The Geek Anthropologist
An Anthropological Approach to geek culture, for science! The Geek Anthropologist is a blog where geek culture and all things geek are analysed through the perspective of socio-cultural anthropology. We write about the intersections between social science, cultural analysis and practice of anthropology with geek culture, whether they be embodied, literary, cinematic or cybernetic.
Individual differences in spatial cognition influence mental simulation of language
Highlights We investigated visual perspective taking in embodied simulation of language. Subjects were successfully classified into groups based on spatial cognitive biases. We find that these biases influenced how perspective was simulated in comprehension. Methodologically, results draw attention to the importance of individual differences.
Center for the Study of Digital Games and Play
On Tuesday February 2 the Centre for the Study of Digital Games and Play (GAP) will host its fifth seminar at Muntstraat 2a, room 1.11 from 15:00-17:00 with drinks afterwards. The aim of these regular meet-ups is to create a physical space for game scholars and excellent students to present research, to provide room for game-related discussions, and to expand our academic and professional network. This meeting, we will share three game-related projects from Utrecht University dealing with: the politics of playful cartography, identity and identity in digital games, and intergenerational game design.
Vote: The Scariest Word in Orwell’s 'Animal Farm'
To the first-time reader, George Orwell’s 1945 fable Animal Farm might appear to be the story of a grand experiment that began as a veritable utopia before its betrayal by an authoritarian hijacker. That’s certainly how many leftists, including one of my former professors, view the Russian Revolution on which Orwell’s animal revolution is based. It’s probable that even Orwell himself saw the Soviet Union in this way.
Resources - Psychology.org
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Perceptual Insensibility in a Second Language
Winston Churchill once said on French radio, with his characteristic English accent when he spoke French, "Despite working so hard and coming so far with the French to help them win their freedom, I have never mastered the gender of French nouns!". His problem was a classic one for those who learn French late: Is "bateau" (boat) masculine or feminine? It's masculine. How about "montagne" (mountain)? It's feminine. Not only is gender difficult for late learners of French (as it can be for late learners of Spanish and Italian, among other languages), but gender agreement marking on other words that accompany the noun such as an article, an adjective, or a pronoun, can also be difficult.
10 Alternatives for Google’s Wonder Wheel
The consultants here at DEP are a visual group. So the death of Google’s Wonder Wheel was a complete devastation to us. Not to worry we’ve outlined a top 10 list that we’ve think will do a good job of replacing the Wonder Wheel.
How Spatial Navigation Correlates with Language – News – IQ: Research and Education Website – Higher School of Economics National Research University
Cognitive neuroscientists from the Higher School of Economics and Aarhus University experimentally demonstrate how spatial navigation impacts language comprehension. The results of the study have been published in NeuroImage. Language is a complicated cognitive function, which is performed not only by local brain modules, but by a distributed network of cortical generators. Physical experience such as movement and spatial motion play an important role in psychological experiences and cognitive function, which is related to how an individual mentally constructs the meaning of a sentence. Nikola Vukovic and Yury Shtyrov carried out an experiment at the HSE Centre for Cognition & Decision Making, which explains the relations between the systems responsible for spatial navigation and language. Using neurophysiological data, they describe brain mechanisms that support navigation systems use in both spatial and linguistic tasks.
How 'Google Science' could transform academic publishing
Google is allegedly working on a free, open access platform for the research, collaboration and publishing of peer-reviewed scientific journals. At least, that is apparently what one individual wants us to believe. Wired.co.uk is in possession of a document, sent anonymously, detailing how "Google Science" would bring together existing services such as Google Docs, Google Plus, YouTube and more to create a platform that challenges the paid-for model of scientific publishing and provides academics with an opportunity to connect with each other more efficiently. The document was allegedly given to a handful of academics in Berlin this week by Google executives -- so says the email sent to this establishment and a number of other sources.
