So, let's just pretend that this isn't an obvious fake.
What's the difference, functionally? Who cares (well, other than him) if he's in a coma, or conscious but unable to move or communicate? Same thing, really...
-Kle.
@Klebert L. Hall: It just seems remarkably cold to say "who cares if a man is living a tortured life or if he's braindead." It is rather depressing to know there's people like you who seem to posess no empathy.
@LastAndLeast:
If someone isn't braindead, (or dead, for that matter) but is indistinguishable in every way from someone with the braindead (or dead) condition . Then what is the functional difference?
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we might as well call it a duck.
The logical result of your "empathic" thinking, is that we should be all torn up about the idea that rocks might be compassionate intelligent beings, and we just can't tell ... My god, we've been cutting and grinding them up for millennia! Oh, the Humanity!
-Kle.
@Klebert L. Hall: Except they scanned his brain and it showed activity. Also, your rock example is specious, because we have never had reason to believe rocks had the capability of thought.
@Scotland: It is so clear that the lady is punching in the messages. This is a scam. I bet she'll come out with a book, and put his name on it. Such a travesty, being taken advantage like that. These people should be ashamed!
@Jonny_eh: This video is unbelievable! How could anyone watch it and think the coma man is the one typing? The blond woman is so obviously reading the screen and pushing his hand around.
I feel bad for the coma man's mother. You can tell she believes it.
Now that I think about it, maybe that's even more depressing.
EDIT: Whoops, was already referenced below. In answer to Atomsmoosher, I don't think it can be said definitively either way as of yet, but there are such things as motion sensors available to a micron of pressure, you'd think they could do some more testing.
I'm not gonna pretend that I know a lot about medical science, because I don't, but why did it take them 20+ years to run a brainscan on the guy to determine that he was conscious? Were brainscans not available until recently?
@korybing: Think about it. He's alive. He's non-responsive. Why scan? In 1986 there were a number of external tests thought a reliable means to determine consciousness. Based on the technology and experience of the time, there was no reason to believe the man was suffering from 'locked-in' syndrome or anything other than a persistent vegetative state. Likely, it took a few scans over the years before the right technology and activity combined to demonstrate that the mans was indeed awake.
Since then brain imaging and monitoring has advanced tremedously. In 1986, you might have seen alpha waves and other measurable activity and not really been able to tell what exactly was going one. Realize also that there can easily be a lot of activity while none of it could be considered organized thought.
You are right that imaging, monitoring and non-invasive scanning is the way of the future. Hopefully as we are better able to sense, measure and see our inner workings, medicine will make fewer misdiagnosis like this. In the not too distant future we will be able to take a status snapshot of a living body and know everything that is going on inside down to the molecular level. This is just an extension of technologies like MRI.
Dr.Quatermass: I have to say Dr. You are once again spot on with that oberservation and anything I am about to say that contradicts this statement is strictly for humor sake. was starred
Dr.Quatermass: I have to say Dr. You are once again spot on with that oberservation and anything I am about to say that contradicts this statement is strictly for humor sake. was unstarred
Ok, so does this increased myelinization somehow explain myopia? Is it pleiotropy (the genes that increase myelin sheath thickness increase incidence of myopia)? At least this myelin thickness thing might be influenced by a small enough set of genes that it could make it more likely, right?
And I know that the structure of the eye determines myopia, but along different lines: why would it matter how much of the occipital lobe is heritable? I mean, it's visual processing, right? Are there really that many gradations of visual processing ability? Or is it just the speed at which the brain processes visual stimuli (and things like saccades and whatnot that I guess could influence at least the ability to learn, if not intelligence per se).
I'm skeptical. It's seems an oversimplification that faster neural impulse speed idicates greater intelligence. Efficiency in this one area is hardly the only factor, and it doesn't really define what "intelligence" is.
@Grey_Area: In that case, in Taiwan it would be Young-Js. Here in San Jose, you might as well install it at the Great Mall right next to the Hot Topic.
While I freely hold young earthers and other anti-science types in contempt, this is one field of study that gets very close to where I refuse to let my science get in the way of my own politics.
But I can freely admit my hypocrisy! That's gotta count for something!
11/25/09
What's the difference, functionally? Who cares (well, other than him) if he's in a coma, or conscious but unable to move or communicate? Same thing, really...
-Kle.
11/25/09
11/26/09
You are correct. If I was completely unable to communicate, I wouldn't say anything, at all.
-Kle.
11/26/09
07:31 AM
If someone isn't braindead, (or dead, for that matter) but is indistinguishable in every way from someone with the braindead (or dead) condition . Then what is the functional difference?
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we might as well call it a duck.
The logical result of your "empathic" thinking, is that we should be all torn up about the idea that rocks might be compassionate intelligent beings, and we just can't tell ... My god, we've been cutting and grinding them up for millennia! Oh, the Humanity!
-Kle.
08:28 AM
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
And where the hell did the name ' Glasgow coma scale' come from?? How hard you get headbutted in Scottland!
11/24/09
11/24/09
If there's a computer involved that measures electrical signals in his brain, I'm willing to believe that he can use it to type out letters.
If it's a human facilitator, then no way. He's just a human Ouija board.
11/24/09
[news.yahoo.com]
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
I feel bad for the coma man's mother. You can tell she believes it.
11/24/09
[news.yahoo.com]
Now that I think about it, maybe that's even more depressing.
EDIT: Whoops, was already referenced below. In answer to Atomsmoosher, I don't think it can be said definitively either way as of yet, but there are such things as motion sensors available to a micron of pressure, you'd think they could do some more testing.
11/24/09
11/24/09
Since then brain imaging and monitoring has advanced tremedously. In 1986, you might have seen alpha waves and other measurable activity and not really been able to tell what exactly was going one. Realize also that there can easily be a lot of activity while none of it could be considered organized thought.
You are right that imaging, monitoring and non-invasive scanning is the way of the future. Hopefully as we are better able to sense, measure and see our inner workings, medicine will make fewer misdiagnosis like this. In the not too distant future we will be able to take a status snapshot of a living body and know everything that is going on inside down to the molecular level. This is just an extension of technologies like MRI.
11/24/09
03/19/09
And I know that the structure of the eye determines myopia, but along different lines: why would it matter how much of the occipital lobe is heritable? I mean, it's visual processing, right? Are there really that many gradations of visual processing ability? Or is it just the speed at which the brain processes visual stimuli (and things like saccades and whatnot that I guess could influence at least the ability to learn, if not intelligence per se).
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/18/09
"FREE PORN, CHOCOLATE, AND BOOZE INSIDE!"
I am going to save the world.
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/18/09
I want one of these in every 7/11 or equivalent in the world.
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/19/09
The smart people will use TOOLS to get to the porn, chocolate, and booze! Therefore there will be no bait for the stupid people!
I OUTSMRTED YOU!!!
03/19/09
Check and mate.
03/19/09
03/18/09
*Aaaah-OOOGAH*
03/18/09
redneck/chav + redneck/chav = more stupid
smart + smart = more smart
some things in science are pretty clear.
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/18/09
But I can freely admit my hypocrisy! That's gotta count for something!
03/18/09