What The Bourne Films Get Right And Wrong About Amnesia

Not quite an amnesiac: a scene from ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’ Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures

By Jennifer Talarico, Lafayette College

In 2002’s “The Bourne Identity,” our protagonist wakes up having been shot and plucked, unconscious, from the Mediterranean on to a fishing boat with no memory of who he is or how he got there. From there, the movie franchise follows Jason Bourne as he recovers memories of past events and rediscovers his identity.

But, although Bourne’s amnesia at the start of the first film in the series is profound (and profoundly important to the unfolding story), we quickly learn that there are some things Bourne does remember from his past. For example, how to speak multiple languages, how to drive and how to fight. All of these are complex motor tasks that he learned before he was shot and fell in to the water.

This aspect of Bourne’s amnesia is actually quite accurate. For people with “organic” amnesia (where neurological memory loss is typically due to damage to the medial temporal lobes in the brain), memory for skills and habits is intact, even though other memories are lost. There is truth to the cliché that you never forget how to ride a bicycle.

Donny Trumpet Goes to the Election: Art Imitates Life in New Cautionary Tale

Donny Trumpet Goes To The Election by Nazan Saatci (PRNewsFoto/Nazan Saatci)

After four years of running Birdland, it's time for Black Bird to retire. Candidates flock to take his place, including the yuge yellow bird Donny Trumpet--and his presidency could have disastrous results for Birdland. That's the premise behind the new illustrated e-book Donny Trumpet Goes to the Election: The Story of a Yuge Yellow Bird, released this week by author and illustrator Nazan Saatci 

Let's Take A Stand Against Racism In The Media! [Petition]

Image via Avaaz.org

The Sun newspaper has launched a shocking attack on Channel 4 just because newsreader Fatima Manji reported on terrorism while wearing a headscarf. Fatima has already lodged a formal complaint -- let’s stand with her against racism and create the biggest ever mass complaint to the press watchdog. 

>> Click here to sign the petition 

How Do Horses Get To The Rio Olympic Games?

Horses bound for the Rio 2016 Olympic games are loaded onto an Emirates SkyCargo Being 777-F at London Stansted Airport. On the flight were 34 horses from 10 of the nations competing in Equestrian at Rio 2016" (FEI/Jon Stroud media) (PRNewsFoto/FEI)

By plane of course!

The first group of Olympic horses departed from London Stansted Airport (UK) a few days ago (29 July) on a special cargo plane bound for Rio 2016, marking the start of the Olympic dream for the world's best equine athletes.

With 34 horses from 10 nations on board, the equine cargo worth multiple millions, was loaded into customized pallets for the almost 12-hour flight aboard an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777-F which left the UK at 15:20 BST .

"Dear Dolly", An Open Letter To Dolly Parton, Made CMT World Video Premiere

Courtesy of Curb Records (PRNewsFoto/Curb Records)

Curb Records' rising star Ruthie Collins and CMT teamed up to premiere Collins' newest music video, "Dear Dolly" yesterday (29th of July) across CMT, CMT Music and CMT.com. The song, originally written by Ruthie, Natalie Stovall and Jessica Roadcap is self-described as "an open letter to Dolly Parton." 

Star Trek's Version Of Time Travel Is More Realistic Than Most Sci-Fi

© Paramount Pictures

By Lloyd Strickland, Manchester Metropolitan University

Star Trek Beyond may not have received a stellar critical response, but it can be said that it – and the franchise’s two previous films – handle the philosophy of time travel much better than many other works of science fiction.