. After I finished the second part, I completed the study by filling out questionnaires regarding my current emotional state, my psychological health in general, and my personality, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.

The Motivated Object Encoding experiment was a bit long and tedious, but I enjoyed it. I think the results of the study are deeply influenced by numerous factors, especially mental health, memory, and imagination. In light of what we have learned in class, I think that this study will help answer more questions about the nature of the brain and memory, as well as what factors can affect and potentially improve them. I hope to participate in and research other experiments like this one in the future.

http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0028393212004010-gr1.jpg

Alone With A Cat: An Amazing Social Interaction

I have had a long history of good relationships with dogs (even though I was afraid of them as a little kid) and I am very happy to say I have several of my own. My most interesting social interaction up to this point, however, has been with a cat. This is not to say my experiences with dogs were not interesting; it’s just that the bond between them and me was natural and expected. Cats, meanwhile, always seemed mysterious to me.

This summer, I spent a few nights at my uncle’s house. When I arrived, he told me that he was taking care of the cat of a friend of his for a few days. Feeling unsure of what to do, I decided to avoid the cat for the time being.

Later that night, as I was using my laptop on my (temporary) bed, who should walk in but the cat! Her name was Ginger, and she was lovely. I made sure to remain at east and reassuring to her, and gently said hello. Almost immediately, Ginger jumped up onto the bed and starting rubbing her head, whiskers, and tail against my back and hips. She let me pet her on her head and scratch behind her ears and neck. After mere minutes, she was lying down and letting me rub her tummy; I had a new friend! She kept me a lot of company for the remainder of my stay. She seemed quite sad when I had to go.

It is fascinating to have bonds with animals. They really are full of surprises, and that adds to why they are and should be a key aspect of a human being’s life.

http://www.freewebs.com/brightstar-leaderofcloudclan/gray_cat.jpg

(Note: Above picture is random. I can't post pictures of Ginger... for obvious reasons.)

Lecture: Cognitive Semantics And Network Analysis

I enjoyed Professor Greg Appelbaum’s lecture regarding the semantics and networks of cognitive neuroscience and their analyses. He gave some very interesting talks about how so many different words, concepts, and mental processes are linked together. For example, he talked about how vastly different words that appear only vaguely linked in some way are actually constantly inter-connected in our minds. Furthermore, his research seemed to indicate an intriguing fact: emotion-related words and concepts seem to split off into their own network. These revelations, combined with new technology that is working on mapping our cognitive structures, are revolutionizing the scientific community's study of human thought and language.

My only criticism, thought, is that Professor Appelbaum could have provided a little more introduction and background to his subject. Cognitive semantics and networks can be somewhat complex, and they tie very heavily into much deeper studies of the human brain and other aspects of neuroscience.

Overall, though, I appreciated the lecture. The research that the lectured explored contains more evidence of the vast wonders we can uncover regarding ourselves and how the brain is absolutely critical to understanding humanity.

http://cosnet.bifi.es/wp-content/uploads//2011/08/semantic_net.jpg

Erich Fromm: A Truly Incredible Philosopher

By far my favorite philosopher was the humanist and social psychologist Erich Fromm. Born in Germany, he fled once the Nazis took over, and traveled around the world throughout his life. Fromm emphasized that human beings were unique in that they were the only species that could interfere with their own growth. Therefore, they must always ensure that they change for the better.

He once stated: “I believe that none can ‘save’ his fellow man by making a choice for him. To help him, he can indicate the possible alternatives, with sincerity and love, without being sentimental and without illusion.”

Fromm’s quote, and the man himself, represents where I want to go with my life. I understand today that humanity has the potential for so much better; we must evolve to use that potential if we want to survive and overcome our current problems.

I know, however, that I can’t change people. I can only change myself and provide some amount of guidance to others by showing them the way. It can be very difficult for me to remember this lesson, but I guess life is all about learning, isn’t it? In any case, I know I’m making progress, and I feel more at peace knowing that I have incredible men like Fromm, in their own ways, guiding me.

http://www.theglaringfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/erich-fromm.jpg

Neuroeconomics: The Dictator Game

My favorite neuroeconomic game is The Dictator, which is essentially an allocation game. There are two players: the “dictator” and the “recipient”. At the beginning of every round, the “dictator” receives a certain amount of money. He/she has to decide how much money to give to himself/herself and how much to give to the “recipient”. The game continues for the number of rounds designated.

I really appreciate this game because it demonstrates how far people are willing to go to serve their own needs and how much they care about other people around them. Because it is a strong measure of human behavior and values, I think that an experiment revolving around The Dictator game would serve as an excellent reflection of the social and cultural environments and their influence on people’s behavior. I would like to see how people of different nations and cultures vary, if at all, in their behavior as the “dictator”.

http://upennsocialbook.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/dictator-game1.jpg

Anti-Conformity: Acting Like L

For an attempt at violating social norms, I decided to follow the lead of one of my favorite fictional characters: L Lawliet from the anime/manga series Death Note. It took a bit of courage, but I finally went into the middle of the Great Hall, pulled out a chair, and mimicked L’s posture of squatting down with feet on the chair and sucking my thumb. I proceeded to stay in this position for several minutes.

To my extreme surprise, despite a significant number of people around me, hardly anyone noticed. Three people who did notice simply gave me some very quick raised eyebrows and then continued on with their business. One kid right next to me didn’t pay attention at all; it’s like I was invisible to him. Finally, two other guys explained to me, after I gave up and told them what my goal was, that they didn’t pay attention because they assumed I was doing some sort of pledge for a fraternity.

I suppose there are a variety of reasons why so few people noticed me acting strange. Perhaps, like the two guys I spoke with, they all thought I was doing a frat pledge. Maybe people are so busy and isolated today that nobody notices anything unusual that’s not right in front of them or in their current business. In any case, acting like an anti-conformist did not bring me the reaction I expected.

Here is a great cartoon about anti-conformity:

 And for those interested, meet L (I highly recommend the Death Note series by the way):

Hormones and Medication

I can testify from experience that hormonal effects on people can be profound indeed. Some of the best examples are various kids I have known who have been diagnosed, correctly or not, with ADHD.

Back when I was in high school, I knew a kid who was very hyperactive and seemed prone to goofing around in class; everyone was led to believe had ADHD. He often made loud noises and other disruptions randomly, and he had severe trouble focusing. It seemed his doctors and his parents tried everything, but nothing seemed to help his condition. Then, after about two years or so, he stopped taking the ADHD medications… and his problem steadily fixed itself. It turns out the kid did NOT have ADHD; the medication was what driving him into such wild behavior.

It is scary to think of the powerful effects medication can have on our behavior, because it is through experiences like the one I just described that we can see just how vulnerable our self-control, our hormones, and our minds and bodies in general, can be.

What Is Emotion?

There are a lot of aspects of humanity that we take for granted. Look at the concept of emotions, for example. It is a key aspect of humanity, and everyone knows about them. Yet nobody can sit down and truly describe what emotions are. How are we so uncertain about such an integral part of our lives and our own selves?

            I don’t think I will be doing the definition of emotions justice, but I will nonetheless try to explain my own interpretation. I believe emotions refer to any form of communication or idea that allow us to put forth our feelings. We use emotions to express our feelings to other people and ourselves. It is a crucial to our language, and it helps separate us, and to a lesser extent other animals, from other forms of life. We are not just living things that act and then die; we have the ability to think and reflect on our world. In fact, having a good reflection of our lives is one of the most crucial steps towards true happiness. With that in mind, we must use this understanding in the best way possible: towards the creation of a much more healthy and humane world than what we see today.

The Power of fMRI

Studies that utilize fMRI scans are very interesting, and not to mention extremely powerful, both in their abilities and results. By far one of the most profound fMRI studies I learned about came from numerous trials throughout Europe and the US. They involved studying psychopaths and trying to find out what made them so dangerous.

            Various clinical psychopaths were put through fMRI scans are compared to more normal criminals. It was found that several brain regions dealing with emotion, especially the amygdala, were far less active in psychopaths than other people during times where emotion should be natural (for example, after seeing scared or sad faces from other people). The research paved the way for our understanding that psychopaths lack empathy and the ability to understand and comprehend social rules and morals.

            The research from fMRI is valuable indeed. I wonder what else it will help us learn about people’s personalities and behaviors in the future.

My Mind-Reading Machine

If I were to create a mind-reading machine, I would only attempt to use it for the most beneficial goals possible. I would work with as few people as possible, and even then I would ensure they are of impeccable character. Powers like the ability to read minds are far too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.

            I would gather numerous volunteers of various demographics, backgrounds, and personalities for the machine. My machine would focus on and record their thoughts, feelings, and memories, and then store them in a database anonymously. After all the scans were completed, I would use the information I gathered to learn exactly how and why these people became the way they are. I suspect I would find a lot of powerful evidence showing how and why our society today is very unhealthy and inhumane. Thus, I think my research would demonstrate just how imperative it is that we create a much more sustainable and humane world.

Neurological Disorders: My First Experience

The first time I ever had an encounter with individuals suffering from a neurological disorder was during my senior year of high school. I had taken a service trip to a very poor and run-down area in Camden, New Jersey, and I was working at one of the nursing homes there. The patients I worked with had several disorders. At the time, I was not familiar with neurological disorders. Hindsight and college education, however, has allowed me find out what the people in the clinic were suffering from.

            One very elderly man had a severe case of Alzheimer’s. He could not remember anything that he or other people had said more than a few minutes ago, and he was constantly repeating the same details of the same story about his past. It was a truly heartbreaking sight to see him struggle so hard with his memory.

            Another fairly younger woman experienced an incredible amount of difficulty with her coordination. Whenever she attempted to move, her body shook quite hard. She could not walk without help. Additionally, when she would try to do an activity such as writing or drawing, her hand wobbled, thus ruining her intended work and causing her to restart again and again. It turns out she was suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

            Yet, despite my initial horror and sadness from my experience in the clinic, I am determined to learn more about neurological disorders. After all, the only way we can truly help those experiencing these conditions is to research the disorders and find solutions.

This video features a woman with Parkison's. It is an excellent case study.

Numbers and Jargon

            As much as I enjoy psychology and neuroscience and want to study them, they involve a lot of statistics. While I do value and try to understand statistics, countless research papers, journals, etc. have all too often contained far too many numbers, percentages, and other values that boggle my mind. Simply put, those kinds of values do very little to assist me in comprehending the topic I am currently studying/reading about, partially because they tend to take a long time to get to the point.

            I understand that these papers, journals, and other materials are written to appeal to the scientific community, but less scientific terminology-savvy people, including me (at least for now), don’t fully understand what the all the statistical jargons. To put it bluntly, my head often aches from trying to make sense of that stuff. While I will perhaps improve my comprehension of statistics with time and practice, I would prefer to study from and work with material that is not quite so keen on causing my brain to explode all over the place.

            This kid’s expression says it all:

Neuroscience + Social Behavior = A Great Opportunity (And I Want In)

As the last few decades have demonstrated, neuroscience is one of the most potent fields for powerful and profound scientific discoveries. Put simply, neuroscience is the study of how the human brain works. Of course, anyone studying this area of research knows that neuroscience is not merely a one-way ticket to understanding everything about our minds; it is linked to countless other forms of scientific investigation, and it is just one piece of the vast puzzle that is a human being.

I chose to take Neuroscientific Approaches to Social Behavior because I want to understand more about the various influences that shape me and all other human beings. In particular, I seek to learn more about epigenetic factors behind human behavior, because human beings are very much the product of both genetics and environmental stimuli acting on our genetics. 

Through this course and hopefully future ones like it, I want to understand human behavior to to the best of my ability so that I can make a difference in the effort to create a better and more humane world.

I thought I would post this picture below because it sums up my understandings and goals perfectly: