Exciting films turn off the brain. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Exciting movies turn off the brain

12.08.2015

What goes on in our heads when we watch a truly immersive movie? The answer to this question can be found in an article in the journal Neuroscience published by a group of psychologists from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the Georgia Institute of Technology. What is happening in the brain, which areas are more active, which ones are less, can be found out using functional magnetic resonance imaging. That is, all that was required of the researchers was to show the volunteers lying in the fMRI machine some particularly impressive excerpts from the world's film heritage, and then carefully analyze which brain signals relate specifically to the experienced cinematic sensations.

Ten well-known films were selected for the experiment, from Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much" to Ridley Scott's "Alien". Along the edges of the screen on which the movie was shown, light signals flashed from time to time, which were supposed to distract the viewer from the movie. Moreover, distracting flashes were built in a checkerboard pattern, since it is known that it always distracts visual neurons quite strongly.

It turned out that in the most intense scenes, where the suspense rapidly increased, the activity in the spur (or visual) sulcus of the brain, which is responsible for processing most of the visual information, changed: those parts of it that were responsible for peripheral vision calmed down, and those that were responsible for the center of the visual field, on the contrary, they were strongly activated. Roughly speaking, when the hero was in danger, the brain looked only at him, but when the hero managed to get out of a difficult situation, the brain looked not only at him, but also, say, at the interior or nature, in the middle of which the character was, and and chess flashes at the edges of the screen.

In addition to the spur sulcus, there are other areas in the brain responsible for analyzing visual information at a higher level, but they also responded to suspense in a similar way, narrowing attention to the center of the visual field. That is, when we say that we watched a movie, forgetting about everything, this is not a figure of speech at all - the consciousness really stops following what is happening around, and literally we see and hear nothing, except for the movie.

Obviously, the same thing happens in any case when we are completely absorbed in some business.

<< Back: Panasonic curved touch panels for cars 13.08.2015

>> Forward: Jeans with pockets for smartphone and charger 12.08.2015

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Robotic canes for the blind 29.08.2021

Scientists from the Virginia Commonwealth University propose to create a robotic white cane that will simplify the mobility of blind people.

Blind people use a white cane and a guide dog for mobility for many years. Technology is improving, so experts have modernized the white cane. Thus, a roller tip with an electromagnetic clutch and an actuator appeared at the bottom of the cane. With the help of an onboard computer vision system, the cane calculates the direction of movement.

The technique also uses a camera, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer to measure the movement of the robotic navigation system in space. At the same time, a vibration response mechanism prompts a person in the desired direction.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews