of your little finger and it contains approximately one
hundred and forty billion cells. That's an incredible
seventy 'percent of the total two hundred billion cells
that make up your complete biocomputer. It runs from
the top of the spinal cord to the middle of the brain. The
RAS is a very important component of the human
biocomputer. Very important! It is the coup-de-grace, the
crowning glory, the apex of the complete philosophy!
(Incidentally the RAS was discovered by Messrs
H. W. Magaun and G. Moruzzi, I personally wouldn't
call them messers, I'd say Doctor was more in line!)
One of the functions of the RAS is that it acts as the
filter of the mind. Let me give you an example. Suppose
you are driving your auto in heavy traffic. As an auto
comes toward you, at that moment in time it is the most
important thing in your life. However, the split second
the auto has gone past and is out of your field of vision,
it is no longer a threat and it is no longer necessary for
you to remember that vehicle. The RAS filters that
information out. It allows certain information to come
in and it filters out what is not necessary. If you were to
remember every auto that came toward you, you would
go mad in a very short space of time. Only information
that is really needed is allowed through to your
biocomputer.
If you live out by an airport, I doubt you ever notice
the sounds of the jets flying in and out, your RAS has
filtered out the noise, it is not important for you to hear.
Friends come over in the evening for drinks, and the
first thing they say is, "How can you put up with this
noise, it would drive me nuts?" They don't believe you
when you tell them you never hear a thing, but it's true.
Your RAS is doing a good job.
If you live out in the country, the local lads get out
their motorcycles on Sunday afternoon. The first time
you hear them it's bothersome, there is no second time