Low-level x-irradiation of the brain during development morphological, physiological, and behavioral consequences. Final report, September 1, 1976--August 31, 1977

Abstract Ideological behavior has traditionally been viewed as a product of social forces. Nonetheless, an emerging science suggests that ideological worldviews can also be understood in terms of neural and cognitive principles. The article proposes a neurocognitive model of ideological thinking, arguing that ideological worldviews may be manifestations of individuals’ perceptual and cognitive systems. This model makes two claims. First, there are neurocognitive antecedents to ideological thinking: the brain’s low-level neurocognitive dispositions influence its receptivity to ideological doctrines. Second, there are neurocognitive consequences to ideological engagement: strong exposure and adherence to ideological doctrines can shape perceptual and cognitive systems. This article details the neurocognitive model of ideological thinking and synthesizes the empirical evidence in support of its claims. The model postulates that there are bidirectional processes between the brain and the ideological environment, and so it can address the roles of situational and motivational factors in ideologically motivated action. This endeavor highlights that an interdisciplinary neurocognitive approach to ideologies can facilitate biologically informed accounts of the ideological brain and thus reveal who is most susceptible to extreme and authoritarian ideologies. By investigating the relationships between low-level perceptual processes and high-level ideological attitudes, we can develop a better grasp of our collective history as well as the mechanisms that may structure our political futures.

Download Full-text

Perceptual decisions are biased toward relevant prior choices

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80128-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Helen Feigin ◽

Shira Baror ◽

Moshe Bar ◽

Adam Zaidel

Keyword(s):

Sensory Information ◽

Irrelevant Stimulus ◽

Stimulus Feature ◽

Serial Dependence ◽

Low Level ◽

Subsequent Test ◽

Key Factor ◽

High Level ◽

Motor Actions ◽

The Brain

AbstractPerceptual decisions are biased by recent perceptual history—a phenomenon termed 'serial dependence.' Here, we investigated what aspects of perceptual decisions lead to serial dependence, and disambiguated the influences of low-level sensory information, prior choices and motor actions. Participants discriminated whether a brief visual stimulus lay to left/right of the screen center. Following a series of biased ‘prior’ location discriminations, subsequent ‘test’ location discriminations were biased toward the prior choices, even when these were reported via different motor actions (using different keys), and when the prior and test stimuli differed in color. By contrast, prior discriminations about an irrelevant stimulus feature (color) did not substantially influence subsequent location discriminations, even though these were reported via the same motor actions. Additionally, when color (not location) was discriminated, a bias in prior stimulus locations no longer influenced subsequent location discriminations. Although low-level stimuli and motor actions did not trigger serial-dependence on their own, similarity of these features across discriminations boosted the effect. These findings suggest that relevance across perceptual decisions is a key factor for serial dependence. Accordingly, serial dependence likely reflects a high-level mechanism by which the brain predicts and interprets new incoming sensory information in accordance with relevant prior choices.

Download Full-text

Report on Research with Biomimetic Autonomous Underwater Vehicle — Low Level Control

Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Marynarki Wojennej ◽

10.2478/sjpna-2018-0006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 212 (1) ◽

pp. 105-123

Author(s):

Tomasz Praczyk ◽

Piotr Szymak ◽

Krzysztof Naus ◽

Leszek Pietrukaniec ◽

Stanisław Hożyń

Keyword(s):

Research And Development ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Underwater Vehicle ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Swimming Pool ◽

Final Report ◽

Level Control ◽

Low Level

Abstract The paper presents the first part of the final report on all the experiments with biomimetic autono-mous underwater vehicle (BAUV) performed within the confines of the project entitled ‘Autonomous underwater vehicles with silent undulating propulsion for underwater ISR’, financed by Polish National Center of Research and Development. The report includes experiments in the swimming pool as well as in real conditions, that is, both in a lake and in the sea. The tests presented in this part of the final report were focused on low-level control.

Download Full-text

Spiritual Education Mission in the Mufassirin Perspective

Al-Albab ◽

10.24260/alalbab.v8i2.1444 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 237-262

Author(s):

Syarif Syarif

Keyword(s):

Education System ◽

Social Life ◽

Research Method ◽

Spiritual Values ◽

Spiritual Education ◽

Modern Humans ◽

Educational Approach ◽

Low Level ◽

Library Research ◽

The Brain

Spiritual crisis is a factor leading to disorientation in today’s modern humans and the decline of morality of the nation. The low level of spirituality is caused by an educational approach that only focuses on the brain and ignores spiritual values. The Qur'an has actually affirmed the mission of spiritual education which should be used as a reference for the current education system. This article employs library research method through a comparison of the way the mufassirin interpret verses about the mission of spiritual education. The results show that the mission of spiritual education carried out by the Prophet Muhammad can be seen for example in Surat Al-Anbiya' verse 107, Surat Saba' verse 28 and Surat Al-Ahzab verse 21, namely rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy to all creations). The prophet has brought evidence the truth to perfect the akhlậq, as well as to become the followers of uswah hasanah (perfect example) which must be imitated by all humans. Meanwhile, the stages of increasing spirituality in the Surat Luqman Verses 12-19, include: (1) instilling the tauhid values, (2) being filial to parents, (3) understanding the reciprocity of each deed, (4) command to worship, (5) introducing politeness in social life. Elements of spiritual education contained in Surat al-Muzzammil Verses 1-10 include qiyamul lail or night prayer, reciting the Qur’an in a tartil way, getting used to zikr, patience, jihad fi sabilillah or fighting on the path of Allah, and always praying and begging forgiveness from Allah.

Download Full-text