Post: #1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25156510

The study was published in Nature. Preliminary but interesting.

Post: #2

If true, this would explain a lot of cultural traits that persist over years and miles of migration within ethnic groups.

For example, the collective memory of the descendants of African slaves, Irish peasants, Jews from the shtetl, German farmers, etc., still living on the USA.

Post: #3

Sounds like the stuff that Carl Jung used to write about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_unconscious

Post: #4

Ancestral memory and karma. Interesting that the spiritual idea has a physical counterpart.

Post: #5

Quote:A Nature Neuroscience study shows mice trained to avoid a smell passed their aversion on to their "grandchildren".

Sounds a lot like this new thing called "instinct" that we've known about for many many years..

Quote:They showed a section of DNA responsible for sensitivity to the cherry blossom scent was made more active in the mice's sperm.

I'm fairly certain this is also definitive evidence of natural selection at work

All of this reinforces an idea I've had for a while that consciousness is entirely chemical

Post: #6

(12-03-2013 07:30 AM)Sp5 Wrote:  If true, this would explain a lot of cultural traits that persist over years and miles of migration within ethnic groups.

For example, the collective memory of the descendants of African slaves, Irish peasants, Jews from the shtetl, German farmers, etc., still living on the USA.

I was thinking the same thing, and who knows, maybe this could in part explain why certain populations hate each other and many other things. This obviously needs a lot more investigation and study but I think it's fascinating.

Post: #7

(12-04-2013 12:32 AM)runsonmagic Wrote:  Ancestral memory and karma.

Ancestral memory yes, but why karma?