Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ogicse!milton!hlab From: erich@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Erich Stefan Boleyn) Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds Subject: Re: Where are the Women? Message-ID: <1991Apr2.015902.24131@milton.u.washington.edu> Date: 1 Apr 91 20:34:15 GMT References: <18995@milton.u.washington.edu> Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab) Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab, Univ. of Wash., Seattle. Lines: 36 Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu willdye@typhoon.unl.edu writes: > ...but I want to make clear it wasn't me >that said the connections are wired differently. Me, I'm comp sci, >Biology is down the hall. No problem. A little neuroscience goes a long way, though... especially in Cognitive Science and Comp. sci. Relating to a comment given by the moderator (article not on hand at the moment) about the sizes and relative functional levels of parts of the cortex being correlated to how much they are used (the "use-it-or-lose-it" principle ;-), there have been many experiments that have definitively shown that if not stimulated at a young age (i.e. if the nerves are cut), the corresponding motor centers in the neocortex atrophy almost into non-existence. This would lend credence to the idea that overall brain- function and relative development could be influenced entirely by social development and useage (or lack of it). Further discussion should take place over e-mail (?). Erich "I haven't lost my mind; I know exactly where it is." / -- Erich Stefan Boleyn -- \ --=> *Mad Genius wanna-be* <=-- { Honorary Grad. Student (Math) }--> Internet E-mail: \ Portland State University / Phone #: (503) 246-6120 [MODERATOR'S NOTE: The general topic of male-female brain structure remains of interest but probably is better handled via email. The more general topic of how virtual environments stimulate parts of the brain for better or worse is something that is of great interest to me; empirical research, as well as psychophilosophy, would be appreciated here. -- Bob J.]