Why conversational equations and emergence (General)

by romansh , Friday, April 04, 2014, 16:27 (3673 days ago) @ David Turell


> > Romansh: I would agree this is used as a proxy for blood flow.
> 
> Thank you for recognizing the truth behind these studies of brain function, several times removed from electrochemical reality. So it proves what? We can only exercise our mental choices and therefore free will though these electrochemical reactions. And you would propose that these mechanisms somehow control our choices? Are you paranoid or contentious? Please note my very recent (yesterday) posts about brain complexity, all arranged by Darwinian chance.
Firstly in the real world I personally I don't believe in proof. 
Perhaps we have corroboarting evidence that is is sufficiently strong that convinces us of a particular world view.-Lets take a step back; first I said:
>> in the degree of oxygenation in our blood.
You said:
> It shows intensity of blood flow to a region of the brain, not the oxygenation level of the blood. 
And now we are agreeing it does show the degree of oxygenation via the magnetic response of haem molecules in an oscillating magnetic field? Perhaps you would like to retract:
> I need to correct your imporession of what FMRI does. -Are we agreed that the magnetic response of haem molecules is in some way a reflection of the local neuronal activity in the brain? Assuming it is, it does not diminish the fact we can get information out of a very crude (and in your opinion over hyped) proxy for that neuronal activity. Imagine the day when we can get better resolution on the neuronal activity.