Memories stored in the brain

Ashley Crill14 Jul 2013, 23:30as archived

↰ answers David Stockhoff · by quotation

2 quoted lines · 1–3 deep

From: Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com>

I assume the connection would be that memories traditionally considered to be stored on the brain were in this case stored elsewhere in the body. That seems to be a key Wolfean conceit and one presumably necessary for the alzabo effect, unless the animal always eats the brain before it mimics its dead prey. However, there may be other ways to explain this behavior in planaria.

I understood it to be the opposite. The 'Wolfean' idea represented seems to be that memories can only be transmitted by eating a certain part of the brain. Reference Severian's gruesome accession to the Autarchy as an example.

Gerry Quinn15 Jul 2013, 10:46as archived

↳ in reply to Ashley Crill

From: Ashley Crill

6 quoted lines · 1–2 deep

I assume the connection would be that memories traditionally considered to be stored on the brain were in this case stored elsewhere in the body. That seems to be a key Wolfean conceit and one presumably necessary for the alzabo effect, unless the animal always eats the brain before it mimics its dead prey. However, there may be other ways to explain this behavior in planaria.

I understood it to be the opposite. The 'Wolfean' idea represented seems to be that memories can only be transmitted by eating a certain part of the brain. Reference Severian's gruesome accession to the Autarchy as an example.

The way I understood it, both work - but eating the brain, rather than the body, and probably using a higher-quality elixir compared to whatever Vodalus was able to brew, works better and probably has fewer side effects. - Gerry Quinn

entonio at gmail.com15 Jul 2013, 12:09as archived

↳ in reply to Gerry Quinn

Severian discusses this with Ultan. No dia 15/07/2013, ?s 11:46, "Gerry Quinn" <gerry at bindweed.com> escreveu:

12 quoted lines · 1–3 deep

From: Ashley Crill

I assume the connection would be that memories traditionally considered to be stored on the brain were in this case stored elsewhere in the body. That seems to be a key Wolfean conceit and one presumably necessary for the alzabo effect, unless the animal always eats the brain before it mimics its dead prey. However, there may be other ways to explain this behavior in planaria.

I understood it to be the opposite. The 'Wolfean' idea represented seems to be that memories can only be transmitted by eating a certain part of the brain. Reference Severian's gruesome accession to the Autarchy as an example.

The way I understood it, both work - but eating the brain, rather than the body, and probably using a higher-quality elixir compared to whatever Vodalus was able to brew, works better and probably has fewer side effects. - Gerry Quinn _______________________________________________

Jeff Wilson15 Jul 2013, 21:43as archived

↳ in reply to Gerry Quinn

4 quoted lines · 1–2 deep

The 'Wolfean' idea represented seems to be that memories can only be transmitted by eating a certain part of the brain. Reference Severian's gruesome accession to the Autarchy as an example.

The way I understood it, both work - but eating the brain, rather than the body, and probably using a higher-quality elixir compared to whatever Vodalus was able to brew, works better and probably has fewer side effects.

Gerry is correct; the other Vodalarii received the memories and loyalty sentiments despite there not being enough brains for everyone each time, nor did they enjoy Sev's wondrous gifts. Ultan, the best read man in the Commonwealth, also confirms that memories can be gotten from non-brain extremities, like fingers and hands. I just hope they remembered to clean the maze this time.

Jeff Wilson - < jwilson at clueland.com > A&M Texarkana Computational Intelligence Lab < http://www.tamut.edu/cil >

Lee Berman20 Jul 2013, 18:15as archived

↳ follows Jeff Wilson · by subject

1 quoted line

Entonio: Severian discusses this with Ultan.

I think Entonio is correct. It doesn't have to be the brain. In his conversation about eating the dead, Ultan likens it to a (70'style) hologram plate in which the entire picture is stored in each and every piece, no matter how small. So you would think any body portion would do. At Voladulus' feast, isn't Thecla's whole body roasted and served? Her head remains intact enough for Severian to recognize her. Plus, it seems like a pretty big party and I get the impression they each got more to eat than a 1/50 portion of her brain. Didn't they get legs, thighs, breasts, etc.

Jeff Wilson21 Jul 2013, 04:20as archived

↳ in reply to Lee Berman

6 quoted lines

At Voladulus' feast, isn't Thecla's whole body roasted and served? Her head remains intact enough for Severian to recognize her. Plus, it seems like a pretty big party and I get the impression they each got more to eat than a 1/50 portion of her brain. Didn't they get legs, thighs, breasts, etc.

yes

Jeff Wilson - < jwilson at clueland.com > A&M Texarkana Computational Intelligence Lab < http://www.tamut.edu/cil >