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The Neurons that Shaped Civilization

In this short 10 minute video, neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.

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  1. when i was in elementary school i was watching some girl get a massage and i could feel it weirdly and found it relaxing now i know it was from the mirror neurons! and that im not like crazy..

  2. well with billion little transcievers, imagine how many combinations of links you could make to each and every other transciever (neuron).
    let’s say you’ve got 3 neurons.
    you could fire just first one, or just second, or just third. or you could fire first and second at the same time, in a link. or 2nd and 3rd, or 1st and 3rd, or all three at the same time.. that’s already seven different combinations with just 3 neurons. also, there are different types of receptors in synapses…

  3. More connections in one human brain than elementary particles in the Universe? What are these connections made of, sub-elementary particles?

  4. I love Ramachandran’s talks. He reminds me a lot of Neil DeGrasse Tyson.