Amazing brain
The brain was the topic under discussion at last week’s Forty Club debate. Mark Vesey started his talk by saying we all have a brain but actually know very little about how it works. He presented members with a life-size model of a human adult brain that was passed around the room. He gave details about the brain’s 100 billion neurons, the different parts and their functions.
Mark talked about the various problems and diseases the brain can suffer from. One in four people cope with some form of mental health issue. Sadly only 5 per cent of the NHS budget is spent on this yet the cost to society and industry is estimated at £100 billion a year. Addiction and phobias were spoken about as well as the more unknown brain functions such as extra sensory perception, ESP. What is clear is that children’s brains in the formative years are very sensitive to learning good or bad habits and coping skills. Even as adults we are easily persuaded by peer pressure and group influence, as seen by football crowd mobs,ISIS etc. Our brains are capable of wonderful creativity and compassion yet also murder and hate.
Mark asked what the future holds as scientists try to map the brain and reproduce it in computer form. Forty Club members chipped in with their own thoughts and then the vote of the thanks was given by Mr Oldham for a well researched and important topic.
The subject for this week’s meeting will be ‘Re-wilding’ by Alan Hargreaves. Contact 01723 354813 for details. other organisations, including the Masons, the Lions, and Rotary, followed by some reflections and amusing tales from Probus.
October’s first meeting featured Paul Anthony Wilson who began by continuing his story of an adventurous trip across Europe in a camper van which left behind a trail of broken and patched up parts of all kinds.
He described his experience taking part in the making of the classic war film, A Bridge Too Far, and his role placing explosives to replicate shells from battle tanks.
He then told of advancing his career from selling candy floss to becoming a professional photographer respected for his candid shots of people and of dramatic landscapes. Further details from Patricia on 01723 870652.
Visit www.scarboroughphotographicsociety.com for more details about the society and to view a large selection of images taken by members.