Hi mik1e,
As a Cogntive Scientist, with a foundation in Computer Science and Mathmatics, and having done my thesis on a Computational/Mathmatical model of Attention and Emotion, I was initially quite interested in participating in this thread, but did not due to an excessively high work load. University life is a lot tougher and more competitive than one might think.
However, since then, after having given the question some considerable thought I have decided that it is best if I do not, although I wish all the best to those who do so. I could have simply not bothered to reply or participate, but I thought that unfair, since I highly value this community and look forward to contributing to other debates herein. I guess my reasons are two fold:
1. I consider questions of brain, mind, attention, emotion etc. in a professional cognitive sense in my job (or at least I used to until recently, now I work more on accelerating learning), one to which I already give far too much of my time, and was attracted to this community precisely for its practical nature. There are lots of good online forums 'walking the walk' and 'talking the talk' on these questions, so there are lots of sources of information for those who are looking. For me, personally, what kept me coming back here, time and again, was its very non theoretical nature and the very supportive nature of its members. That is the part I wish to emphasise here, in my free time online; the very little I have.
2. I also wonder, in a general sense, of the role of science in these questions. This is not intended to seed a debate

. If one is well advanced on the path and wants to spend some free time reading about and debating questions of science and its role in understanding mind etc., instead of watching the TV, or drinking beer, then I would argue that is fine. However, the danger is for people who are considering meditating of have just started and get too attracted to these questions. I agree with other posts elsewhere in this forum that the ego has a big role in "thinking about these things", and while initially scientific explanations are seductive and gives one a sense of control, it is essentially fleeting... As someone who has worked with philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists, AI people, etc., I can say that understanding these things does nothing to reduce one's suffering. It would be better for newbies to just do it! as the TV commercial says, meditate I mean, as I myself am trying to do so, and leave the thinking until later.
Well, it is just my 2 cents. Look forward to contributing in other ways...
TT