Old ideas that get in the way

There are ways of thinking that interfere with understanding the brain. (12 Dec 08 a different angle) (25 Dec 09 folk knowledge)

• Computer metaphor:

Some people take the metaphor between computers and brains a little too seriously. (19 Jun 08 brain-computer metaphor)

• Denial of continuity with animals:

Many people are resistance to there being a continuity between our brains and those of other animals. (4 Aug 08 are animals conscious?) (23 Aug 08 a birds eye view) (28 Oct 08 dogs) (24 Nov 08 Occams razor and rules of thumb) (12 Dec 08 hangover from the Great Chain of Beings) (27 Dec 08 not just a few animals) (19 Jun 09 anthropomorphism) (16 Jul 09 walking like a duck) (28 Nov 09 Size is not everything) (20 Feb 10 baggage2-Skinner) (20 Jul 10 the brains of birds) (6 Sep 10 worms and us)

• Language too central:

I have encountered a strict identification of language with consciousness that I think is counterproductive. (7 Aug 08 the inner voice) (24 Sep 08 unconscious meaning). But there is some connection – see language and communication group above.

• Freud:

A leftover from Freudian theories is a distrust of unconscious thinking. (6 Oct 08 bad press for unconscious) (18 Feb 10 baggage1-Freud)

• Neo-cortex too important:

The idea that the neo-cortex is the only part of the brain involved in producing consciousness is counter production. The thalamus as well as the cortex is important in producing consciousness, prehaps many more regions (11 Sep 08 Grand Central Station) (21 Dec 08 thalamus waves) (13 Dec 09 include the thalamus) (6 Jan 10 brain stem involvement in attention) (12 Jan 10 the cortex is not the hub) (7 Mar 10 turning off consciousness)

• Philosophical baggage:

There may be some resistance from philosophers to scientists looking at an area that has until now been only examined by them. Thankfully, not all philosophers. (29 Jan 09 New philosophical research project) (30 Mar 09 Reductionism is necessary) (05 Apr 09 Biology and culture) (14 Sep 09 criticizing a critic of Pinker) (16 Nov 09 science and philosophy) (23 Feb 10 Baggage3-economic man) (26 Feb 10 baggage4- Descartes) (1 Mar 10 baggage5-Locke) (3 Sep 10 cognitive science and neurobiology) (27 Oct 10 Hacker on consciousness) (27 Nov 08 not inside us)

• Religious ideas:

But religious fundamentalists are not happy with recent developments. (12 Mar 09 Fundamentalists will challenge) (2 Apr 09 No conflict with science)

• Media hype:

Science is sometimes ill served by reporters. (26 Jun 10 confusing writing) (2 Jul 10 pop science)