Courtesy of the
University of Melbourne
and World Science staff
It may be harder to lie about your age, or your poker hand, after new research has found that our eye position betrays the numbers we’re thinking about.
Participants in a University of Melbourne, Australia, study were asked to state a series of random numbers. By measuring their eye position, researchers said they could reliably predict the next chosen number—before it was spoken.
A leftward and downward change in eye position announced that the next number would be smaller than the last, the scientists said. Correspondingly, upward and rightward forecast a larger number than the last. The degree of eye movement reflected the size of the numerical shift.
The paper was published March 23 online in the research journal Current Biology.
“When we think of numbers we automatically code them in space, with smaller number falling to the left and larger numbers to the right. That is, we think of them along a left-to-right oriented mental number line—often without even noticing this number-space association ourselves,” said researcher Tobias Loetscher of the university, an author of the study.
“This study shows that shifts along the mental number line are accompanied by systematic eye movements. We suggest that when we navigate through mental representations—as for example numbers—we re-use brain processes that primarily evolved for interacting and navigating in the outside world.”
“This study will hopefully provide a template to investigate how the human mind works via a connection with the space and world around us,” added co-author Michael Nicholls.
The study involved asking twelve right-handed men to name 40 numbers between one and 30 in a sequence as random as possible, paced by a metronome. For each number, the researchers measured the average eye position during the half-second before each numbers was declared.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
TNT picks up 3 new series
TNT has added three more shows to its lineup of originals, picking up a pair of cop shows for later this year and a Steven Spielberg-produced drama about an alien invasion for 2011.
The cable channel has picked up 10 episodes each of the untitled alien series, which stars Noah Wyle as the leader of a resistance group; "Delta Blues," featuring Jason Lee as a quirky Memphis cop; and "Rizzoli & Isles," about a Boston homicide detective (Angie Harmon) and medical examiner (Sasha Alexander) who work together on cases.
"Delta Blues" will star Lee ("My Name Is Earl") as Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police officer with deep ties to the city who lives with his mom (Celia Weston). Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") plays his boss; the cast also includes Robyn Lively ("Savannah," "Saving Grace"), Sam Hennings, Abraham Benrubi ("ER"), DJ Qualls ("Hustle & Flow") and Leonard Earl Howze. George Clooney and Grant Heslov are executive producing the show with co-writer Liz Garcia ("Cold Case"); fellow scribe Joshua Harto is a producer.
"Rizzoli & Isles" is based on a series of novels by Tess Gerritsen. Harmon ("Law & Order," "Women's Murder Club") will play Detective Jane Rizzoli, who enlists the help of medical examiner Maura Isles (Alexander, "NCIS") to solve cases in Beantown. Lorraine Bracco ("The Sopranos") will have a recurring part as Jane's mom; the show also stars Bruce McGill ("W.," "Animal House"), Lee Thompson Young ("FlashForward"), Jordan Bridges ("Conviction") and Billy Burke ("Twilight").
"Bones" veteran Janet Tamaro wrote the pilot and will exec produce with "The Closer's" Michael Robin, who also directed, and Bill Haber.
The alien-invasion series will star Wyle ("ER," "The Librarian") as a man who becomes the leader of a resistance cell after aliens wipe out most of the planet's population. Moon Bloodgood ("Terminator Salvation"), Jessy Schram ("Life," "Veronica Mars"), Drew Roy, Maxim Knight and Seychelle Gabriel. Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan") wrote the pilot, which Carl Franklin ("Devil in a Blue Dress") directed. Spielberg is an exec producer.
The cable channel has picked up 10 episodes each of the untitled alien series, which stars Noah Wyle as the leader of a resistance group; "Delta Blues," featuring Jason Lee as a quirky Memphis cop; and "Rizzoli & Isles," about a Boston homicide detective (Angie Harmon) and medical examiner (Sasha Alexander) who work together on cases.
"Delta Blues" will star Lee ("My Name Is Earl") as Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police officer with deep ties to the city who lives with his mom (Celia Weston). Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") plays his boss; the cast also includes Robyn Lively ("Savannah," "Saving Grace"), Sam Hennings, Abraham Benrubi ("ER"), DJ Qualls ("Hustle & Flow") and Leonard Earl Howze. George Clooney and Grant Heslov are executive producing the show with co-writer Liz Garcia ("Cold Case"); fellow scribe Joshua Harto is a producer.
"Rizzoli & Isles" is based on a series of novels by Tess Gerritsen. Harmon ("Law & Order," "Women's Murder Club") will play Detective Jane Rizzoli, who enlists the help of medical examiner Maura Isles (Alexander, "NCIS") to solve cases in Beantown. Lorraine Bracco ("The Sopranos") will have a recurring part as Jane's mom; the show also stars Bruce McGill ("W.," "Animal House"), Lee Thompson Young ("FlashForward"), Jordan Bridges ("Conviction") and Billy Burke ("Twilight").
"Bones" veteran Janet Tamaro wrote the pilot and will exec produce with "The Closer's" Michael Robin, who also directed, and Bill Haber.
The alien-invasion series will star Wyle ("ER," "The Librarian") as a man who becomes the leader of a resistance cell after aliens wipe out most of the planet's population. Moon Bloodgood ("Terminator Salvation"), Jessy Schram ("Life," "Veronica Mars"), Drew Roy, Maxim Knight and Seychelle Gabriel. Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan") wrote the pilot, which Carl Franklin ("Devil in a Blue Dress") directed. Spielberg is an exec producer.
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