Comments on: Fun And Instructive Classroom Exercise

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:42:20 +0000

Virgil,Where did I promise you a definition of consciousness? You demanded one, and have been a bit of an ass about it. But you are forgetting my “don’t tell me what to blog rule” …Furthermore, where did I say that this post is such a definition?Sure, we can talk about “defining consciousness.” This little trick can be part of that discussion. But the telepathy part, no, I don’t think that’s going to work as a means of conversation.

By: Virgil Samms

Virgil Samms — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:35:05 +0000

Is this the definition of “consciousness” you promised us?

By: Juuro

Juuro — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:57:36 +0000

Actually, I do it from the outside just because I am lazy. I started walking from room to room, got tired with the inefficiency of the process, and flashed to four vantage points outside the house. Much more convenient, and I even see the workshop window that his hidden behind a cupboard.

By: Monado, FCD

Monado, FCD — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:13:23 +0000

Staring point or starting point? Nice pun, if the former.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:08:30 +0000

Stephanie: The people who do it from the outside do that for a very specific reason. Like, they recently changed all the screens or something. It is rare, but it always makes sense.Michael: It was Stephen Kosslyn who taught me this trick, as a matter of fact. This is indeed his bailiwick.

By: Stephanie Z

Stephanie Z — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:56:11 +0000

I like that this covers more than just visual memory. As I move around my internal house, I’m remembering opening or closing windows (or messing with curtains), not looking at them. I couldn’t count them from the outside by memory if I tried.

By: Michael Anes

Michael Anes — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:32:01 +0000

There is a whole literature on mental imagery, and this is a prime example of our imaging ability.This exercise in particular doesn’t rely on the more visual/sensory components of mental imagery, but instead on a spatial/manipulative component.Stephen Kosslyn is the dean of a lot of this research, and has an approachable writing style (and is super prolific)…http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~kwn/

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:24:51 +0000

This is how I know what’s in my purse.

By: barney

barney — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:49:50 +0000

I do this to remember how many faculty there are in my department (floor-by-floor office count). Fortunately it’s a small department so I don’t have to keep my eyes closed for too long. Don’t ask why I need to know this or why I can’t remember the number 16.