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This is Your Brain on Type

Seymour

Vaguely Precise
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After a fair amount of googling, I finally tracked down Nardi's "This is Your Brain on Type" slides.

First, I can't help but point out that his sample size is very small (he only had one or two people for many types, and lacked an ISTP), and he doesn't go over any statistical analysis he did to show how strong the type-related effects were. He also doesn't describe how people were selected, so self-selection is likely an issue. Anyone looking for solid statistical data is going to be disappointed.

On the other hand, the data he did collect are pretty thought provoking. His general approach was to attach an EEG to people of various types, and collected data on the activity level on various regions of the brain.

Some of his interpretations of his data:

  • Fe's responded the most to social feedback in T5
  • INFPs and ENFPs, followed by INFJs and had had high activity in F8 when assessing emotional importance. For their ENTJ, F8 was only active for negative judgements.
  • ESTJs and ENTJs were the best liars
  • ENFPs followed by INFPs had the most active "mirror neurons," followed by INFJs
  • INFPs fully mentally engaged when listening to others give instructions, offer reasons, etc. Their brains resembled those of experts engaged in their areas of expertise.
  • One way to disengage an "expert listener" INFP is to have him or her discuss gun control with an ESTJ for 8 minutes.
  • Te-doms and Ti-doms were more "mentally efficient." That is, there brains were minimally activated much of the time, unless interesting analysis was called for.

Based on mappings to brain regions, here he how would define the functions (from his slide "Clarifying Jung's Functions"):

  • Ne: Transcontextual thinking (linking contexts), analogizing, mirror others, mental what-if simulation.
  • Ni: Project into future, draw upon entire mind to foresee or determine an answer, weight many factors at once.
  • Fi: What is of personal value to oneself, listening with the whole mind, tone of voice.
  • Fe: Attend to how other people are responding to you, social appropriateness, attend to words.
  • Te: Decision-making, explanation, construct visual images, minimal / optimized use of brain (when dominant function), fabricate / lie.
  • Ti: Define, categorize, derive solution logically, minimal / optimized use of brain (when dominant function).
  • Se: Recall details of recent data with high fidelity, identify objects, smooth body motion, calm in tense situations.
  • Si: Access narrative past, use whole mind to review past events, other... (need more data!)

So, I hope there's more to come from Nardi in this area.
 
Last edited:

entropie

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That still doesnt help me to score with the new hot girl from the neighbourhood
 

Seymour

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That still doesnt help me to score with the new hot girl from the neighbourhood

Maybe it would if you could talk her into gooping up her head, then wearing an EEG cap and then performing various tasks. Wait! That sounds like the opening for what would be the world's worst porn movie.
 

entropie

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Not really EEG and porn doesnt go together. You'ld have to say something like ... hmmm... I cant do that on commando !
 

BlueGray

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Oct 7, 2009
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Will an ISTJ talking about gun control work just as well? Kind of interestign since I have an ISTJ friend who talks about gun control to me and an INFP very often.
 

Thalassa

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Makes me think I must be an IxxJ because my mind gets more active when I try to clear my mind to go to sleep. That's why I have delayed sleep phase.
 

KDude

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Jan 26, 2010
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Right now, I'm not remaining calm in a tense situation. There seems to be some crazy sound coming from outside, where someone is firing off a drill. Something mechanical. I've got a big knife in my hand and I'm going to check it out. :tongue:
 

KDude

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OK, I'm back. Problem solved. That was a prime example of my paranoia getting the best of me. :wink:
 

FDG

pathwise dependent
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Everything I say is a lie.
 

Seymour

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I believe you!

..

wait..

To be fair, the results were a little more complicated (as far as what types where the best at lying). In one case they had someone tell a lie without a target. In another case, they actually lied to someone who was present.
 

Snuggletron

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Sep 25, 2009
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I thought the pictures were pretty cool. Don't remember much from speed reading through 102 pages, though. Guess I'm not an Si dom. ._.

Sometimes I think I'm more Ni and Se. :doh:

you're more all the functions.
 

KDude

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you're more all the functions.

I blame the few wasted teenage years with my brain on LSD, coke, meth, weed, shrooms. Doors of Perception, yo. Or perhaps being a well traveled and well rounded military brat growing up. Gives the illusion of intuition. Or maybe it's that I'm a Fi/Ne type with a dad who was desperate to make me play sports and who insisted I not come home unless I beat the shit out of neighborhood bullies.

Seriously, I really don't know why I can see myself in different types. Or why some others can't. MBTI is a little confining. That's all I can say. :shrug:
 
G

Ginkgo

Guest
Conclusion: Students with preference for Ne and Fi were more
likely to mentally model and possibly imitate others’ behavior.

Sir, are you implying that I am a scoundrel?? Why, if you continue spreading your poxing ideas upon this fair land then I shall turn you in to the City Watch!
 
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