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Show www.dailyutahchronicle.com 5 OPINION Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Identity determined by more than the brain M arch 7, to the clinking of wine glasses and the aroma of appetizers, the Leonardo hosted Ph.D.s and U professors Monisha Pasupathi and Christopher German. They came to explore, with a large and rapt audience, the definitive question of, "Are You Your Brain?" They explained that our thoughts and perceptions of the world are transmitted as electric signals to our brains, which can be mapped by imaging scans. These maps demonstrate that we all perceive, for example, a kiss in a particular area or areas in our brain and do so with such exquisite uniformity among individual humans that if a computer could identify the parts of our brains activated by our thoughts and actions, it could be programed to distinguish whether we were kissing a lover or operating a chain saw. They also said that if you repeatedly rolled a marble, starting from the same spot, down a slanted surface, though at first it might at times stray from its same path, eventually it would etch a groove that it would rarely deviate from. Similarly, when a particular thought or action is perceived by the brain and repeatedly registered within a specific neural pathway—because we either recall a memory to ponder or recount, or because we engage in a repetitive action—this will create a groove through which the particular electric signal will travel more efficiently. This is called LongTerm Potentiation. Consequently, recalling an event or thought activates the brain in the same manner as it initially did, as if we were experiencing them again. LTP therefore is both our bane and blessing, for as we repeatedly do particular actions or think specific thoughts, our brains create for them a path of least resistance. This is true whether we are perfecting our 3-point shot from "Jimmer range" or honing our carjacking skills. Although LTP solidifies the memory, depending upon our emotional state or our audience, the malleability of our minds invariably changes the memory, causing a modification or deterio- LOREN LAMBERT Opinion Writer ration thereof. Furthermore, if we engage in one particular behavior at the expense of others, a greater portion of our brain will be assigned or even reassigned to that activity. What importance does this play in determining if our brains are us? The professors explained that it allows us to define and perceive our "individual selves" as continuous beings and thereby to become invested in the responsibilities of living. German also concluded that we are our brains. However, this could not be wholly true. The following admittedly sophomoric fable, bowdlerized for your reading enjoyment, is illustrative. Apparently, after Aristotle had pronounced his famous statement, quoted at the lecture, that, "Of course, the brain is not responsible for any of the sensations at all. The correct view is that the seat and source of sensation is the region of the heart," he slept. Aristotle's brain, offended and knowing better, rallied his body's parts to debate which was most important and should therefore be boss. The hands argued that they were needed to write, the legs to travel, the mouth to speak, the eyes to see etc., until all the body parts had their say, giving the brain its last word. Then, at the stroke of dawn, when it appeared the brain would prevail, the rectum, having sat quietly, finally spoke up. But before it could utter a peep, the other body parts roared with laughter. Embarrassed and slighted, the rectum withdrew from association, closed off and fell into a deep funk. Soon the legs could not walk, the arms could not move, and the brain could not think. With death at their door, all the parts were forced to apologize and crown the rectum most important MAX MYERS/The Daily Utah Chronicle and boss. Besides the moral that you don't have to be a brain to be boss, as the fable suggests, and given that the brain is shaped by what the body experiences, we are the sum total of our being and experiences. We cannot be one without the others. I suspect that if we wiped an individual's brain clean of all knowledge, identity and experience, allowing the individual to commence anew, he or she would not develop into a completely different person. Without regard to appearance, there would still exist an intrinsic essence of who he or she was before. Some would call this essence the soul, others the spirit, and still others their genetic and congenital pre-direction. Whatever you call it, we are not just our brains. Taking responsibility would lessen DeChristopher's sentence T im DeChristopher showed responsibility. bravery and moral forthrightJudges base sentences on whether ness in disrupting the sale of defendants take responsibility. Martin Luther King Jr. took responDepartment of Natural Resources land to oil interests. sibility. Socrates did, too. If you're JON Defending limited resources going to fight, you've got to go all BULLEN against the forces of greed and exin. In DeChristopher's case, taking ploitation is clearly worthwhile, but responsibility will actually lessen the his actions to date are likely to only severity of the sentence. increase the severity of his sentence DeChristopher seems to be willing Opinion Writer without furthering his cause. to go the full io years. How does this DeChristopher has been convicted topher was going to protest and give help the cause he is fighting for? of two felony counts—making a false speeches, but DeChristopher failed He might have been victimized by statement to the federal government, to obtain clearance from his lawyer. the crowd that claims to support him. and violating the Federal Onshore "I didn't advise him to (give By supplying him celebrity status and reinforcing an image of a higher Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act. He speeches)—I had talked to him about faces up to io years in prison. those things in the past," Yengich mission, the crowd that encourages him might have turned him against In the interim between conviction said. and sentencing, he has the opportuYengich hopes that the things his personal interests. nity to influence the severity of his DeChristopher said won't hurt his Benson, who presided over sentence. Don't think that the judge sentencing prospects. DeChristopher's trial, has a reputation for disliking protestwon't be paying attention to his public actions. ers. DeChristopher's lead "I can't say publicly attorney, Ron Yengich, what I think he likes or Even though he's been convicted, he still doesn't like," Yengich said that their defense was that DeChristopher said. "As a lawyer, you has a right to free speech. didn't intend to violate believe in the good faith the law, based on stateof everybody that you Ron Yengich ments that he had made deal with." Attorney for Tim DeChristopher in the past. This is the Yengich knows that reason DeChristopher DeChristopher will face refused to take responsipenalties but is not sure bility for breaking a law as to what degree. he thought was unjust. "I can't say that it won't, but I Indeed—and there's the rub. WithIn light of the context, this seems would hope that it would not," he out disputing the justice of the cause, a naive defense. Clearly a breach of said. "Even though he's been convictcan I just ask who's looking out for protocol was intended, and in this ed, he still has a right to free speech." DeChristopher's interests? Even with case protocol had a legal basis. My concern is that DeChristopher a lot of fan mail, prison sucks. Yengich presented this defense as a is not only acting against his own I anticipate, and agree with, Benfallback. Judge Dee Benson restricted interests, but is also doing so in a son giving DeChristopher prison them from presenting their preferred time. way that does not serve the cause he defense, that DeChristopher's actions supports. If he were to take full responsibilwere the result of a choice of two Unjust laws are rightly met with ity and take a break from grandstandevils—that he either remain comresistance, but there's a right way ing until he's sentenced, he would likely only get probation—and I wish placent in the face of environmental and a wrong way to do it when found degradation or break the law. guilty of breaking them in a court of he would do that. Yengich anticipated that DeChrislaw—the wrong way is to fail to take letters@chronicle.utah.edu 66 44 letters@ chronicle.utah.edu BRAIN FACTS • • Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb. The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Combatting racism can't take backseat to campaigns Editor: To say I was hurt to realize there were multiple articles about the Represent and VOICE parties and only a small "Oh, by the way," section about the racism going on is an understatement. Candidates are being harassed in their homes and in their classrooms for putting themselves on the line to make the U better than ever, yet nothing was reported until the two parties united to get The Daily Utah Chronicle involved. Add to that the simple fact that the rally being held today from II a.m. to i p.m. on the Union Plaza is not mentioned and you have any number of people who feel like their pain takes a backseat to more campaigning. Students have been calling elections a joke for a long time now and, honestly, now that elections are being used as a funnel for hatred and racism, those same students should be the ones who finally see that it is so much more. I was one of the people who spent hours working with campaign leaders on both sides to create a press release expressing how we feel about all this. Our competitive natures gave way to a greater need: the need to protect all candidates. I don't want this to be a plug for either party, but a chance for me to mention that we have an opportunity to make history by doing what few candidates have ever done before. Instead of saying we represent everyone or we want to hear everyone's voice, let's actually do it. Attend the rally and show that no matter who wins, racism will be combated like the enemy it is. At the end of the day, if no one knows what is going on, no one is given the chance to care. This rally should not be a chance to kiss babies and give a political wave, but to show the students that you are more than cheap talk and flowery words. Hopefully, The Chronicle will do the same by mentioning this rally in the larger context it deserves. Janean Ford, Sophomore, International Studies Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@chronicle. utah.edu. Letters should be fewer than 350 words and must include the writer's name. Letters from students should also include the writer's major and year in school. Letters from U faculty and staff should include department and title. Letters from alumni should include the year the writer graduated. All other letters must include the sender's name and city of residence. All letters become property of The Daily Utah Chronicle and may be edited for style, length and content. |
