Joyous Frivolity

My current mood.

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:16:30 -0700

My current mood.

neurosciencestuff: Brain uses internal ‘average voice’...

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:09:01 -0700

Brain uses internal ‘average voice’ prototype to identify who is talking

The human brain is able to identify individuals’ voices by comparing them against an internal ‘average voice’ prototype, according to neuroscientists.

A study carried out by researchers at the University of Glasgow and reported in the journal Current Biology demonstrates that voice identity is coded in the brain by reference to two internal voice prototypes – one male, one female.

Voices that have the greatest difference from the prototype are perceived as more distinctive and produce greater neural activity than voices deemed very similar.

The researchers in the Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology conducted the study by generating a voice prototype through morphing 32 same-gender voices together resulting in a smooth, idealised voice with few irregularities.

They then generated different voices by altering the ‘distance-to-mean’ of the prototype voice – for example, changing the tone and pitch or morphing two or more voices together.

Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the researchers were able to see increased neural activity the further from the prototype the voices were.

Professor Pascal Belin said: “Like faces, voices can be used to identify a person, yet the neural basis of this ability remains poorly understood. Here we provide the first evidence of a norm-based coding mechanism the brain uses to identify a speaker.

“The research indicates this is a similar process for the identification of faces, where the brain also uses an average face to compare against other faces it encounters in order to establish identity.

“So, rather than having to remember each single voice it hears every day for a lifetime, the brain facilitates the task of identification by remembering only the differences from the prototype it stores.

“It leads to a range of interesting and important questions, such as whether the prototypes are innate, stored templates or whether they are subject to environmental and cultural influences. Could the prototype consist of an average of all voices experiences during one’s life?”

(Image: Shutterstock)

regenschirmtier: hmh…

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:32:54 -0700

regenschirmtier:

hmh…

Love me some crinkles around the eyes and a distinguished beard.

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:16:31 -0700

Love me some crinkles around the eyes and a distinguished beard.

High school graduation 2006 with @gingerbeanie...

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:55:03 -0700

High school graduation 2006 with @gingerbeanie #throwbackthursday

Neuroscience: Brain can be trained in compassion

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:36:31 -0700

Neuroscience: Brain can be trained in compassion:

neurosciencestuff:

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion — the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

A new study by researchers at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman…

The best part of coming home

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:33:38 -0700

takingittochurch:

After a long trip, all I wanna do is sit down and be consumed by my Prince obsessed, hilarious, kick fucking ass tumblr dashboard.

On days where I have to wait for nannykid to get her shit together, I stroll over here and enjoy myself some prince/80s/kick ass tumblring.

Photo

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:28:38 -0700

takingittochurch: I imagine us doing this someday you know who...

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:21:25 -0700

takingittochurch:

I imagine us doing this someday you know who you are….

Oh Lordy yes.

pleasantlypinkxo: barksysofetch: BEST SASS FROM THE BBMA’S...

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:18:24 -0700

pleasantlypinkxo:

barksysofetch:

BEST SASS FROM THE BBMA’S THIS YEAR!!!!

he kinda looks like he doesnt even want Selena

claydols: i hate one direction fans so much i need my whole room to cool down but no this damn...

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:55:08 -0700

claydols:

i hate one direction fans so much
i need my whole room to cool down but no this damn thing only blows one way

iamjacks-completelack-ofsurprise: Will Smith embarrassing Jaden...

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:54:32 -0700

iamjacks-completelack-ofsurprise:

Will Smith embarrassing Jaden has got to be one of my all time favorite things

fer1972: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Trekkies Club Band

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:20:44 -0700

fer1972:

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Trekkies Club Band

Photo

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:19:54 -0700

sabi7: These are the things people have written about you?

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:17:11 -0700

sabi7:

These are the things people have written about you?

emeraldcityorbust: bearsatan: gothamcityballet: deafmuslimpunx...

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:16:02 -0700

emeraldcityorbust:

bearsatan:

gothamcityballet:

deafmuslimpunx:

exquisitedialectics:

takealookatyourlife:

Aiya Van Kooten everyone

When Aiya Van Kooten stood face-to-face with a burglar in her bedroom, her left eye twitched, then she went into “predator mode”.

“I screamed at him… jumped off my chair, leaped over my bed and sprinted after him down the stairs,” she said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8626910/Predator-mode-scares-off-burglars

This is the best story of my life

“Although she was the only one home, Van Kooten said she had no regard for her safety - instead, she said she was just overwhelmed with “rage“….. ummmmm Hero!!!

Haha, badass Muslim woman. Love it!!!

This lady is so awesome. She lives with her grandma and was studying and had a towel on her head and no shoes but she chased them out of her garden, kicked one up the arse as he climbed a fence, they dropped a camera and laptop, she flagged down a passing driver to help her continue the pursuit, and it turned out he was ex-military, and they finally caught one of them in a park and pinned him as the police arrived. Now she’s going to visit the burglar in prison for the next few months to help with his rehabilitation.

So in summary:

This lady doesn’t just defend her home and loved ones, she will hunt you down, team up with other skilled individuals, get you put away, and then teach you the consequences of your actions until you’re a valuable member of society once more.

Seriously she’s a frigging superhero.

um damn

I’ve always imagined myself just going apeshit on an intruder…full on screaming at them to get out of my house and running after them with a knife or something.
But…then again I’d probably just scream and hide

Jesus: the last samurai.

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:16:30 -0700

Jesus: the last samurai.

"I remember, I think, the first time that I knew him when it was his birthday, I sent him an e-mail..."

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:40:09 -0700

“I remember, I think, the first time that I knew him when it was his birthday, I sent him an e-mail that said “57???? Isn’t it about time that you got a proper job? Ricky Gervais, 42, comedian.” He sent back: “I have a proper job. David Bowie, 57, Rock God.”

- Ricky Gervais talks to GQ (via explore-blog)

tastefullyoffensive: [piecomic]

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:59:18 -0700

tastefullyoffensive:

[piecomic]

thefrogman: The debate rages on. I laughed harder than maybe I...

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:54:56 -0700

thefrogman:

The debate rages on.

I laughed harder than maybe I should.