1. Joined
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    08 Jan '15 17:438 edits
    It has long been known that there are specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving visual motion in general; -no particular surprise there.
    But now it has been discovered that, in addition, there are also even more specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving not visual motion in general but rather more specifically perceiving visual motion of a face in particular:

    http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-facial-motion-dedicated-network-brain.html

    This is a bit surprising to me for we still have areas of the brain for perceiving visual motion in general in addition to these specialized areas for face motion which begs the question in my mind what is it about facial motion that requires such complex specialized information processing which the area of the brain for perceiving visual motion in general cannot do or at least not so well?
    Or perhaps this is just another example of the messy arbitrary way evolution sometimes works that results in outcomes that clearly wouldn't be how you would hypothetically arrange it if you hypothetically could and did use your intelligence to arrange it i.e. it results in outcomes that are not only in actuality unintelligent (as always ) but that are clearly evident (by reason ) as being unintelligent (as not always ).
  2. Standard memberDeepThought
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    08 Jan '15 18:29
    Originally posted by humy
    It has long been known that there are specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving visual motion in general; -no particular surprise there.
    But now it has been discovered that, in addition, there are also even more specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving not visual motion in general but rather more specifically perceiving visual motion of a ...[text shortened]... ways ) but that are clearly evident (by reason ) as being unintelligent (as not always ).
    As social animals it is particularly important to us to be able to recognise and read each other, so we have specialised regions to facilitate that. Consider expressions such as "his face fell" - it allows us quite nuanced insight into each others moods. So perhaps it's not such a surprise after all.
  3. Joined
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    08 Jan '15 18:38
    Originally posted by humy
    It has long been known that there are specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving visual motion in general; -no particular surprise there.
    But now it has been discovered that, in addition, there are also even more specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving not visual motion in general but rather more specifically perceiving visual motion of a ...[text shortened]... ways ) but that are clearly evident (by reason ) as being unintelligent (as not always ).
    It is very hard for computers to recognize faces (and identify them), particulary in motion, in bad light condition, when disguised, etc. Therefore we have a very particular place in the brain, Gyrus Fusiformis, where this identification is done.

    This Gyrus Fusiformis is very important evoutionarily, because it can differ friend from enemy, which could be very lethal to do a wrong decision. Families with a genetic defect on Gyrus Fusiformis, in the good old prehistoric age, will die out, whereas families with a very good function has a better survival rate.

    I can understand that a special center in brain, near the visual cortex, could have a special nerval connection to the Gyrus Fusiformis to accomodate such good identification in hard visual conditions.

    I am not an expert of the nervous system, so I might be wrong. If anyone else has a better idea, let's hear it.
  4. Joined
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    09 Jan '15 01:18
    Originally posted by humy
    It has long been known that there are specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving visual motion in general; -no particular surprise there.
    But now it has been discovered that, in addition, there are also even more specialized areas of the human brain for perceiving not visual motion in general but rather more specifically perceiving visual motion of a ...[text shortened]... ways ) but that are clearly evident (by reason ) as being unintelligent (as not always ).
    Einstein's brain was bigger and different from the average person's.
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