Richard E. Cytowic's Blog, page 12
February 20, 2016
How Your Lie–Detector Chin Gives Away the Naked Truth
We surmise what lies behind facial expressions, decipher body language, and interpret tone apart from literal words. We read between the lines and hear what isn't said.
February 18, 2016
Bernie and Hillary Naked on Stage
Body language broadcasts more than people realize. Politicians try hard not to say what’s really on their mind, but sometimes they might as well be naked on the stage.
Politicians' Body Language Should Be Natural, Not Coached
Body language broadcasts more than people realize. Politicians try hard not to say what’s really on their mind, but sometimes they might as well be naked on the stage.
January 1, 2016
Why Ted Cruz’s Facial Expression Makes Me Uneasy
We learn to read faces from birth, and easily tell a natural smile from a forced one. The Senator’s expressions feel atypical, which leaves me feeling uneasy.
December 25, 2015
Selfies Kill More People Than Sharks Do
How did the need to show off on social media come to trump common sense for sensing danger and one's instinct for self-preservation?
November 13, 2015
Ambivalence in Addiction
The Latin word addictum once described the length of time an indentured slave had to serve. The person who served that sentence was the addict. The etymology means “bound to”—just as many of us are hopelessly bound to our screens.
September 4, 2015
Poison Apple II: How Smartphones Degrade Learning
Today’s students are less capable compared to their earlier counterparts. Education technology is an alluring cost-effective illusion that promises more efficient learning that real teachers provide.
August 22, 2015
Poison Apple: Technology Fads Make Your Kids Dumber
Students have confused the ability to look up a fact with actual knowledge.They can Google the who, what, and when, but can't explain "why."
June 12, 2015
Addicted to Our Screens, or Merely Obsessed?
Digital Distractions and addiction to mediated images are imbecilizing America’s youth. The energy cost to our still Stone–Age brains explains how and why. Scientists debate whether we are addicted to our devices. What no one disputes is that our attention spans have gone to hell.
May 21, 2015
Cause and Effect in Wine Drinkers’ Health
We think we know what causes what. But research shows we are greatly mistaken, and often confuse correlation with cause.
