# ethno: cross-cultural comparison of rhythm priors in 15 countries.

<< Music is present in every known society but varies from place to place. What, if anything, is universal to music cognition? (AA) measured a signature of mental representations of rhythm in 39 participant groups in 15 countries, spanning urban societies and Indigenous populations. >>️

Their << results suggest a common feature of music cognition: discrete rhythm ‘categories’ at small-integer ratios. These discrete representations plausibly stabilize musical systems in the face of cultural transmission but interact with culture-specific traditions to yield the diversity that is evident when mental representations are probed across many cultures. >>️

Nori Jacoby, Rainer Polak, et al. Commonality and variation in mental representations of music revealed by a cross-cultural comparison of rhythm priors in 15 countries. Nat Hum Behav.  doi: 10.1038/ s41562-023-01800-9. March 4, 2024. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01800-9 

Also: ethno, music, jazz, behav, in https://www.inkgmr.net/kwrds.html 

Keywords: ethno, music, jazz, behavior

# ai: perpetual nirvana among 'self-addicted', 'self-cracked', 'playful' machines, the wireheading effect.

<< In 1953, a Harvard psychologist thought he discovered pleasure – accidentally – within the cranium of a rat. With an electrode inserted into a specific area of its brain, the rat was allowed to pulse the implant by pulling a lever. It kept returning for more: insatiably, incessantly, lever-pulling. In fact, the rat didn’t seem to want to do anything else. Seemingly, the reward centre of the brain had been located. >>️

<< More than 60 years later, in 2016, a pair of artificial intelligence (AI) researchers were training an AI to play video games. The goal of one game – Coastrunner – was to complete a racetrack. But the AI player was rewarded for picking up collectable items along the track. When the program was run, they witnessed something strange. The AI found a way to skid in an unending circle, picking up an unlimited cycle of collectables. It did this, incessantly, instead of completing the course. >>️

<< What links these seemingly unconnected events is something strangely akin to addiction in humans. Some AI researchers call the phenomenon "wireheading". >>️

Thomas Moynihan, Anders Sandberg. Drugs, robots and the pursuit of pleasure – why experts are worried about AIs becoming addicts. The Conversation. Sep 14, 2021. 

https://theconversation.com/drugs-robots-and-the-pursuit-of-pleasure-why-experts-are-worried-about-ais-becoming-addicts-163376

Rock'n Roll Monkey/Unsplash, FAL (img)  

https://images.theconversation.com/files/411932/original/file-20210719-23-1fx0vl0.jpg

FonT: so one could hypothesize a suitable 'magic string' that mitigates hypothetical autocatalytic pulsatile wireheading effects, even for artificial, bio-artificial entities.

An ethno-drug revisited ... Ayahuasca, prelude of a "magic string" in neuropharmacology. FonT.  July 8, 2018.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2018/07/pharma-ethno-drug-revisited-ayahuasca.html

Also

"senza finalita' ideologiche, solo per curiosita',  giusto per giocare ..." in: 

Anomalous formation of molecules after vapor deposition. FonT.  Dec 31, 2015. 

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2015/12/rmx-s-gst-anomalous-formation-of.html

A mechanism of analogy could be the master key to achieving an abstract artificial intelligence. FonT. Aug 10, 2021. 

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2021/08/aibot-mechanism-of-analogy-could-be.html

keyword 'ia' | 'ai' in Notes (quasi- stochastic poetry)

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/search?q=ia

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/search?q=ai

keywords: ai, bots, artificial intelligence, wireheading effect, addiction

# evol-ethno: the fuzzy dispersal and interaction dynamics of ancient (early) nomads (2)

AA << present the genome of 'Denisova 11', a bone fragment from Denisova Cave (Russia)3 and show that it comes from an individual who had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. >>

<< The finding of a first-generation Neanderthal–Denisovan offspring among the small number of archaic specimens sequenced to date suggests that mixing between Late Pleistocene hominin groups was common when they met. >>

Viviane Slon, Fabrizio Mafessoni, et al. The genome of the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Nature. Aug 22, 2018. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0455-x

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0455-x

Marlowe Hood. Neandertal mother, Denisovan father-Newly-sequenced genome sheds light on interactions between ancient hominins. Aug 22, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-08-neandertal-mother-denisovan-fathernewly-sequenced-genome.html

Also

the fuzzy dispersal and interaction dynamics of ancient (early) nomads. Dec 11, 2017.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2017/12/evol-ethno-fuzzy-dispersals-and.html

# brain: immagini #CTZ, cicliche fantasmatiche pervasive visioni ricorrenti

<< Vladimir Putin has trumpeted the growth of national populist movements in Europe and America, crowing that liberalism is spent as an ideological force.

In an FT interview in the Kremlin on the eve of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, the Russian president said “the liberal idea” had “outlived its purpose” as the public turned against immigration, open borders and multiculturalism. >>

Lionel Barber and Henry Foy in Moscow,  and Alex Barker in Osaka. Vladimir Putin says liberalism has 'become obsolete'. FT. Jun 27, 2019

https://www.ft.com/content/670039ec-98f3-11e9-9573-ee5cbb98ed36 

FonT

i giochi fisiologici che si giocano su questo pianeta (forse anche altrove) sono giochi 'aperti', all'interno dei due vincoli del gioco 'legale' (sostanzialmente i due vincoli del casino' [#1,#2]); al di fuori dei due vincoli non c'e' auto-struttura, auto-funzione, auto- manutenzione, e dove non c'e' auto- manutenzione la speranza di sopravvivenza - in funzione del tempo - di qualsivoglia sistema vivente cala, smorza, scema, declina; questa sembra la realta' funzionale di un sistema complesso dove le interne sub-unita' sono in continua interazione (non lineare); la propensione di entita' CTZ sensibili, specialmente quando costrette a fronteggiare bi/ multi- forcazioni, di ricondurre i punti di riferimento decisionali alle classiche, storiche, rituali  tre 'immagini'  (CTZ,  appunto) - il 'Campanile', la 'Terra', la 'Zappa' (da li' l'anagramma: 'ne Campa il ZappaTerra') - e' sostanzialmente illusoria perche' i tre punti di riferimento CTZ non permettono all'entita' transeunte di risolvere / reimpostare in modo soddisfacente i suoi problemi, veri o presunti tali; talvolta si ha l'illusione di una risoluzione, che sara' tuttavia irreversibilmente instabile rispetto al tempo; il Campanile e' una immagine che per sua intima natura e' relativa, le teoretiche che lo giustificano, lo sostengono, hanno contorni s-fumati, che scricchiolano (evaporano) dalle troppe contraddizioni interne; la Terra 'trema', anch'essa per sua intima natura, e' transitoria, si incendia, congela, sbricciola, frana, si allaga, viene spazzata periodicamente da vortici d'aria, e' sensibile a imponenti  forze esterne, cosmologiche, percio' partecipa attivamente alla  compromissione della stabilita' di qualsivoglia Campanile (Totem, Lampione ...); la Zappa e' per sua intima natura un oggetto 'techno', dipende dallo stato dell'arte tecno-scientifica, e attualmente e' in mutazione verso le graziose forme del 'robota', oggetto prospetticamente autonomo,  fisicamente, neuralmente (culturalmente?) ...

Il bravo (e fortunato) dr. Albert - Albert Hofmann, chimico con il pallino dell'azzardo sperimentale, un classico ... - aveva forse trovato il giusto approccio, la giusta 'medicina' per offrire 'respiro' anche a lungo termine alle moltitudini entita' CTZ-dipendenti (neuralmente, geneticamente dipendenti?), specialmente se e quando  coinvolte in contesti di accidentale modalita' accelerativa transeunte; e' davvero disdicevole che la molecola di Hofmann (LSD [#3]) presenti effetti collaterali non insignificanti; se gli effetti 'epigenetici' sono fisiologicamente troppo lenti per fronteggiare una realta' mutaforma dirompente e pervasiva, allora forse servirebbe una nuova 'magica stringa' [#4] farmacologica o di natura genetica, farmaco-epigenetica, allo scopo di alleviare almeno quegli stati confusionali, depressivi e i comportamenti a-priori lesivi- autolesivi tipici dell'entita' CTZ-dipendenti; anche e senz'altro per quell'altre entita', ben mimetizzate, a loro dire solo apparentemente illusoriamente insensibili a visioni / vincoli CTZ.

Davvero disdicevole accadimento (per i non pochi) lo storico 'salto' dallo 'standard' entita' nomade esploratrice erratica verso il qualcos'altro, ...  non e' vero?

[#1] - Notes. 1809 - strutturanti decisioni. Nov 26, 2004. 

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/2004/11/1809-strutturanti-decisioni.html

[#2] - Notes. 1821 - i due beffardi vincoli. Nov 26, 2004. 

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/2004/11/1821-i-due-beffardi-vincoli.html

[#3] - 'LSD' in: FonT.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=lsd

[#4] - 'magic string' in: FonT. An ethno-drug revisited ... Ayahuasca, prelude of a "magic string" in neuropharmacology. Jul 8, 2018.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2018/07/pharma-ethno-drug-revisited-ayahuasca.html

Also

FonT. JARexit: the ironic probabilistic upshot of the itinerant, escaping IR77, Promobot. Jun 25, 2016.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2016/06/s-bot-jarexit-ironic-probabilistic.html

FonT. The next step of a "liquid society": Jia Jia, they will love "her" ...  Jan 10, 2017.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2017/01/n-soc-next-step-of-society-jia-jia-they.html

# life: they used birds to think about and to predict the future.

<< People around the world and throughout history have used birds to think about and predict the future. >>

<< In the Kalahari, southern Africa, !Xõ hunters carefully watch the black-faced babblers after an antelope hunt for signs of where their wounded prey may be. >>

Felice Wyndham. How birds are used to reveal the future. Feb 26, 2020.

https://theconversation.com/how-birds-are-used-to-reveal-the-future-130844

Ethno-ornithology World Atlas

https://ewatlas.net/collection/birds-tell-people-things

Here are some examples ...

'journalists' birds ...

<< Hummingbirds can bring good or bad news. If someone flies nearby you have to say, "You're going to give me good news!" (It's a saying that comes from the Yshir).>>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/ti%C3%ADnta-polytmus-guainumbi

'ecologist / protester' birds ...

<< If this bird sings at night it warns that white people will be deforesting soon. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/guidob%C3%B3-leptotila-verreauxi

'climatologist' birds ...

<< If one has a gócoco in the house, and the bird digs for a dust bath, it means that the cold weather is coming. It indicates that the weather will be a very rainy and very cloudy weather, but if it sings loud it is warning that the sun will soon rise. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/g%C3%B3coco-chunga-burmeisteri

<< When this bird approaches the Ayoreo village or if you see it in a dive, the noise of its wings warns that a lot of rain will come soon; maybe floods. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/jaac%C3%B3-cairina-moschata

<< This bird announces rain: if it sings in the morning it will rain in the afternoon - she cries because she does not want her nest to get wet. This bird needs high woods and leaves of trees to eat. She is a young lady and she likes young people and always accompanies people every day. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/ngongo%C3%B3-crypturellus-undulatus

<< It may be a warning that if it burns there may be storms or strong winds. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/pi%C3%A1-vireo-olivaceus

<< It says "ti ti ti ti ti ti ti." Warn if the south wind that brings the cold will blow soon. >>

https://ewatlas.net/digital-heritage/totita-hemitriccus-margaritaceiventer-todirostrum-cinereum

Also

keyword 'bird' in FonT

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=bird

# evol-ethno: the fuzzy dispersal and interaction dynamics of ancient (early) nomads

AA << evaluate single versus multiple dispersal models and southern versus the northern dispersal routes across the Asian continent. They also review behavioral and environmental variability and how these may have affected modern human dispersals and interactions with indigenous populations >>

Christopher J. Bae, Katerina Douka, Michael D. Petraglia. On the origin of modern humans: Asian perspectives. Science. 2017; 358 (6368): eaai9067
doi: 10.1126/science.aai9067. Dec 8, 2017

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6368/eaai9067

<< Homo sapiens reached distant parts of the Asian continent, as well as Near Oceania, much earlier than previously thought. Additionally, evidence that modern humans interbred with other hominins already present in Asia, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, complicates the evolutionary history of our species >>

Revising the story of the dispersal of modern humans across Eurasia. Technological advances and multidisciplinary research teams are reshaping our understanding of when and how humans left Africa - and who they met along the way. Dec 7, 2017

http://www.shh.mpg.de/742617/human-dispersals-africa

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171207141724.htm

<< Climate is a key factor determining the types of vegetation that can grow in an ecosystem. By recreating the plant foods and habitat available at a given time, it is possible to learn about changes that occurred during important transitions in the evolution of humans >>

Marie DeNoia Aronsohn. The Way We Were: Climate and Human Evolution. Dec 1, 2017.

https://m.phys.org/news/2017-12-wereclimate-human-evolution.html 

http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2017/12/01/the-way-we-were-climate-and-human-evolution/

# trade: job career quick transitions, from Silicon Valley to the Cannabis Marketplace

<< For decades, those looking to change the world arrived in Silicon Valley seeking the latest frontier: social media companies, gadget makers, delivery and transportation apps, e-commerce platforms. >>

<< But as the emerging markets of yesterday become today's stalwarts, a growing number of technology workers are migrating to an even newer sector-so new that it isn't legal at the federal level. >>

<<  The U.S. cannabis market is expected to grow to $75 billion in sales by 2030 from $10 billion, said Troy Dayton, chief executive of cannabis investment and market research firm Arcview. >>

<< Eaze, which aspires to be something of an Amazon for pot, has raised more than $50 million from tech investors such as DCM and Fresh VC. PAX Labs, whose cannabis vaporizers resemble Apple gadgets, has raised more than $100 million from Silicon Valley and institutional investors. And Baker Technologies, which is essentially a Salesforce for dispensaries, made it into 500 Startups' prestigious accelerator program in 2015. >>

Tracey Lien. They worked at Apple, Amazon and Lyft. Now they're working to get you stoned.  Los Angeles Times. July 17, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-07-apple-amazon-lyft-theyre-stoned.html

FonT

quando uno scientist di talento (anche  fortunato) oppure una pulsiva AI oppure entrambi disegneranno la/una "magica stringa" fisiologica, priva di effetti collaterali di rilievo, anche questi lucrosi mercati a iniziativa piu' o meno individuale evaporeranno, io penso ...

"magic string" in:
https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2018/07/pharma-ethno-drug-revisited-ayahuasca.html

# s-chem-ethno: nanotech acupuncture needles

<< this experiment [..] combined nanotechnology with acupuncture needles >>

AA << developed porous acupuncture needles (PANs) with fine pores ranging in sizes from nanometers (one billionth of a meter) to micrometers (one millionth of a meter) on the surface of the needles using a nano-electrochemical method >>

<< PANs are expected to be as effective as conventional large and long needles by minimizing the sense of pain during acupuncture treatment while expanding the surface area of the needle 20 times greater than conventional acupuncture ones >>

<< Through electrophysiological experiments with rats [AA] proved that PANs excel in transferring signals from a spinal dorsal horn by the in vivo stimulation of Shenmen (HT7) points, and in particular, demonstrated that the efficacy of PANs is superior to conventional acupuncture needles in treating alcohol and cocaine addiction in animal experiments >>

Applying nanotechnology to make porous acupuncture needles. Oct 17, 2016.

http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=44827.php

Su-ll In, Young S. Gwak, et al. Hierarchical Micro/Nano-Porous Acupuncture Needles Offering Enhanced Therapeutic Properties. Nature. Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 34061 (2016)
doi:10.1038/srep34061

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep34061

# n-ethno: dancing to the tailored predat ... solution

<< A number of recent studies suggest that dressing up for work in a suit or blazer could do wonders for an employee’s productivity, whether going into a negotiation, making a sales call or even participating in a videoconference with business associates >>

Ray A. Smith. Why Dressing for Success Leads to Success New research shows that when workers wear nicer clothes, they achieve more. Feb. 21, 2016 10:05 p.m. ET

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-dressing-for-success-leads-to-success-1456110340

<< Wearing more formal clothing was associated with higher action identification level (Study 1) and greater category inclusiveness (Study 2). Putting on formal clothing induced greater category inclusiveness (Study 3) and enhanced a global processing advantage (Study 4). The association between clothing formality and abstract processing was mediated by felt power (Study 5). The findings demonstrate that the nature of an everyday and ecologically valid experience, the clothing worn, influences cognition broadly, impacting the processing style that changes how objects, people, and events are construed. >>

Michael L. Slepian, Simon N. Ferber, et al. The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing. Social Psychological and Personality Science August 2015 vol. 6 no. 6 661-668. doi: 10.1177/1948550615579462

http://m.spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/04/02/1948550615579462.short

# n-ethno: it felt distinctly European, by James, Mike & Neil (NYTimes) ...

<< 3. ‘GOMORRAH’ Italy (SundanceTV) The first season of this series, a traditional Mafia saga set in present-day Naples, was an addictive blend of speed, tension, desolate atmosphere and stark violence. While it raided the histories of both Italian and American film and gangster mythology for its look and style, it felt distinctly European, with an operatic realism unlike anything on American TV. >>

James Poniewozik, Mike Hale, Neil Genzlinger. The Best TV Shows of 2016. Dec 5, 2016

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/arts/television/best-tv-shows.html

# n-ethno: immediate intuizioni vs estreme - a posteriori - opinioni ...

<< "L’Europa non conta più nulla" ...  “La Germania (..) per i suoi meriti, è il paese più forte d’Europa però la leadership è un’altra cosa, è rendersi conto dei problemi degli altri, dei problemi collettivi e questo i tedeschi non lo sanno fare” >>

Romano Prodi “L’Europa non conta più nulla. L’Italia non resti sola”. 15 Dicembre 2016

http://m.huffpost.com/it/entry/13648200

FonT: poco dopo il crollo del muro di Berlino (1989) un laureato in  fisica, responsabile hardware di un centro di calcolo universitario mi disse: "e' caduto il muro ... se 'anche' si riuniscono le due germanie noi siamo perduti ...". Angela Merkel, anche lei laureata in fisica, potrebbe (qui si sottolinea "potrebbe") aver avuto stesse sincroniche "unmittelbare einblicke", io penso ...

Tuttavia il fisico in questione non sempre sembrava credibile nel suo dire ... ad es. in altra occasione costui si prese la briga di informarmi sui costi (inverosimili, campati in aria, presumo inventati sul momento, chissa' perche' ... ) di leasing annuale di un pack statistico; informazione che aveva meritato una risposta a contenuto informativo confrontabile ("cazzo!", se ricordo bene ...) accompagnata da reattiva esoftalmia roteante ai confini d'im-probabili quasistocastici iperspazi ...

# n-ethno-behav: a (quasi-) long-term persistence: the "big man"

<< Muscular  men  perceived  to  be  better  leaders  than  physically  weak  ones >>

http://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/news-release/want-be-seen-leader-get-some-muscle

Lukaszewski, Aaron W., Simmons, Zachary L., et al. The Role of Physical Formidability in Human Social Status Allocation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Dec 14 , 2015.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000042

more:

the big man "mumi":

Douglas Olivier. A Solomon Island Society: Kinship and Leadership among the Siuai of Bouganville. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1955

s-brain-ethno: beliefs vs brain networks responding

<< When political beliefs are challenged, a person's brain becomes active in areas that govern personal identity and emotional responses to threats >>

<< Political beliefs are like religious beliefs in the respect that both are part of who you are and important for the social circle to which you belong >> Jonas Kaplan.

Emily  Gersema. Which  brain networks respond  when someone sticks to a belief? Dec. 23, 2016.

http://news.usc.edu/114481/which-brain-networks-respond-when-someone-sticks-to-a-belief/

Jonas T. Kaplan, Sarah I. Gimbel,  Sam Harris. Neural correlates of maintaining one's political beliefs in the face of counterevidence. Nature. Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 39589 (2016). doi :10.1038/srep39589

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep39589

# pharma: an ethno-drug revisited ... Ayahuasca, prelude of a "magic string" in neuropharmacology

To [AA] << knowledge, this is the first controlled trial to test a psychedelic substance in treatment-resistant depression. Overall, this study brings new evidence supporting the safety and therapeutic value of ayahuasca, dosed within an appropriate setting, to help treat depression. >>

Palhano-Fontes F, Barreto D, et al.  Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Psychol Med. 2018 Jun 15:1-9. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718001356.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29903051

<< Ayahuasca is a mixture of herbs, traditionally used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes. The main active ingredients are N,N-DMT, a potent psychedelic, and several molecules that inhibit the enzyme MAO. The MAO inhibitors serve to prevent the N,N-DMT from being broken down by the digestive system, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and cause hallucinations and other alterations of consciousness. >>

Ayahuasca, the Psychedelic Antidepressant? Neuroskeptic. June 17, 2018.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2018/06/17/psychedelic-antidepressant-ayahuasca/

John Horgan. Yes, Make Psychedelics Legally Available, but Don't Forget the Risks. SciAm. July 6, 2018.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/yes-make-psychedelics-legally-available-but-dont-forget-the-risks/

Also:

"magic string"

# pharma: waiting for new 'magic strings': psilocybin to treat depression. Oct 17, 2017.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2017/10/pharma-waiting-for-new-strings.html

# s-brain: 70-years after; Dr. Albert revisited. Aug 22, 2016.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2016/08/s-brain-70-years-after-dr-albert.html

# s-pharma-n-ethnomed: psilocybin. Dec 14, 2015.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2015/12/s-pharma-n-ethnomed-psilocybin.html

# n-ethno: leadership obsession: “The West Wing” vs “House of Cards”

<< In “Leadership BS” a book published last year, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, identifies five virtues that are almost universally praised by popular leadership writers—modesty, authenticity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and selflessness—and argues that most real-world leaders ignore these virtues. (If anything, they tend to be narcissistic, back-stabbing, self-promoting shape-shifters.) To Pfeffer, the leadership industry is Orwellian. Its cumulative effect is to obscure the degree to which companies are poorly and selfishly run for the benefit of the powerful people in charge. That’s why bosses spend billions on leadership seminars: they make corporate life look like “The West Wing,” even though, in reality, it’s more like “House of Cards.” >>

Joshua Rothman. Shut Up and Sit Down
Why the leadership industry rules.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/29/our-dangerous-leadership-obsession

https://mobile.twitter.com/NewYorker/status/702359780438974464

# gst-ethno-lang: the physics of bubbles to describe (and to predict) the dynamics of linguistic patterns

<< If you want to know where you'll find dialects and why, a lot can be predicted from the physics of bubbles and our tendency to copy others around us >> James Burridge

Physics of bubbles could explain language patterns. July 24, 2017

https://m.phys.org/news/2017-07-physics-language-patterns.html

<< The model shows that the boundaries of language dialect regions are controlled by a length minimizing effect analogous to surface tension, mediated by variations in population density which can induce curvature, and by the shape of coastline or similar borders >>

<< The model is able to reproduce observations and predictions of dialectologists. These include dialect continua, isogloss bundling, fanning, the wavelike spread of dialect features from cities, and the impact of human movement on the number of dialects that an area can support >>

James Burridge. Spatial Evolution of Human Dialects. Phys. Rev. X. 031008. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevX.7.031008. Jul 17, 2017

https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.7.031008 

# s-ethno: Bushmen revisited, by @scienmag

<< Change begins at the end of your comfort zone >> @scienmag 8 Gen 2017 18:00

https://mobile.twitter.com/scienmag/status/818276109561331712