Philosophy Wire: Internal temperature, mind, meditation...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-04-10]:

A team of researchers at the National University of Singapore showed for the first time that g-tummo meditation has been used by Tibetan nuns to increase their core body temperature.
The researchers, who published their findings in the journal PLoS ONE, collected data during a unique ceremony in Tibet in which nuns raised their core body temperature and dried wet sheets which were wrapped around their bodies in -25 degree Celsius temperatures.

The nuns used two techniques: Vase breath and concentrative visualization. ‘Vase breath’ is a specific breathing technique which causes thermogenesis, which is a process of heat production. The other technique, concentrative visualization, involves focusing on a mental image of flames along the spinal cord in order to prevent heat losses. Using electroencephalography (EEG) recordings and temperature measures, the team observed increases in core body temperature up to 38.3 degree Celsius - normal body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius. [web news]

This is an impressive result, given that the hippocampus which controls human body temperature is not believed to be controlled consciously. Mind over body? Or just an unknown power of the brain?

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Philosophy Wire: Subliminal advertising, Death, Sex…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-02-22]:

The word "SEX" is used all to often in subliminal advertising. Take a look at the examples below.

But what is really interesting is that the notion of DEATH is used the same as often in ads! (see the sources of this article for analysis)

 

This happens for a variety of reasons (especially in cigarette ads, but also in alcohol and even cosmetics advertisements):

• Smokers were believed to have had an unconscious death wish maybe because they feel they need to be punished by death for smoking. [1]
• Most smokers know that they are going to die if they smoke and their subconscious creates some sort of death wish. (!!!) [2]
• Perhaps it's got something to do with Freudian concept of death wish or death instinct. Or maybe defying death, even subliminally, may enhance a drinker's (or a smoker's) self-image of masculinity and virility. [3]
• Death is a very uncomfortable topic for western populations, and that we are taught from infancy to repress thoughts about it. This is what marketing experts use to stimulate the subconscious and generate interest into a product. [4] Unconscious perceptual sensitivity appears most acute when the stimuli involve a cultural taboo related to reproductive behavior (sex) and death.  [5, 6]

Once more, reading and exercising philosophy as depicted in Harmonia Philosophica (where not only I am not afraid to mention Death, but I have made it one of my basic subjects!) is proved to be good for you... This time in a very practical manner! :)

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective...

Philosophy Wire: Reading dreams, “recognizing” dreams…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-10-23]: Scientists announce that they can read the dreams of people with fMRI [source: web news]. After careful consideration the truth is something like: they can recognize what the subjects dreamt about after they interviewed many of them so that they can calibrate their instruments to recognize the patterns on the encephalogram. Truth can have many forms…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective...

Philosophy Wire: Changing memories – Solution or stupidity?

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-04-15]: Manipulating memories of drug use may help reformed addicts avoid a return to a life of drug abuse, according to scientists in China [source: BBC News]. How much do we remain “we”, after we have changed our memories?

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective...

Philosophy Wire: Doctors, Medicine, Horror…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-03-20]: High esteemed doctors known in the medical world and from well known universities, conducting CIA-funded mind control experiments to disabled, prisoners, sick people? Nuhhh… This could not have happened. We do not live in Medieval times.

 

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective...