Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA07813 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 27 Aug 2001 12:49:14 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D310174604D@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Song of Myself Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 12:29:17 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
<Sheldrake offers the phenomenon of "phantom limbs" as evidence for
morphic
> fields. Unlike an inanimate object, the body wants to be whole. When an
> arm is lost, the individual invariably reports that somehow it still seems
> to be there. This makes perfect sense from the morphic point of view.
> The
> fields that regulate the structures of the body are arranged in a nested
> hierarchy. Protein fields are nested within organelle fields, which are
> nested within cell fields, which are nested within tissue fields, and so
> on.
> The field for an arm is part of a larger field embracing the rest of the
> body. So it can't be removed just because the arm it regulated is gone.
> This would explain the sense that the arm is still there in some way.>
>
Do keep up Ted. Even those of us who follow this kind of stuff
through a combination of science magazines, popular science books, and
science TV shows know what's going on with phantom limbs. (See the popular
work of Susan Greenfield, or the Indian guy who wrote what I think is called
'Phantoms of the Brain'- I can't remember his name at the moment- I have
posted it to the list before some time ago).
Brain scans of people who suffer from phantom limb show very clearl
patterns of brain activity. What happens is that the region of the brain
that dealt with the signals being received by the lost limb, is co-opted by
the brain for other uses, but there is a latent effect on the person. This
is why, for example, you can touch, say a person's face, and they will feel
their phantom limb as well as feel the touch on their fact.
It's got nothing to to do whatsoever with weirdy fields, and
everything to do with how the brain works.
Vincent
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