Researchers have discovered that the brain saves energy by predicting what it is likely to see. According to scientists in the Department of Psychology at the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany, the visual cortex does not simply react to visual stimuli but proactively predicts what it is likely to see in any given context – for example, within familiar environments such as your house or office.

And once we hear about a study that concludes the brain hears what it wants to hear, we”ll have a complete explanation for the alternate reality experienced by MSNBC’s David Shuster.

From David Shuster of MSNBC:

President Obama is the first ever African-American to hold the nation’s highest office, and now he’s the first President to be openly heckled during an address to a joint session of Congress.

Every president faces scathing criticism from the fanatical fringe, but this at least feels different.

First black President, first to be heckled. Ergo, heckler = racist. Got it. (This is pretty easy– I could get used to this!)

And if that logic doesn’t hold up, David Shuster has “feelings.” And I’ve watched enough MSNBC to know how this works– his feelings trump your facts.

Via News Busters.