Talk:Hypnosis/Chapters/Mind

Have made a number of edits re grammar and style which I hope will be taken as helpful by the original author.

Made one content deletion re "pistols on a table". This didn't actually indicate what the point of the example was but mostly was very poorly written including the phrase "I can't remember" relating to the reference or authority for the example quoted.

Would suggest the use of personal pronouns (I, we, you etc.) be discontinued.

On content would it not be extremely useful to differentiate between 'mind' and 'brain'?

Subconscious. In the UK this word is no longer used in referring to the work undertaken by that part of the brain of which the individual is not consciously aware. Rather the word unconscious is used. Sub means - below or less than in a diminutive or derogatory way e.g. sub-human. Many of the physiological processes that are regulated by the unconscious part of the brain are critical to an individual's survival e.g. breathing and heart rate. Samtallboy (discuss • contribs) 00:57, 13 July 2011 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the help, I was going to contact you on you talk page in regards to the removal of the negative use of hypnosis on the last edit, was it intentional or simply an error (I think I understand the motive as exposed above.
 * In regards to the subconscious / unconscious issue, you probably already know English is not my native language. I extremely appreciate your efforts. In this particular case I was not aware that that distinction existed and I'm disagreeable with adopting it, even if the book is by default American English my issue is that unconscious is the absence of conscious awareness or thought on the other hand the subconscious is in fact thought and to some degree it is below (but in no way less important than) the conscious part of the mind.
 * Breathing is a bit different than the heart rate. Breathing can be easily controlled consciously and unconsciously regulated, the heart beat is harder to do consciously and if you have some experience with attempting to control both, most of us at one point or another have attempted it, you will understand that the conscientious effort is not specifiably directed on the control of the movements of the specific muscles but more general in the reduction of consumption of the resources (air, blood) and the mental stamina to keep a mental control over the physiological alarms that the body responds with. A simple example is that relaxation reduces not only breathing but heart rate because the body has a overall reduction in the need for those resources, a contrary example is people fainting because of hyperventilation.
 * In any case we are entering in the field of determining the conscious/subconscious capabilities. My belief is that physiological reflexes aren't directly controllable by the subconscious, and few are by the conscious mind, they can be affected by tasks and mental states but in an "involuntary" and automated way but at a lower level, using primitive parts of brain, for instance breathing is primarily controlled by specialized centers in the brainstem. --Panic (discuss • contribs) 02:02, 13 July 2011 (UTC)


 * I hope the book will be, by default, English English, as I am:)


 * Subconscious/Unconscious

I do not think the most important point is about which word is used but about it's meaning, as used in the book. As for "usage" possibly the best course would be to include a Note to the effect that the UK has adopted unconscious in preference to subconscious and why. If other countries have a particular usage this too can be noted. It will raise an interesting point for readers to think about.


 * So is mind a part of or separate from the brain?

Samtallboy (discuss • contribs) 20:30, 15 July 2011 (UTC)


 * American English was the convention adopted, since there is already much content we should stick to it. I do prefer the added simplicity it provides to some of the rules, apart from my preference the rational is that one form should be selected and used consistently on each project and it may even be beneficial to use it across books (all books I've worked do, not only because I prefer but since the project, Wikimedia, is US based and most of the most active Wikibookains seem to come from there).
 * I agree that adding a note would be beneficial and if you are certain of that particularity.
 * My view is that the mind is a function of the brain, I wouldn't classify it as a part. Brain functions even if localized and mostly general (person to person) are not separated or modular, the high plasticity of the brain even permits relocation of functions (or the creation of new ones). I also have a hope that the mind doesn't reside only on the brain, neurons have been found in other parts of the human body. I also like the mysticism of the idea about the supra-universe (multiverse, quantum physics) and the possibility that each "mind" is a part of a greater entity (a super you or even a collective mind), there are many theories and a lack of real science done on this field but several data points shows this as a real possibility.
 * If you like this subject take a look into the documentaries National Geographic Parallel Universes (2011), Transcendent Man (2009) and The Spirit Molecule (2010) all provide a complete distinct, but somewhat parallel, view on the "reality" of the "mind" (no organized religion stuff but all theoretical and most in the field of what we define as faith, all very cool).
 * Note that I speaking more freely here than when I had content to the book since some is my own personal views. Panic (discuss • contribs) 22:23, 15 July 2011 (UTC)