From: tbrd	Date: September 11th, 2006 06:41 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Re: Why Don't Zombies Attack Each Other?

Have you considered the possibility of other, non-chemical methods of transmitting information, such as telepathy? For example, in the case of radiation-induced zombiism, the brain is considered to be somewhat modified in its process by the radiation. Perhaps this has secondary (or even primary) effects which allow the zombies a limited form of telepathy? Perhaps they are able to sense the living and dead as separate mental entities?

In the case of virally transmitted zombiism, a similar process could be at work. With the shutting down of the cortex, it may be possible to provide the brain with more energy in other areas which would allow basic telepathic communication.

This may also explain the desire of zombies to attack normal humans. An awareness of an innate difference in the minds of those around them may lead zombies to desire to eradicate this possibly disturbing influence from their minds?

Your point about hiding in cupboards and behind mirrors is a good one and does lead to some interesting problems with the above proposition, though not ones which cannot be easily solved.

Perhaps the telepathy is so weak as to be stopped by even materials such as wood? Most energies can be prevented by a simple barrier - what if these are similar in properties to light?

Alternatively, the lack of higher brain functions may be presumed to mean that the zombies are not capable of understanding the concept of the existance of something which they cannot see?

In 28 Days Later, this could possibly be refuted by the interaction with what was a soldier towards the end of the film, where it can be seen that the zombie has a dislike of its captors who were at the time off-screen.

	From: vexen	Date: September 11th, 2006 07:17 pm (UTC)		(Link)

1.
Human brain waves, like those of animals, are detected using EEG equipment etc, but, are very weak and barely pass through the skull; less than a cm of empty air is enough to completely attenuate them. Zombies would have to be (literally!) head to head if there was to be the remotest chance of brain waves from one brain touching those of another, and being detected.

We have tried to influence brainwaves with powerful magnets/eletric fields, and our brains do not react; no reaction either eletrically and no conscious detection of any kind, so, it seems unlikely that a massively weaker force (from another brain) could be detected... even if those fields did more than a few mm through air.

So, although it is tempting to say that zombies detect each other using 'telepathy' in order to solve an unknown, all we would be doing really is substituting one unknown for another; how and why would zombies be able to overcome these physical problems with detecting brain waves?

2. With the black chained-up soldier, I think that in 28 Days the zombies are hunters and they know, and remember, where their food is. The black zombie knows full well that all the food he wants, is just behind the door that he can't reach, so when his chain is broken, that's where he goes.

3. The lack of higher brain function causing the zombies apparent stupidity at finding the living who are concealed does make sense, as you say. This idea already has a precedent in developmental psychology. We can measure the excitation of a child's brain, and we know that when they see a certain object (anything), a particular spike occurs in their mind. When the object is concealed, the spike disappears and the child looses interest. Only at a certain point do they learn to seek an occulated item. Without this development, as could be the case with zombies, they simply don't know how to look for things. (But they can learn which generic direction food is in, or went, as in the case of the chained-up zombie).

From: (Anonymous)	Date: September 19th, 2006 02:38 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Zombies are dead bodies possessed by demons. The point, to terrorize and scare people into awe submission to Satanism.

From: (Anonymous)	Date: December 4th, 2006 10:14 pm (UTC)		(Link)
Anti-virus

[Quote;Vexen/]No zombie film has depicted a cure or vaccination against such a disease[Unquote/]

"Resident Evil 2; apocalypse" does have an anti-virus.

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