Brain fart
Encyclopedia
A brain fart is slang
for a special kind of abnormal brain activity which results in human error
while performing a repetitive task, or more generally denoting a degree of mental laxity or any task-related forgetfulness, such as forgetting how to hold a fork. Tom Eichele, a neuroscientist
at the University of Bergen
in Norway
, was part of an international team of researchers who identified activity detectable in brain scans up to 30 seconds before a mistake, which could be referred to as a brain fart, occurs. The researchers suspect the abnormal behavior is the result of the brain attempting to save effort on a task by entering a more restful state'. The scientists detailed their findings on 21 April 2008 online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
. The scientific term they gave the phenomenon is "maladaptive brain activity change."
The term is typically employed in the United States
to indicate a regrettable and poorly thought out choice of action. According to Philadelphia Flyers
defenseman Denis Gauthier
a brainfart occurs when one "momentarily loses his sense of logic…and does something 'dumb'."
A further clarification comes from investigative journalist Louie Pierson, who proffers that while accident
s are preventable, "brain farts are unpredictable, unpreventable and universal", and advances the theory that Mother Nature
had "added the unfathomable minor irritant of the brain fart as a failsafe backup."
The derivation of the term may be related to the term "brain infarction," however a more likely etiology is the direct comparison of the episode of forgetfulness escaping one's brain without check to the accidental production of flatus.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for a special kind of abnormal brain activity which results in human error
Human Error
Human Error is the stage name of Rafał Kuczynski , a polish electronic musician, working mostly in the ambient music genre, produced only with a computer...
while performing a repetitive task, or more generally denoting a degree of mental laxity or any task-related forgetfulness, such as forgetting how to hold a fork. Tom Eichele, a neuroscientist
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist is an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience or any of its related sub-fields...
at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, was part of an international team of researchers who identified activity detectable in brain scans up to 30 seconds before a mistake, which could be referred to as a brain fart, occurs. The researchers suspect the abnormal behavior is the result of the brain attempting to save effort on a task by entering a more restful state'. The scientists detailed their findings on 21 April 2008 online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences...
. The scientific term they gave the phenomenon is "maladaptive brain activity change."
The term is typically employed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to indicate a regrettable and poorly thought out choice of action. According to Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
defenseman Denis Gauthier
Denis Gauthier
Denis Gauthier, Jr. is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. A first round selection of the Calgary Flames at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Gauthier played for the Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings during his ten season National Hockey League ...
a brainfart occurs when one "momentarily loses his sense of logic…and does something 'dumb'."
A further clarification comes from investigative journalist Louie Pierson, who proffers that while accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
s are preventable, "brain farts are unpredictable, unpreventable and universal", and advances the theory that Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
had "added the unfathomable minor irritant of the brain fart as a failsafe backup."
The derivation of the term may be related to the term "brain infarction," however a more likely etiology is the direct comparison of the episode of forgetfulness escaping one's brain without check to the accidental production of flatus.
Another use
The term may also be used to inelegantly refer to a situation in which one speaks out of turn. Lexicologists demur, preferring the definition of "losing one's train of thought".See also
- Highway hypnosisHighway hypnosisHighway hypnosis, also popularly known as driving without attention mode or white line fever, is a mental state in which a person can drive a truck or automobile great distances, responding to external events in the expected manner with no recollection of having consciously done so...
- Transcranial magnetic stimulationTranscranial magnetic stimulationTranscranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive method to cause depolarization or hyperpolarization in the neurons of the brain...
- MetacognitionMetacognitionMetacognition is defined as "cognition about cognition", or "knowing about knowing." It can take many forms; it includes knowledge about when and how to use particular strategies for learning or for problem solving...
- Brain freezeBrain freezeAn ice-cream headache, also known as brain freeze, cold-stimulus headache, or its given scientific name sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia , is a form of brief cranial pain or headache commonly associated with consumption of cold beverages or foods such as ice cream and popsicles...
- Senior moment
- Tip of the tongueTip of the tongueThe tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is the failure to retrieve a word from memory, combined with partial recall and the feeling that retrieval is imminent...