April 29, 2005
THE STEADY MARCH FROM IGNORANCE TO ENLIGHTENMENT
How ice cream tickles your brain (David Adam, The Guardian, April 29th, 2005)
Eating ice cream really does make you happy. Scientists have found that a spoonful of the cold stuff lights up the same pleasure centre in the brain as winning money or listening to your favourite music.Neuroscientists at the Institute of Psychiatry in London scanned the brains of people eating vanilla ice cream. They found an immediate effect on parts of the brain known to activate when people enjoy themselves; these include the orbitofrontal cortex, the "processing" area at the front of the brain.
The research was carried out by Unilever, using ice cream made by Walls, which it owns. Don Darling of Unilever said: "This is the first time that we've been able to show that ice cream makes you happy. Just one spoonful lights up the happy zones of the brain in clinical trials."
We assume this means liver and broccoli light up the same brain centers as an IRS audit.
My motto: Health food doesn't make you live longer, it only makes it seem longer.
Posted by: PapayaSF at April 29, 2005 5:02 PMThe physiological reaction to ice cream is irrefutable proof of the intelligent design hypothesis and of the existence of a just and loving God.
Posted by: Mike Morley at April 29, 2005 5:07 PMMike: Not unlike Ben Franklin's quote about beer.
(in moderation, of course....ahem.)
Posted by: John Resnick at April 29, 2005 5:23 PMJohn:
Beer should always be drunk in moderation. Scotch and wine, not so much.
Posted by: Peter B at April 29, 2005 7:10 PMNot that they come close to the joy of ice cream, but I suspect that OJ has suffered from overcooked broccoli. Lightly steamed broccoli is an excellent green vegetable. As for liver, I have memories of the stench from when my mother occasionally cooked it for my father. However. good chopped liver -- which should be enjoyed only when one's cholesterol check is weeks away -- is a real treat.
Posted by: Jim Siegel at April 29, 2005 7:21 PMJim:
Well, science has proven that race and religion are just social constructs, so all our brain centers should respond the same, no? That would mean we Christians should enjoy chopped liver and gefilte fish as much as you do.
Damn, maybe we do.
Posted by: Peter B at April 29, 2005 7:34 PMOne more comment: At last we have empirical evidence for our childhood chant: “You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream.” We can expect the advertising campaigns soon.
Posted by: Jim Siegel at April 29, 2005 7:44 PMJust to be sure I've got this right: researchers discover that a pleasurable experience stimulates the brain's long-acknowledged "pleasure center"?
For this, somebody paid good money?
Posted by: ghostcat at April 29, 2005 11:43 PMVegetarians don't live longer, they just look older.
Posted by: Terrence at April 30, 2005 12:11 AMPeter: Matoz really is the bread of affliction.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 30, 2005 1:21 AMThere's a Thai restaurant three blocks up from the U.N. on First Ave. that's the only place I've ever found that can cook broccoli to the point where it's not just palitable, but causes no interference whatsoever in the enjoyment of the other flavors of the meal. I'm still hunting for the restaurant that can do the same thing to liver, though I'm betting if I find one, it will also come with a mixed drink alcoholic beverage license.
Posted by: John at April 30, 2005 1:59 AMShe Who Must Be Obeyed observes that nine out of ten cannibals agree: vegetarians taste better.
Posted by: joe shropshire at April 30, 2005 2:45 AM