Perception
Ancient brain ‘radar’ shapes visual perception, study shows
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An evolutionarily ancient midbrain region, the superior colliculus, can independently carry out visual computations long attributed mainly to the cortex, according to a PLOS Biology study. The work suggests that attention-guiding mechanisms with roots more than 500 million years old help separate objects from backgrounds and highlight salient details.
Researchers including David Wolpert and Carlo Rovelli have analyzed the Boltzmann brain hypothesis, questioning the reliability of human memories. Their work highlights circular reasoning in arguments about entropy, time, and memory. The study appears in the journal Entropy.
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What people expect to be drinking can sway how much they enjoy sweet beverages—sometimes more than the drink’s actual ingredients—according to a new experiment that paired taste ratings with brain imaging. Researchers reported that anticipating sugar increased activity in a reward-linked midbrain region even when the drink contained an artificial sweetener.