Jan Verplaetse

The predictive brain and the “free will” illusion

Recently a unified brain theory was proposed (Friston, 2010) attempting to explain action, perception, and learning (Friston, 2010). It is based on a predictive brain with Bayesian updating, and Andy Clark evaluates this approach in “Whatever Next? Predictive Brains, Situated Agents, and the Future of Cognitive Science.” If such a theory exists it should incorporate multiple theories applicable to brain science such as evolutionary theory (Calvin, 1987), information theory (Borst and Theunissen, 1999; Friston, 2010), thermodynamics (Kirkaldy, 1965) and also provide us with an advanced model for a better understanding of more philosophical issues such as the so-called free will problem.

Moritz Benedikt’s (1835-1920) Localization of Morality in the Occipital Lobes: Origin and Background of a Controversial Hypothesis:

During the 1870s the Austro-Hungarian neuropsychiatrist Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920) proposed a remarkable neurological localization of morality in the human brain. More precisely, he thought of the ultimate parts of the occipital lobes as the seat of the moral sense. The so-called non-coverage of the cerebellum that was discovered in apes and criminals underpinned his localization. This paper studies the origin, background and reception of Benedikt’s unique but opiniated localization of human morality. It is argued that his self-labelling as a freethinker offers the most understandable reason why Benedikt looked so eagerly for the seat of the moral sense in the human brain and why he was ultimately bold enough to suggest a cerebral localization.

Why humans do not make good vampires: testing the ability of humans to detect true blood

Background: Research indicating the effects of real blood or of its iconic representation on human behaviour has thus far concentrated on phobia and aggressiveness. Little is known about other responses or, more fundamentally, about the biological basis of all such responses. Aim: In this study it is examined whether or not humans are able to detect real blood. Methods: Human subjects (n = 89) were asked to distinguish different kinds of blood from red control fluids under varying visual and choice conditions. Relevant differences between subjects were tested for through written questionnaires, including standardized scales for disgust sensitivity (DS-R) and blood phobia (MBPI) and performance on two clinical olfactory tests. Results: Analysis of variance shows that humans are excellent detectors of animal blood (in casu pig blood), whereas the ability of detecting human blood is much less developed. Surprisingly, differences in olfactory capacities and personal experience with blood have no effect on blood detection, while blood fear lowers and disgust sensitivity ameliorates this performance. Conclusion: This study allows further mapping of the exact role of disgust sensitivity in human behaviour, as well as a deliberate choice of materials in blood-related experiments. It is imperative for further research on the behavioural and psychological impact ‘blood’ resorts on humans.

Measuring the moral sense : morality tests in continental Europe between 1910 and 1930

Although historians of psychological and educational sciences have not completely neglected early research in the field of morality testing, European contributions to the measurement of ethical judgement and moral feeling have not received much historical attention. In this paper, two principal, experimental paradigms that emerged in early European research are described and framed within their sociopolitical contexts. From 1910 to 1930, European researchers administered the justification test, wherein deviant youngsters were asked to justify fictitious moral decisions; and the ranking test, wherein subjects were asked to arrange moral transgressions by order of their seriousness. Both tests sought to contribute to the contemporary fight against juvenile delinquency. The justification test was devised to support political pleas for upping the age of legal responsibility. The ranking test sought to introduce a scientifically based selection and classification system for difficult youths.