Who does the talking when you think?

When I think I use language to form my thoughts. In a sense I'm having a conversation with myself. Does anybody else function that way? During that inner monologue do you hear a voice, or is that process voiceless, more abstract?

Some people tell me that they form mental pictures instead of "talking".

How does your brain work?

hey guys, i'm bored..

when i think, this guy, this guy, this guy, and this guy do the talking..

I think every one thinks with their native language. In a way language holds us back. Imagine if you wear taught not to think with words but with images or "video", but then again in the end if you wanted to tell some one what you are seeing you would have to form it into some kind of language. I wonder if we will ever get to see technology witch would let us communicate directly, with our minds.

Originally posted by Infi8nity
I think every one thinks with their native language. In a way language holds us back. Imagine if you wear taught not to think with words but with images or "video", but then again in the end if you wanted to tell some one what you are seeing you would have to form it into some kind of language. I wonder if we will ever get to see technology witch would let us communicate directly, with our minds.

"took the words right out of my mouth, must've been while you were telepashing me" -meatloaf

reply to post by AllIsOne

Sometimes I think we are surrogates for other lifeforms from another dimension maybe, in a highly speculative sense of course.
Who said that?

Originally posted by speculativeoptimist
reply to post by AllIsOne

 

Sometimes I think we are surrogates for other lifeforms from another dimension maybe, in a highly speculative sense of course.
Who said that?

hehe, you did silly xD

this "other" lifeform has a name. it's called brain!

reply to post by Infi8nity


I wouldn't want telepathy.thoughts are messy and require a lot of control at times. Thinking BEFORE speaking is a blessing. Without it, there'd be a lot of appologizing, for crass thoughts or mispoken things. People would have to be more humble and patient for sure.

Also, something I've noticed as I try to quiet the inner monologue, is that when I pay attention, I notice that thoughts don't take the time to occur that they seem to. The quieter it gets the close I am to noticing that thought is merely translated intent, and intent is a flash, an instant. Like seeing a dot of light and understanding an entire sentence or idea, before it becomes "inner monologue".

Developmentally, inner dialogue begins between ages 6-9. If you've ever watched a young child reading, you know they can't "hear" themselves unless they literally make sounds.

Inner dialogue is simply a form of metacognition (thinking about your own thinking). It's very normal.

Originally posted by smyleegrl
Developmentally, inner dialogue begins between ages 6-9. If you've ever watched a young child reading, you know they can't "hear" themselves unless they literally make sounds.

Inner dialogue is simply a form of metacognition (thinking about your own thinking). It's very normal.

So, if it's "thinking about your own thinking" who does the thinking? Am I confusing you, or am I confused ...

Originally posted by AllIsOne
When I think I use language to form my thoughts. In a sense I'm having a conversation with myself. Does anybody else function that way? During that inner monologue do you hear a voice, or is that process voiceless, more abstract?

Some people tell me that they form mental pictures instead of "talking".

How does your brain work?

I've been trying to think of ways to bring this next article to ATS, and you just provide the perfect means...

This has to do with language and thought...

Thinking in a Foreign Language Helps Economic Decision-Making
www.sciencedaily.com...

ScienceDaily (Apr. 25, 2012) — In a study with implications for businesspeople in a global economy, researchers at the University of Chicago have found that people make more rational decisions when they think through a problem in a non-native tongue.

This is very interesting article and I highly suggest checking it out...

Another thing that I have only touched based on... and was in regards to the evolution of communication and consciousness, in reference towards the writing of ancient texts...

Bicameralism (the philosophy of "two-chamberedness") is a hypothesis in psychology that argues that the human brain once assumed a state in which cognitive functions were divided between one part of the brain which appears to be "speaking", and a second part which listens and obeys—a bicameral mind. The term was coined by psychologist Julian Jaynes, who presented the idea in his 1976 book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, wherein he made the case that a bicameral mentality was the normal and ubiquitous state of the human mind as recently as 3000 years ago.

Bicameralism (psychology)
en.wikipedia.org...

Just thought I'd drop in with some relating, interesting information...

Hope yall enjoyed...

reply to post by TheQuantumAnomaly

Also, something I've noticed as I try to quiet the inner monologue, is that when I pay attention, I notice that thoughts don't take the time to occur that they seem to. The quieter it gets the close I am to noticing that thought is merely translated intent, and intent is a flash, an instant. Like seeing a dot of light and understanding an entire sentence or idea, before it becomes "inner monologue".

I've noticed this myself. There is a lot going on "under the hood" before it becomes conscious. Makes one wonder about free will?

reply to post by MESSAGEFROMTHESTARS


Thanks.

reply to post by AllIsOne


Glad to know I'm not the only one. I dont talk about it much, but I've gone pretty deep as far as my own personal development and meditations go. I'm by no means a master of anything, but I am curious about a lot. It can get scarry too, seeing how very big the world could be.

One of the hardest things to do for me is to read or write without thinking the words as I see them or want to write them. I can know what they mean without using my inner dialouge, but I find that as I do it, the further I go without thinking, the more my perception of the world changes. I realize that I am but a child, and that there is much more to learn in life than what is in the books, more to learn than anyone can tell you or teach you. That there are many MANY layers under the hood.

Who does the talking when you think?

Morgan Freeman

He also narrates my life. He gets annoying sometimes, Drinks all my beer, leaves the seat up. I caught him several times surfing porn. I've asked him repeatedly to leave. He wont listen. He just keeps jabbering on about what I'm doing. He's talking about me typing this reply out. He wont shut up.


He also snores.

Who does the talking when you think?

Slayer69

Originally posted by TheQuantumAnomaly
reply to post by AllIsOne

 

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I dont talk about it much, but I've gone pretty deep as far as my own personal development and meditations go. I'm by no means a master of anything, but I am curious about a lot. It can get scarry too, seeing how very big the world could be.

One of the hardest things to do for me is to read or write without thinking the words as I see them or want to write them. I can know what they mean without using my inner dialouge, but I find that as I do it, the further I go without thinking, the more my perception of the world changes. I realize that I am but a child, and that there is much more to learn in life than what is in the books, more to learn than anyone can tell you or teach you. That there are many MANY layers under the hood.

Absolutely! When you think within language you are already limited by what others have defined. A child is free to go where no adult can ... But one of the problems is to communicate your experience to others. By definition it is impossible without using language.

Actually, I was wrong about the last sentence. I believe that the "arts" are able to say much more than language. I.e. MUSIC !

Good luck on your journey.

reply to post by AllIsOne



What if the talking in your head says things you sometimes dissagree with and says things to interupt your thinking? Sometimes gives advice, sometimes tells me to do things i do not like and interupts my train of thought. So i am confused when you ask that question who does the talking when you think because sometimes talking in my head is there and sometimes not and usually the other talk is a different tone than the one i use when i think about things. The other one now says, NANA, NANA, BOO, BOO.

a therapist told me it was my inner child and my fathers voices

they don't get along, lol

Originally posted by cloaked4u
reply to post by AllIsOne

 

What if the talking in your head says things you sometimes dissagree with and says things to interupt your thinking? Sometimes gives advice, sometimes tells me to do things i do not like and interupts my train of thought. So i am confused when you ask that question who does the talking when you think because sometimes talking in my head is there and sometimes not and usually the other talk is a different tone than the one i use when i think about things. The other one now says, NANA, NANA, BOO, BOO.

Not sure if you're serious, but I'll bite ... lol.

Yes, sometimes I can hear the two sides of my brain argue in the same head I think everybody has that experience. "Oh, I'd love that ice cream" - "No, you don't because you gotta watch your cholesterol ... ". It's fun to have two brain hemispheres, but it's also annoying as hell because I want to eat ice cream all the time.

Is this normal? Just wondering cuz this been that way ever since i turned 9 years old.