interesting. do we think that the surplus of white matter in the prefrontal cortex the cause of the "lying" or perhaps that the "lying" is the cause of the surplus of white matter in the prefrontal cortex. ---- Dahlia
I am curious about the issue of being particularly skilled at lying versus compulsive lying. Yang defines her study of "liars" as people who lie frequently without the ability to control it. Yet this concept of a lack of control seems to disappear in her article. White matters increases the ability to make quick connections, that would perhaps not typically be made. But how does this increase in matter contribute to a type of compulsive liar?
I would be curious to know whether intensely creative people show any of the same increase in white matter. It seems that the ability to make these connections that the article describes-- the ability to fantasize-- would be useful in creative work. And I wonder what it is that separates this harmless fantasizing from pathological lying.
I wonder how this study pertains to an individual's ability to lie to themselves as a coping mechanism? For example, a radiolab podcast referenced a study done with athletes. Athletes were much more likely to lie; they had to. They had to tell themselves they were invincible, to prepare for the competition. In contrast more depressed individuals had more difficulty lying. Is there a difference in the way our brains work when we lie to the outside world and when we lie to ourselves?
I was very interested in Eleanor's comment. It made me think about the differences between a person who simply has the neural mechanisms to lie in the brain versus those who actually materialize this capacity through the act of lying.
I am interested in the fact that white matter grows during the ages of 6 and 10, and that this coincides with the age that children start lying. I wonder if there is some sort of developmental or psychological factor that contributes to the development of excess white matter in the amounts found in the brains of liars. Also, I am curious as to whether there are other groups of people who have more white matter - for example, people in certain professions, or really funny people (think about it - quick wit and humor require a lot of fast brain connections).
It is interesting that in this study, lying (generally thought of as negative) is associated with fast brain connections (a desirable attribute). In this way the study undermines the traditional moral standpoint in which lying is punished as a negative character trait, and instead suggests that good liars actually have more white matter and increased brain connectivity!
I guess I am interested, as KMF mentioned, in whether extremely creative people have a similar white matter surplus..writers in particular, as storytellers, would seem to be the most like liars.
interesting. do we think that the surplus of white matter in the prefrontal cortex the cause of the "lying" or perhaps that the "lying" is the cause of the surplus of white matter in the prefrontal cortex. ---- Dahlia
ReplyDeleteI am curious about the issue of being particularly skilled at lying versus compulsive lying. Yang defines her study of "liars" as people who lie frequently without the ability to control it. Yet this concept of a lack of control seems to disappear in her article. White matters increases the ability to make quick connections, that would perhaps not typically be made. But how does this increase in matter contribute to a type of compulsive liar?
ReplyDeleteI would be curious to know whether intensely creative people show any of the same increase in white matter. It seems that the ability to make these connections that the article describes-- the ability to fantasize-- would be useful in creative work. And I wonder what it is that separates this harmless fantasizing from pathological lying.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how this study pertains to an individual's ability to lie to themselves as a coping mechanism? For example, a radiolab podcast referenced a study done with athletes. Athletes were much more likely to lie; they had to. They had to tell themselves they were invincible, to prepare for the competition. In contrast more depressed individuals had more difficulty lying. Is there a difference in the way our brains work when we lie to the outside world and when we lie to ourselves?
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ReplyDeleteI was very interested in Eleanor's comment. It made me think about the differences between a person who simply has the neural mechanisms to lie in the brain versus those who actually materialize this capacity through the act of lying.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the fact that white matter grows during the ages of 6 and 10, and that this coincides with the age that children start lying. I wonder if there is some sort of developmental or psychological factor that contributes to the development of excess white matter in the amounts found in the brains of liars. Also, I am curious as to whether there are other groups of people who have more white matter - for example, people in certain professions, or really funny people (think about it - quick wit and humor require a lot of fast brain connections).
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that in this study, lying (generally thought of as negative) is associated with fast brain connections (a desirable attribute). In this way the study undermines the traditional moral standpoint in which lying is punished as a negative character trait, and instead suggests that good liars actually have more white matter and increased brain connectivity!
ReplyDeleteI guess I am interested, as KMF mentioned, in whether extremely creative people have a similar white matter surplus..writers in particular, as storytellers, would seem to be the most like liars.
ReplyDelete