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Friday, October 14 5:14 am (link) -
So I'm reading this excellent book about the brain, the different chemical interactions involved with reactions and thought processes and the like, called Mind Wide Open: Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life. I'm really enjoying the book. It's interesting and fun and I'm learning a lot. It's difficult to take with me on the metro, or to read in public in general, though, because the cover art is absolutely atrocious.
It looks like some stupid Scientology book.
Anyway, it's full of interesting stuff about how the brain functions, how memories are stored, how the body reacts to certain information and sensory input. All very scientific, following research and chemical tracers and studies and all that. But there are also these amazing, bizarre anecdotes. This was my favorite.
"Among young chimpanzees that have been taught sign language, tickling is a frequent topic of conversation."
Apparently humans laugh and smile because of chemicals released as a means of insuring social interaction and more importantly the bonds between a parent and a child. This includes the intense feelings a parent receives upon looking at their child's smile, as well as the joy of such actions as tickling. Chimpanzees also enjoy tickling.
This is what I would have made the book cover look more like (only I had to use MS Photo Editor, not photoshop as I would have preferred):
Oh, and This OverCompensating is hilarious.
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