Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 09:23:05 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: RE: Inernal meme?
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Aaron:
As for the details of *how* the amygdala reaction pattern develops as a
result of several year's exposure to someone using the word and also having
the pattern, that is a matter for further neuroscience research. If you
want to wait for that detailed research before being swayed, you are of
course free to wait.
Derek:
No, you haven't grasped my point. I'll try to explain again.
If we have two subjects, and we hit both on the knee with a hammer, then
both will feel pain which will be characterised at the neurological level by
firing of afferent neurons etc. However, the neurological patterns are
caused by the environmental stimulus, ie. the hammer, not by the fact that
the two subjects are exposed to each other's presence. If one subject is
not hit on the knee, that subject will not have the stereotypical neural
reponse.
Likewise with the threat words; the stereotypical amydalar activation is an
environmental response, and is not in any way itself contagious.
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