There about 100 billion neurons in an adult human brain. This is quite staggering. By any analysis the brain is incredibly complex.
26 Feb 2024
23 Feb 2024
What is reality? - NOT amateur radio
This term I am attending (via Zoom) a series of lectures on the formation of the brain. Once we thought of our eyes like cameras and the brain interprets reality. It turns out this is totally wrong. This led me to a TED talk. It is quite short, but fascinating. I commend it to you.
‘The space-time continuum is a construct’
21 Feb 2024
Brain injury - NOT amateur radio
On the news yesterday was a piece about brain injury research at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. Two things stuck out to me.
One was brain overload which I experience especially when driving: it seems everything needs processing and this causes my brain to be overloaded. All the time whilst driving I am looking for possible hazards and it is really exhausting.
The second thing is profound tiredness or exhaustion. I want to sleep in the daytime far more.
My stroke was in 2013 and it is hard now to know what is old age (I am 75) and what was my stroke. My constant giddiness all my waking hours is exhausting and is a result of my stroke.
5 Nov 2023
Brain filters? - NOT amateur radio
Recently, I have had some thoughts about the brain.
In recent years, possibly as a result of my 2013 stroke, I have become very fearful of driving. In the early years after my stroke this was not an issue. It is as if my brain has to work far, far, harder assessing potential risks. Touch wood, I have never had an accident.
I wonder if normal brains have a filter to allow information to be processed without overload? Perhaps this does not work properly in people with dyslexia or certain brain injuries? Maybe this changes with age?
Certainly, most people are able to block out certain traumatic events. If we worried about everything, life would be incredibly hard.
11 Aug 2023
My brain - NOT amateur radio
17 Jan 2023
27 Jul 2021
Stroke and autistic brains?
In the last few years I have noticed some changes. I am unsure if this is just old age or an after-effect of my stroke some years ago.
When I drive (or am driven) I seem to go slower than before: 50mph feels like 70mph. Also, I am constantly aware of potential issues and dangers. It is if my brain is all the time aware of potential dangers on the roads. I am totally unable to relax. In fact I hate being driven or driving these days. This seems similar to how autistic people must feel.
Any medics here have any views?
8 Mar 2021
More "brain fog" - NOT amateur radio
As reported earlier, I got my E-field probe working on LF. In the past, this would have been totally trivial, but I am exhausted just putting dry cells in the EFP and old FT817. Just undoing a few screws tired me out!
19 May 2020
Brain malfunction? - NOT amateur radio
On a couple of occasions I have heard people say things that I have corrected. My wife is certain that the right words were used. Short of recording the incidents, there is no way of knowing if it was me or not.
One of these was on BBC Breakfast TV earlier, when I thought Nagga had said 8pm by mistake when it should have been 7pm. The other event was a person's name that I corrected only to be told that the correct name was what my wife had said. My hearing is very good, so it is very unlikely that I simply misheard.
I am wondering if what I hear inside my head is sometimes wrong? I am now doubting what I hear.
26 Jan 2020
Brain overload? - NOT amateur radio
It is almost as if my brain is now more like someone with autism that has too much to process. My wife thinks this is all in the mind. She may be right. Certainly driving is tiring and stressful. Even with someone else driving I am still in brain overload.
17 Dec 2018
Candlelit Carols - NOT amateur radio
Personally, I am unsure what I believe. The only thing I know is how little I know! Life/death/the universe are all mysteries. When we die I have no idea what, if anything, of "me" survives. Maybe my brain has evolved to the complex organ it is over billions of years. Perhaps we really just do return to dust. All I know is how little I understand. If anyone claims they know all the answers they are deluded. Maybe all religions are just attempts at answering "ultimate" questions.
1 Dec 2014
My poor voice (stroke)
Although my speech sounds OK to me (clarity and loudness) apparently it is a whisper and hard to understand. All the time I feel breathless.I am told this is all a result of my brain bleed and it will, in the end, recover. I have to be patient!
Although I can manage short speech periods on the air (VHF/UHF UKAC sessions, for 30-60 minutes and on our Monday 2m net for similar times) I find voice QSOs effortful, hence why I use WSPR and other digital modes a lot right now. Hopefully thing will improve in 2015.
25 Nov 2014
My brain
Most mental functions seem fine, but when I do an email or blog post I seem slow to spot errors like spelling mistakes or missing full stops. Usually, I try to correct errors before sending, but looking back I still spot mistakes that I've missed. It is as if my brain needs far more time to actually see the mistake. This must be yet another stroke related thing. Driving seems absolutely fine: I am not giddy and I feel in good control.
If you see blog errors please tell me. I want to correct the errors and know when my brain is not doing its job right.
18 Oct 2014
Blogging errors
4 Aug 2014
MRI scan results
My relief was visible. This had been a real worry to my wife and I. I dreaded further brain surgery, fearing some long-term damage might be done. I have now been "signed off" by the neurosurgeons and should not need to see them in their clinic again.
My main problems remaining are swallow of some liquids, giddiness when walking, some stomach discomfort and profound fatigue: most days the least physical exertion totally exhausts me. I find it hard to describe just how tired I feel most of my waking day. All these remaining issues should improve, but this could be a long time. Apparently the neurosurgeon told the DLVA in June that I am fit to drive, although their OK could take months to reach me. A few months ago there was no way I could have driven, but now I feel ready to do so. It will be good to drive the car again.
Today has been an emotional day. I am profoundly grateful it is drawing to a close.
13 Nov 2013
8 plus weeks and still in hospital
22 May 2009
A QRPer's brain
Someone suggested the missing top part of the brain explains why I am a QRPer!