X-Message-Number: 12836
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #12827: Whole Body Versus Neuro
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 15:59:26 -0800

In message #12827, Geoff Lee, discussed evidence that in the first few
months of life, infants "come from" a viewpoint of being a head only, and
later "discover" their arms and legs and torso, later identifying with their
body.

Pre-verbal infants don't even view themselves as having a head.  (As you
look at this screen right now, you can't see yours either, right?).
Instead, they experience the world as it is (visually) around them and later
develop mental constructions of their body with a head (usually around age
four, as I recall from my readings in developmental psychology).

In any case, Geoff is correct that we have operated from that perceptual
condition before, except that we still DID in actuality have a body
(including a physical head) which enabled the nervous system to operate such
that the perceptions were possible.

Frankly, because of genetic failures and amputees, I have no problem
supposing that the neuro option can work just fine.  But, maybe I am wrong.
That's why I'm signed up with whole body.

I was very much reminded by Geoff's suggestions of the scene in the science
fiction movie "The Abyss" where the hero was going to have to breathe
oxygenated liquid inside his deep pressure underwater suit.  As the colored
fluid rose inside his suit and began to fill his helmet, he was doing okay.
The moment it started to cover his nose, he totally went berserk, while his
assistant was telling him, "Your body breathed in water for nine months in
the womb.  It'll remember how to do it again."

I had the same experience just last month when I began to use a snorkel in a
swimming pool for the first time.  The moment my face went underwater, my
body refused to "believe" I could breathe and I began to panic.  After a few
trials, all was well.  (Now I love it!).

Yes, the body does remember.  Now the unanswered question is, does the head
contain all those body memories or not?  Time will tell.

George Smith
www.cryonics.org

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