Here’s your brain. Here’s your brain on celebrity.
Researchers are using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or fMRIs, to probe the recesses of the brain and pinpoint structures linked to the whole range of human emotions and functions, from lust to anger to the craving for food or drugs.
Researchers at Columbia, for example, found that exposure to media violence shrinks activity in those parts of the brain that regulate personal aggressive behavior. Marketers are beginning to use fMRI technology to determine how consumers make buying decisions and how those choices might be manipulated.
So I’m curious: What would cognitive scientists find if they studied the brains of, say, Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents of six-year-old Falcon? What parts of the brain light up when you conceive the crazy idea of casting your child in a hoax designed to satisfy your craving for fame and celebrity? Does that craving for fame mirror the craving for nicotine, cocaine and other addictive substances? (The Heenes’ behavior does seem to echo that of drug addicts desperate for another fix.)
What changes occurred in the brain of, say, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, after an accidental encounter with candidate Barack Obama transformed him from a nobody plumber into Joe the Plumber, Media Star? Does that Warholian 15 minutes of fame permanently alter the structure of the brain? What makes reclusive authors such as Thomas Pynchon, J.D. Salinger and Harper Lee immune to its siren call, while Jon and Kate Gosselin chase it like crack whores?
So scientists, here’s a whole new field of inquiry for you — the neurobiology of fame. What a contribution that would be, helping to illuminate one of the central mysteries of the human condition here in the 21st century. And imagine the face time you’ll get on Entertainment Tonight and Good Morning America!
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181 comments Add your comment
Bob from Dahlonega
October 19th, 2009
8:34 am
Richard Henne is a true American hero. He manipulated the media like you libs do, only he taught everyone a lesson.
stands for decibels
October 19th, 2009
8:39 am
Jay, did you really mean to use the term “crack wh0res?”
Paul
October 19th, 2009
8:46 am
[[What would cognitive scientists find if they studied the brains of, say, Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents of six-year-old Falcon?]]
Well, first the scientists would have to find it…
[[Researchers at Columbia, for example, found that exposure to media violence shrinks activity in those parts of the brain that regulate personal aggressive behavior.]]
I seem to recall one of my earliest discussions here was with people who dismissed the idea that exposure to outside stimuli such as violent or degrading images or sound could in any way affect behavior as people ‘know’ it’s not real.
Apparently not.
In other words, environment matters. And on a political level, so does the choices one makes.
But now marketers want to attempt to manipulate us further. Great….
And as far as how different people respond to different situations: welcome to the wonderful variability of the human race.
Some people try to be decent. Some don’t.
TnGelding
October 19th, 2009
8:48 am
I’m proud to say I didn’t even know the guy’s name.
In the case of Joe the Plumber’s Apprentice, I think he just went along with those that pursued him to make their political statements.
I guess there’s that yearning for fame in a lot of us, but in the past it was in recognition for something truly exceptional.
Lisa Thomason
October 19th, 2009
8:50 am
I just sent an email to Sheriff Alderden, pointing out that in the case of poor families, holding a child prisoner in a box for hours would no doubt be “enough” to launch a child protection services investigation. If anyone else would like to write him, here’s the link: http://www.co.larimer.co.us/common/mailform.cfm?to=alderdja
#1 Foxy Lady
October 19th, 2009
8:50 am
That Balloon Boy prank was a the best. He had all ya’ll watching. It was nearly as good as the OJ chase. Ya’ll are suckers for beliefing it.
And Thomas Pychon was a crack whore. I use to get high with hi and JD Salinger while we was doing orgies and reciting from the footnotes in Gravity’s Rain Bowe.
Scooter
October 19th, 2009
8:51 am
Henne will be famous with Bubba in that jail cell! Ouch!
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
8:54 am
good gravy, they’d have a heyday with some of the numpties we have in the UK – while we don’t have idiots like Jon and Kate (plus their godforsaken offspring), we do have the show Big Brother which has gone on for too flippin many years and spawned “Celebrity Big Brother” (full of used-ta-bees), “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here” (full of never-really-wases), and a host of weekly tabloid magazines that celebrates Page 3 girls and the WAG* “lifestyle” (if you can call shopping and bar-hopping in the hopes of getting snapped by the paps a lifestyle)
*WAG = wives and girlfriends of footballers … of which Posh Becks is the reigning queen
I echo Paul’s sentiment … I think the MIR machine would be hard-pressed to find anything other than a functioning brain stem that keeps them breathing …
Mrs. Godzilla
October 19th, 2009
8:55 am
Richard and Mayumi plus 8 to 10? With time off for good behavior…
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
8:58 am
Mrs G –
“With time off for good behavior…”
would good behavior = not going on YouTube, reality shows or doing interviews???
jconservative
October 19th, 2009
8:59 am
A lot of folks watch too much TV.
It is easy to make a conscious effort not to be influenced by behaviorist.
Taxpayer
October 19th, 2009
9:02 am
For some folks, I suspect that the thrill comes in the form of the positive — as in, monetary — feedback.
david wayne osedach
October 19th, 2009
9:03 am
Richard Heene and his wife are true American scammers. And not too bright ones at that. Before this is over they will have to pay restitution for the rescue effort and spend time in jail.
Donovan
October 19th, 2009
9:05 am
Bookman needs to get out of bed with Tucker. They both are writing the same stuff. Hmmm…what would a liberal’s mind look like on an MRI? Most probably, it would be blank.
Mrs. Godzilla
October 19th, 2009
9:14 am
it is being reported that a media outlet may have been involved…..
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 19th, 2009
9:16 am
Well, I reckon the stunt of the Heenes ain’t quite as good as the one pulled by the guy in LA ten years ago where he hooked alot of balloons to his lawn chair and found hisself up there with the air traffic at the LA airport. That guy won some kind of genius award named after some guy by the name of Darwin.
Anyhow, a few years in the slammer will take care of the Heenes for awhile. They should of knowed better than to trust a kid to keep a secret. He blurted right out that he done it for the “show.” See, kids got a defect. They ain’t learned how to lie good yet the way us grownups do.
I sure wish Bookman had of carryed this brain thing further. Like what part of the brain leads a bunch of idiots to trust a man born in Kenya to lead them? And what part of USinUK’s brain gets her hung up on the word numpties like a busted record. Has she been over there so long she’s forgot how to speak American?
Have a good day everybody.
Joan
October 19th, 2009
9:18 am
I wouldn’t doubt at all that this fellow had lined up some media outlet in advance of pulling this stunt. As far as his paying restitution–give me a break. He will just plead poor. People who do idiot stuff, and most reality shows (same thing) should simply be ignored and we might return to a bit of sanity.
Brad Steel
October 19th, 2009
9:18 am
The Henne’s definitely have Palin Syndrome. You win the “interview” competition in Miss Alaska, and you feel you are entitled and qualified to be a statesman.
Solipsistic losers.
Bosch
October 19th, 2009
9:20 am
Hey! I saw pictures of our wingnut buddies protesting outside the AJC this weekend! Good job nuts!
As for celebrities? To be honest, it’s the media that makes these people celebrities. They tell us they are famous, so they are famous. I totally missed the balloon boy saga on Thursday, thank the Force.
As for these Gosslin crack whores, and this Octomom nightmare, someone needs to step in and tell these freaks to get their lives together or their children will be living in different homes.
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:20 am
“As far as his paying restitution–give me a break. He will just plead poor”
that gets you nowhere these days … they’ll still come after you.
Mrs. Godzilla
October 19th, 2009
9:20 am
solipsistic…..great word Brad…..thanks
Nothing Is Free
October 19th, 2009
9:21 am
I guess we are all just nobodies
We all can’t be really important people like you, Jay.
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:21 am
“Hey! I saw pictures of our wingnut buddies protesting outside the AJC this weekend! Good job nuts!”
??? as much as it pains me to ask … what happened??
Gale
October 19th, 2009
9:27 am
The picture took me to the recent episode of “Dollhouse”. Brain mapping is critical to the plot, for anyone who has not seen the show. In the episode, they are “helping” an accident victem and discover that he is a psychopath; the areas of his brain that govern empathy, for example, are completely unused.
#1 Foxy Lady
October 19th, 2009
9:27 am
What’s the big deal? It was a world-class prank at the expense of the sinsation-seeking media. He got ya’ll. And he used no more police than a typical Saturday in da hood.
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:29 am
Off Topic
[[Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration.
Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.]]
But AG Holder (and the President agrees) he has ‘no choice’ but to strictly follow the law and see if there ‘might’ be a violation in the case of the CIA personnel cleared a year before -
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:30 am
“the areas of his brain that govern empathy, for example, are completely unused”
must … not … insert … Cheney … joke … must … refrain …
Gale
October 19th, 2009
9:31 am
Good point, USinUK. Maybe brain mapping should be required for candidates for important offices?
Bosch
October 19th, 2009
9:32 am
USinUK,
I have no idea – there was a photo gallery of the big bad protesters outside CNN and the AJC – all 200 of them.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( Am I A Racist Too, NFL?
October 19th, 2009
9:33 am
I’d like to know what causes people to be liberals.
ewww.
Bosch
October 19th, 2009
9:34 am
AND WOW!! How about that Falcons game! I was excited, don’t know if anybody else was.
Taxpayer
October 19th, 2009
9:34 am
I’m just thankful that the whiners are in the minority.
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:35 am
USinUK
You mean like the parts of his brain that compelled him to donate 75% of his income to charity one year?
(insert VP Gore comparison here… $200?)
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:36 am
“I’d like to know what causes people to be liberals”
an education + empathy
Brad Steel
October 19th, 2009
9:36 am
You’re welcome Mrs. G’. And thank you for all your posts. You are one of the few whose post effectively use and stick to the essence of wit: brevity.
The blowhards lamely drivel for ever trying to support a weak idea. They don’t have the wit or intelligence for brevity.
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:36 am
Hi Bosch
I was excited V starts in 15 days –
And I was excited over a real football game: Texas vs OU.
And the better team won.
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:39 am
Paul –
“You mean like the parts of his brain that compelled him to donate 75% of his income to charity one year?”
hahahaha … so donating to charity automatically makes you a good person??? for some people, that’s just atonement (or a need for a tax break) … so, no … I don’t think so.
no, I mean the parts of his brain that have no problem lying us into a war (and continuing to repeat the lie despite it being debunked) and causing the death of thousands of Americans as well as tens of thousands of Iraqis … then, advocating a “wash-rinse-repeat” strategy on Iran …
Mrs. Godzilla
October 19th, 2009
9:40 am
Cheney’s shady charitable contributions net $2 million refund
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/18/115445/192
Taxpayer
October 19th, 2009
9:44 am
Mrs. Godzilla
October 19th, 2009
9:40 am
Thanks, Mrs. G. I was about to post that one myself.
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:44 am
Bosch –
your man-u news of the day
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6372948/Manchester-Uniteds-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-charged-by-FA-over-referee-attack.html
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:44 am
USinUK
LOL! I had a comment “a response will have to do with atonement” put aside.
What part of the brain automatically discredits good things done by a conservative?
What lie did VP Cheney keep repeating? (OMG, I hope it’s not “Iraq was involved in 9-11. Tell me it isn’t so…).
As far as Iran: it’s our SecState who threatened to obliterate Iran…. and our President who implied the same…. and as far as a real meatgrinder that’s not speculation, we have the Pres and Afghanistan. Here’s what Sen Byrd had to say:
“Senator Robert Byrd, at 91 a Democratic institution, was so incensed that he dragged himself from his hospital bed last week to make a 13-minute speech. “Does it really take 100,000 troops to find Osama Bin Laden?” he wondered. “And how much will this cost? How much in terms of more dollars? How much in terms of American blood?”
Hey! I just did, what, four diversions and two “well what about is?” lines.
Does that get me my “Argue like a lalaLeftie certification?”
Nothing Is Free
October 19th, 2009
9:48 am
Gale
**Good point, USinUK. Maybe brain mapping should be required for candidates for important offices?**
Why would you want Washington to be a ghost town?
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:48 am
Mrs. Godzilla
Sigh.
Charitable deductions are, to a certain extent, tax deductible.
But it cost the person out of pocket the amount above the deductible savings.
Sigh…..
Or is DailyKos now taking the position people shouldn’t avail themselves of the law?
Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Back to Gore’s example….
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:49 am
Mrs. Godzilla
Oh, and a question, not about what you posted from another source, but something you wrote:
Why is a legal transaction, recognized and sanctioned by the IRS, following the law
shady?
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:49 am
Paul –
“What part of the brain automatically discredits good things done by a conservative?”
it depends on the conservative.
and as far as atonement, I was raised Catholic – it’s hardwired.
“(OMG, I hope it’s not “Iraq was involved in 9-11. Tell me it isn’t so…)”
well, there were so many lies, but, yes, that is the most egregious.
“Does that get me my “Argue like a lalaLeftie certification?””
no, but it does get a recommendation for decaf.
Nothing Is Free
October 19th, 2009
9:50 am
USinUK
**an education + empathy**
And an amazing tendency to strap on presidential knee pads.
Bosch
October 19th, 2009
9:52 am
Paul,
A REAL football game? Pshaw.
Speaking of real football:
USinUK,
Tell your neighbor congrats on Sunderland’s victory over Liverpool.
Paul
October 19th, 2009
9:52 am
USinUK
[[and as far as atonement, I was raised Catholic – it’s hardwired.]]
LOL!
And for the nonCatholics… our Puritan guilt heritage runs deep!
Seriously, what items some held as more likely than not that have since been discredited has VP Cheney continued to assert?
USinUK
October 19th, 2009
9:52 am
NiF –
“Why would you want Washington to be a ghost town?”
why are you limiting it to just DC??? heck, I would like to see brain mapping on the suburban Mussolinis who are on their neighborhood planning committees (you know the ones – they have a fit if you plant the wrong flowers in your front garden or build a treehouse in your back yard for your kid)
Nothing Is Free
October 19th, 2009
9:52 am
USinUK
**no, I mean the parts of his brain that have no problem lying us into a war **
All those educated Democrats that voted to go to war were just dumb suckers?
Cheney MUST be smarter than all of them, wouldn’t you say?