A journey to the center of your mind

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Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal about the connection between celebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples.

Mr. Ramachandan did an extraordinary presentation where he was able to use simple explanations – supported with examples – of how the human brain works. What really got my attention was the fact that boys are sexually attracted to their own mothers. I never thought on something like this. Even though, I believe there is no such thing as a sexual attraction to my own mother, it is intrusting to hear Mr. Ramachandan`s opinion about this. Also, I learned in this presentation that people that lost parts of their body can still feel pain for something that actually is not there anymore. I never though someone could feel their arm after having it amputated. Moreover he explains another aspect of our brains that I found fascinating; the fact that we are able to “trick“ our own brain. I never though in the idea of being able of doing experiments, like the mirror box, to alleviate the pain caused by patient`s phantom arm. This presentation clarified that everything that happens in our lives must pass through our brains, no matter what. In conclusion the presentation done by Mr. Ramachandan really made me revise my beliefs regarding the human brain. It is always good to have different perspectives of a subject considered unknown.