Hmmm

[ksmith]

In this week's New Scientist is a review of a book entitled Monkeyluv: And Other Lessons on Our Lives as Animals by Robert Sapolsky. As part of his quest to uncover why we act as we do, he sought to determine at what age people close off to new experiences. This came about in part during interactions with Paul, a temp "whose eclectic taste in music gets 40-something Sapolsky wondering why the soundtrack to his own life has shrunk to a couple of Mahler symphonies and a trusted tape of Bob Marley's greatest hits."

His answer?



Our appetite for thrill-seeking drops off as we age. The quest for the new and different loses its appeal. Brain-imaging research indicates that "older brains often appear more active than younger ones, suggesting that signals to the pleasure response...get diluted."

Gee. Should we just throw the dirt over me now?

One of the author's surveys involved trying to determine the age at which people close off to new experiences in food, music, and body piercings. The results of his surveys: food--39, music-35, body decorations-23.

Does anyone else out there think this is a load of horsehockey? Or is the spec community really that far removed from the average?

I think I know the answer to this.

No new music after 35?

*pfft*

Comments

[merlinpole.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the person--there are a lot of people over 65 who have learned past the age of 65 to use computers and go on-line. There are also people who shut their brains off IN high school, let alone after getting out of it.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I think that's part of the issue I take with the book. There is a continuum, which I didn't see the author taking into account (at least as far as the review went). He just seemed to be looking for scientific justification for his own ossification.

[deannahoak.livejournal.com]

I think it's horsehockey. Some people change; others don't. I know people my age (39) who have the exact same hairstyle they wore in high school. I don't.

And I got my navel pierced for my 38th birthday present to myself. :-)

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten any piercings or tattoos yet--I'm waiting until I'm old enough. :-)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could risk anymore piercings. My ears give me enough trouble.

I sometimes ponder a tattoo. While unlikely, it is not outside the realm of probability.

[mt-yvr.livejournal.com]

Started to get tattoos after I turned 30. 33 and still going strong on them.

And piercings.. well I got a few of those after 30.

And music? I'm CONSTANTLY looking/listening for latest remixes and I'm puttering around for new flavours of music constantly.

Obviously.. they were talking about straight people. Straight men.

:P (heh heh)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I first tried sushi at the age of 45.

I think this author be an idiot.

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

Definitely horsehockey. I'm 57 & open to more music, though particular about genre. And adventure, though I never was open to some kinds of adventure! Body piercing for me limited to one in each earlobe. I'm more concerned about infection & maintenance than any other reason.