Some experts posit that the brain is Bayesian in nature. Bayes’ law is a mathematical law that describes the probability of an event happening after considering prior knowledge related to that event. The brain is said to be Bayesian because we update our beliefs when presented with new information. For example, when we see a dog snarling and barking at us, we believe that we’ll likely be attacked, but then believe this to be less true if we see another barking dog run up from behind us. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here