Explore every episode of the podcast Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone
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| BS 214 Seventeenth Annual Review Episode | 15 Dec 2023 | 00:52:27 | |
This is the 17th Annual Review episode of Brain Science, celebrating the first episode which aired on December 15, 2006. We review the highlights of 2023, which included both new guests and the return of several favorites. Episodes Released in 2023:
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| BS 213 Kevin Mitchell explores Free Will | 27 Oct 2023 | 01:26:15 | |
In the this episode of Brain Science we talk with neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell about his new book Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will. While many neuroscientists and philosophers argue that free will is an illusion, Mitchell argues that the ability to make meaningful choices is part of our evolutionary heritage. He also addresses the important issue of determinism, siding with those physicists who argue that the fundamental nature of our universe is NOT deterministic. These issues are crucial to how we see ourselves and others. Links and References:
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| BS 204 Guy Caldwell: The Role of Molecular Biology in Neuroscience | 27 Jan 2023 | 01:15:59 | |
This month's episode is an encore presentation of an interview with Dr. Guy Caldwell from the University of Alabama. Dr. Caldwell explains how tools from molecular biology make it possible to use the famous C. Elegans roundworm to improve our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease. Dr. Caldwell will return to Brain Science next month to give us an update on his work. Links and References:
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| Extra: Why Animal Emotions Matter | 15 Feb 2013 | 01:02:01 | |
This episode is a followup interview with Dr. Jaak Panksepp, pioneer of Affective Neuroscience. In a recent episode of the Brain Science Podcast we talked with Dr. Panksepp about his latest book "The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions." In this episode of Books and Ideas we talk about the implications of his research with a focus on how learning that we share basic emotional circuits with other mammals should influence how we treat the animals in our lives. Click here for complete show notes or visit bookandideas.com. Click here for free episode transcript. Send email feedback to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com. The main brain website is http://brainsciencepodcast.com. | |||
| BSP 92 Neuroscience Review with Transcript | 28 Dec 2012 | 00:40:17 | |
Episode 92 is the Sixth Annual Review Episode of the Brain Science Podcast. If you have been listening all year you will find this is a great way to revisit and remember some highlights and key ideas. IF you are a new listener this episode provides a nice overview of 2012, which included 10 interviews and 2 additional book reviews. Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for links to all the episodes and the free episode transcripts. | |||
| Extra: Terrence Deacon on Books and Ideas | 16 Jul 2012 | 01:06:51 | |
Episode 47 of Books and Ideas is being released simultaneously in the Brain Science Podcast feed. It is an interview with Terrence Deacon, PhD., author of "Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter." We talk about the ongoing quest to explain the emergence of life, mind, and purpose using the known laws of physics (with out the need for any supernatural extras). Click here for complete show notes or visit booksandideas.com. Click here for free episode transcript. You can send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or post feed on the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook. | |||
| BSP 83: William Uttal: Is brain imaging the new phrenology? | 23 Mar 2012 | 01:03:36 | |
Episode 83 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with William Uttal, PhD, author of "Mind and Brain: A Critical Appraisal of Cognitive Neuroscience." We look critically at the current role of brain imaging and why it falls short as a tool for unraveling the mystery of how mind emerges from the brain. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://brainsciencepodcast.com/. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com. She is also @docartemis on Twitter. | |||
| BSP 80 Fifth Annual Review Episode with transcript | 30 Dec 2011 | 00:43:51 | |
In BSP 80 we look back at Year 5 of the Brain Science Podcast. We also reflect on what we have learned about brain health. This episode contains useful information for both new listeners and long-time fans. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://brainsciencepodcast.com/. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com. She is also @docartemis on Twitter. | |||
| BSP Extra: Cognitive Dissonance with Dr. Carol Tavris | 04 Oct 2011 | 00:56:01 | |
I am putting Episode 43 of Books and Ideas into the Brain Science Podcast feed because it should be of interest to BSP fans. This episode is an interview with Carol Tavris, PhD, co-author of . We talk about the relationship between psychology and neuroscience as well as cognitive dissonance, which is the subject of Dr. Tavris's recent book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. For detailed show notes including references go to http://brainsciencepodcast.com. Click here for free episode transcript. Send feedback to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com. | |||
| Extra: Vaccines Save Lives! | 31 Jan 2009 | 00:57:30 | |
I have included Episode 25 of Books and Ideas in the feed for the Brain Science Podcast because it is a discussion of the alleged connection between vaccines and autism. In this episode I interview Dr. Paul Offit, author of "Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure." Despite overwhelming scientific evidence against a relationship between vaccines and autism, vaccine opponents continue to frighten and confuse parents. Meanwhile we are beginning to see the re-emergence of preventable and potentially life-threatening diseases among the increasing numbers of unvaccinated children.
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| BSP-52: 2nd Annual Review Episode | 19 Dec 2008 | 00:50:29 | |
Episode 52 of the Brain Science Podcast is our Second Annual Review Episode. We review the highlights of 2008 and also talk briefly about our plans for 2009. The episode is aimed at all listeners, but should be especially helpful for newer listeners because there is an extensive discussion of the other on-line resources available to listeners including our website and Discussion Forum. | |||
| PROMO for Books and Ideas Podcast | 26 Apr 2008 | 00:01:24 | |
This is a brief promo to remind you to check out my other podcast Books and Ideas. Episode 19 is an interview with Dan Ariely best-selling author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. | |||
| BSP-27: Year-end Review for 2007 | 28 Dec 2007 | 00:26:21 | |
#27 Brain Science Podcast: This episode is a brief review of the first year of the Brain Science Podcast. I review some of the major topics that we have explored including memory, consciousnesses, decision-making, body maps, and plasticity. Then we look ahead to next year. | |||
| BS 203 Sixteenth Anniversary of Brain Science | 23 Dec 2022 | 01:18:29 | |
This month's episode (BS 203) celebrates the 16th Anniversary of Brain Science with the annual review episode. This is a listener favorite providing highlights and key ideas from the episodes of Brain Science that were posted in 2022. Topics included hearing, grief, emotion, embodied cognition, consciousness and more. Note: This month's episode transcript is FREE. Please Visit Our Sponsors:
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| BS 202 Is Meditation Mind Science? with Evan Thompson | 25 Nov 2022 | 00:53:08 | |
The idea that meditation is a "mind science" is popular, but in this interview Canadian philosopher Evan Thompson argues that this claim does not stand up to either scientific or philosophical scrutiny. As one of the pioneers of the Embodied Cognition movement Thompson reminds us that the Mind is not restricted to the Brain and we must also consider how other recent discoveries in neuroscience fail to support the claim that meditation provides neutral scientific insight into how the Mind really works. Links and References:
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| BS 201 Brain Development with Bill Harris | 28 Oct 2022 | 01:08:49 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with WA (Bill) Harris, author of Zero to Birth: How the Human Brain Is Built. We explore how the human brain develops from the fertilized egg up until birth. There are some surprises along the way, including the fact that we actually have more neurons before we are born than we will ever have again! Links and References:
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| BS 200 Embodied Cognition in Education with Sheila Macrine and Jennifer Fugate | 23 Sep 2022 | 01:18:55 | |
This month's episode is a discussion with the editors of a fascinating new book Movement Matters: How Embodied Cognition Informs Teaching and Learning. We explore how embodied cognition challenges long standing dualist approaches to both cognition and learning. Sheila Macrine and Jennifer Fugate also share some of the innovative approaches that improve both how we teach and how we learn. Links and References:
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| BS 199: Batja Mesquita on Cultural Origins of Emotion | 26 Aug 2022 | 01:02:41 | |
This month's episode is an interview with Batja Mesquita, author of "Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions." This is an important book because it describes the evidence that Emotions are not just something people experience "from the inside out," but they also occur between people, which means that culture plays a critical role. We also explore why it is important to appreciate why people from from different cultures may experience emotions in surprisingly different ways. Links and References:
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| BS 198 Embodied Cognition with Evan Thompson | 22 Jul 2022 | 00:56:12 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is a free encore playing of my interview with Evan Thompson about his book Mind in Life: Biology, Phenomenology, and the Sciences of Mind. We discuss how the enactive approach to embodied cognition offers potential clues to the mystery of how the brain can generate Consciousness. A free episode transcript is also available. This is the 2nd of two free encore episodes that are being shared to give listeners a taste of the diverse content available to Premium subscribers. Premium subscribers have access to over 100 additional episodes of Brain Science along with episode transcripts. The embodied cognition movement is an approach within cognitive neuroscience that includes philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists and computer scientists. The key idea is that cognition, which includes thinking and decision-making, is inseparable from embodiment. This is not just because it requires sensory inputs to the brain, but also because moving in the world is a key component. Thus embodied cognition does not see this as a passive input/output process, but as something that requires constant interaction with the world via the body. Links and References:
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| BS 197 (Encore) Neuroscience for Dummies with Frank Amthor | 20 Jun 2022 | 01:03:54 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features an encore playing of my interview with Dr. Frank Amthor, author of Neuroscience for Dummies and Neurobiology for Dummies. It is a great episode for newbies and will be a good review for longtime listeners. This is a FREE sample of my Premium content and the episode transcript is also FREE. Links and References:
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| BS 196 Consciousness with Hakwan Lau | 27 May 2022 | 00:56:16 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with Hakwan Lau, author of In Consciousness we Trust: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Subjective Experience. Lau talks about shortcomings in current theories about how the brain generates consciousness, but he also introduces something he calls perceptual reality monitoring. Although this is a somewhat technical discussion it is accessible to listeners who are new to the neuroscience of consciousness. Links and References:
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| BS 195 Neuroscience of Emotion with David Anderson | 22 Apr 2022 | 01:11:26 | |
This month's episode is an interview with David J Anderson from Cal Tech. We talk about his new book The Nature of the Beast: How Emotions Guide US. We talk about how emotion CAN be studied in animals by using methods that focus on brain states rather than verbal descriptions. Dr. Anderson also explains why this experimental work is essential to developing more effective treatment of mental illnesses. This episode is a follow up to my discussion of The Neuroscience of Emotion: A New Synthesis by Ralph Adolphs and David J. Anderson in BS 151 (2018) Links and References:
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| BS 212 Thomas Metzinger on "The Ego Tunnel" (Encore) | 22 Sep 2023 | 01:06:36 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features Thomas Metzinger, author of "The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self." Metzinger is a philosopher with a longstanding interest in Philosophy of Mind with a focus on incorporating the findings of neuroscience. We discuss the implications of the discovery that consciousness is a biological process generated by the interaction of the brain, body, and external world. Metzinger also emphasized the importance of considering altered states including dreaming, out of body experiences, and even virtual reality. Links and References:
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| BS 194 Mary-Frances O'Connor, author of "The Grieving Brain" | 25 Mar 2022 | 00:54:01 | |
The neuroscience of grief and grieving is a relatively new field, but one that offers practical discoveries for people of all backgrounds. This month we talk with Mary-Frances O’Connor, author of The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How we Learn from Love and Loss. We talk about what has been learned from a variety of approaches, including both brain imaging and, surprisingly even from animal studies. We learn why it is so hard for our brains to accept the loss of a loved one and this work offers hope for helping those who struggle with prolonged or complicated grief. The incredible loss of life cause by the COVID pandemic makes this work especially timely. Links and References:
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| BS 193 "Embodied Mind:" What does this mean? | 25 Feb 2022 | 00:17:54 | |
In this month's episode of Brain Science I explore two big picture questions: What does it mean to claim that the Mind is "embodied?" and How does this change our understanding of our place in the world? The conversation was inspired by the book "Out of the Cave: A Natural Philosophy of Mind and Knowing" by Mark L Johnson and Donald M Tucker. This episode builds on several previous discussions of "embodied cognition" so it might be challenging to newer listeners. I have included a list of these earlier episodes below. Links and References:
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| BS 192 Nina Kraus talks about Sound and the Brain | 28 Jan 2022 | 00:53:15 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with Nina Kraus, author of "Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World." Dr. Kraus has spent 30 years exploring how the brain processes sound. We explore why sound processing involves much more that just the auditory cortex as well how the sounds we experience change our brains, both for better and for worse. Links and References:
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| BS 191 15th Annual Review Episode | 22 Dec 2021 | 01:20:21 | |
This is our 15th annual review episode, which highlights the guests and key ideas we have shared in 2021. Interviews included return visits from Jeff Hawkins and David Eagleman. New guests including Anil Seth and Antonio Damasio, who both emphasized the importance of our bodies (not just our brains) in understanding Consciousness. Available soon: Free Transcript! Full Episode List: BS 180 Bruce Goldstein, author of The Mind: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain BS 181 Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, author of The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention BS 182 Iris Berent, author of The Blind Storyteller: How We Reason About Human Nature BS 183 Jeff Hawkins, author A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence BS 184 Mark Solms, author The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Origins of Consciousness BS 185 Stephen Fleming, author of Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness BS 186 Mark Humphries, author of The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds BS 187 David Eagleman, author of Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain BS 188 Anil Seth, author of Being You: A New Science of Consciousness BS 189 Antonio Damasio, author of Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious BS 190 David Badre, author of On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done Please Visit Our Sponsors:
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| BS 190 How our Brain gets things done with David Badre | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:56:27 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features David Badre, author of "On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done." He gives us an overview of recent research in the field of cognitive control, which has has actually overturned some popular assumptions about things like willpower. Our focus is on the practical implications of this research. Links and References:
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| BS 189 Antonio Damasio, author of "Feeling and Knowing" | 29 Oct 2021 | 00:52:50 | |
Neurologist and best-selling author Antonio Damasio is one of our most requested guests. This month we finally had the opportunity to talk about his newest book "Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious," which he explained is somewhat different from his previous efforts. His goal was to write something "briefer" and more accessible. Thus it is definitely a book that requires no background in neuroscience. The key theme is that feelings and emotions are foundational aspects of Consciousness. Links and References:
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| BS 188 Anil Seth on Consciousness | 24 Sep 2021 | 01:14:44 | |
BS 188 features neuroscientist Anil Seth discussing his new book "Being You: A New Science of Consciousness." We have had many guests talk about consciousness, but Seth represents the newer generation who have actually been able to devote their careers to this fundamental question: How does the brain generate conscious experience. His perspective is both practical and illuminating. Links and References:
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| BS 187 David Eagleman on his new book "LiveWired" | 27 Aug 2021 | 00:52:38 | |
BS 187 features bestselling author and neuroscientist David Eagleman. We talk about his latest book "Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain." It is a great overview of the current science of brain plasticity appropriate for both new listeners and longtime fans. Links and References:
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| BS 186 Mark Humphries author of "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds" | 23 Jul 2021 | 00:48:54 | |
This month's episode features Mark Humphries, author of "The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds." We explore how the brain uses electrical signaling in surprising ways, beginning with a look at how an action potential (aka. "the spike") is produced. Then we consider what Humphries calls "the dark neurons," which are neurons that rarely generate spikes. We explore their role and also how it relates to the brain's spontaneous activity. One of the more surprising recent discoveries in neuroscience is that most of the brain's activity does not appear to be caused by external stimuli. It is not a passive receiver of information and this has profound implications for our understanding of things like how the brain generates conscious experience. This episode is for listeners of all backgrounds. Links and References:
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| BS 185 Stephen Fleming on "the neuroscience of self-awareness" | 25 Jun 2021 | 01:22:19 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with Dr. Stephen Fleming, author of "Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness." We explore the concept of metacognition and learn that while explicit metacognition (thinking about thinking) may be unique to humans, it is built on building blocks shared with other species. We also explore what can go wrong and why it matters. Special Offer: sign up for free newsletter and get a Free Gift Links and References:
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| BS 211 Molecular Biologist Seth Grant | 25 Aug 2023 | 01:10:15 | |
This episode of Brain Science features the return of molecular biologist Seth Grant. We briefly review his decades of research into the complexity of the protein structure of the synapse and then we focus on his most recent paper, which describes how the life-span of synapse proteins appears to change as animals age. Grant reflects of the significance of this finding both for animal research and human medicine. Papers discussed in this episode:
Seth Grant has previously appeared on Brain Science several times including BSP 51, BSP 101, BS 137, BSP 150 and BS 176.
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| BS 184 Mark Solms, author of "The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness" | 28 May 2021 | 01:09:02 | |
In this month's episode of Brain Science, neuroscientist Mark Solms talks about his new book "The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Origins of Consciousness." Solms was inspired by the pioneering work of Jaak Panksepp who argued that the origins of consciousness can be traced to the brainstem. In his new book Solms presents the evidence for this viewpoint and explains how the work of computational neuroscientist Karl Friston has provided additional support. We consider the implications for our understanding of both human consciousness and our appreciation for the consciousness of other animals. Links and References:
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| BS 183 Jeff Hawkins shares his new theory of Intelligence | 23 Apr 2021 | 01:03:12 | |
Jeff Hawkins has spent nearly twenty years on a quest to discover how the brain's cortex generates intelligence. In this episode he talks about his new book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence, which describes some of his most recent research in a way that is accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Links and References:
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| BS 182 Iris Berent author of "The Blind Storyteller" | 26 Mar 2021 | 01:01:04 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features Iris Berent, author of "The Blind Storyteller: How We Reason About Human Nature." We explore how our deeply entrenched biases toward dualism and essentialism impact our attitudes toward neuroscience and toward problems like mental illness. Links and References:
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| BS 181 Sir Simon Baron-Cohen | 26 Feb 2021 | 00:44:33 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the world's leading researchers on the neuroscience of autism. We discuss his latest book "The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention." This book reminds us that many different kinds of science can enrich our lives and our understanding of what it means to be human. Sir Baron-Cohen explores the overlap between the human ability to invent and experiment and the condition that is currently called autism. Autism is often seen as a deficit in social cognition or empathy, but Baron-Cohen shows convincingly that there is a significant overlap between autism and what he calls extreme systemizing. Because systemizing or pattern recognition drives the human ability to constantly invent new technologies, it appears to compliment social skills such as empathy. Sir Baron-Cohen share the evidence that people tend to be stronger in one area or the other. Most importantly, he emphasizes that autism is not necessarily a disabling condition because those with extremely strong pattern recognition skills can make many valuable contributions.Links and References:
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| BS 180 E Bruce Goldstein | 22 Jan 2021 | 00:59:48 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with neuroscientists E. Bruce Goldstein, author of "The Mind: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain." We review some key ideas about how the brain creates the Mind, the important role of unconscious processes and prediction. It is a great starter episode for new listeners and a concise review for longtime fans. Links and References:
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| BS 179 14th Annual Review Episode | 25 Dec 2020 | 00:51:43 | |
It's time for our 14th Annual Review Episode! Despite the challenges of 2020, it has been an outstanding year for Brain Science: the show passed 11 million downloads and Dr. Campbell released of second edition of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty. This episode is also a great introduction for new listeners. It can be enjoyed even if you haven’t listened to the episodes being discussed. A free transcript is also available for this episode. Here is a list of this year's episodes:
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| BS 178 Peter Sterling | 27 Nov 2020 | 00:21:40 | |
This month's episode of Brain Science features neuroscientist Peter Sterling sharing the key ideas for his new book What Is Health? Allostasis and the Evolution of Human Design. In recent years neuroscientists have developed a growing appreciation of the predictive functions of the brain. Sterling takes this principle to the next level by asking what this means for human health. He argues that medicine's traditional focus on homeostasis ignores the much larger role of what he calls allostasis, which is a word he actually coined many years ago to capture the idea that the brain's predictive function is critical to health. His book explores the ancient origins of both allostasis and homeostasis with an emphasis on why recent changes in the human life style contribute to the health problems of modern life. One goal of this episode is to remind listeners that understanding how the brain works may be the key to our future survival. Links and References:
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| BS 177 Bernard Baars with David Edelman | 23 Oct 2020 | 00:57:38 | |
Bernard Baars is a pioneer in the neuroscience of consciousness. He first proposed Global Workspace Theory back in 1980, which was before consciousness was considered an acceptable topic of scientific research. His approach inspired others including the current Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, which I discussed briefly in episode 160. This episode is an interview with Dr. Baars that focuses on his most recent book On Consciousness. He is joined by his colleague David Edelman. Links and References:
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| BS 176 Seth Grant on Synapse Complexity | 25 Sep 2020 | 01:26:32 | |
This is my fifth interview with molecular biologist and neuroscientist Dr. Seth Grant from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Grant was recently recognized for his pioneering work by the Federation of European Neuroscientists. He continues to make fundamental discoveries about the structure and function of the synapse and this month we discuss the discovery that synapse complexity and diversity is greater than expected, along with the implications of these discoveries. Links and References:
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| BS 175 Carol Tavris explains Cognitive Dissonance | 28 Aug 2020 | 01:03:26 | |
This extremely timely episode of Brain Science features an interview with Dr. Carol Tavris, co-author of the newly released third edition of Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. Cognitive Dissonance was actually discovered back in 1956 and it is one of the most well-replicated phenomena in experimental psychology. It also impacts many aspects of our lives, including politics, which is why I am grateful to have Dr. Tavris back on the podcast to help us explore this fascinating, but also disturbing topic. Links and References:
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| BS 210 Introduction to Neurotransmitters | 28 Jul 2023 | 01:06:48 | |
This episode is our first review of neurotransmitters since episode 8 way back in 2007. We start with some basics of neuron function and brain anatomy, but the meat of the episode is a discussion of neurotransmitters and how they work. The key idea is that a simple molecule, such as dopamine, can have a wide variety of effects because of the existence of multiple receptors. This episode is appropriate for listeners of all backgrounds, but might be a little challenging for new listeners. It will be a review episode for longtime listeners and those with backgrounds in neuroscience. Links and References:
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| BS 174 Georg Northoff, author of "The Spontaneous Brain" | 24 Jul 2020 | 01:11:01 | |
BS 174 is an interview with neuroscientist and philosopher Georg Northoff about his fascinating book "The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem." We explore the significance of the growing evidence that most of the brain's activity occurs independently of external stimuli with a focus on the implications of this finding for our understanding of how the brain generates consciousness. Links and References:
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| BS 173 Exploring the Unconscious Origins Of Certainty | 26 Jun 2020 | 01:07:20 | |
In this special episode of Brain Science host Dr Ginger Campbell reads an excerpt from her bestseller "Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origin of Certainty." While it might seem ironic to talk about certainty during these extremely uncertain times, understanding how our brain generates the feeling of knowing or certainty is actually more relevant than ever. Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty is based on several early episodes of Brain Science and highlights the work of retired neurologist Dr. Robert Burton. Both physicians are fascinated by the surprising discovery that most of what our brain does is outside conscious awareness. They explore the evidence behind this claim as well as its implications. Ultimately they agree that this discovery could encourage us all to have more compassion and tolerance for both ourselves and others.
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| BS 172 "The Brain from the Inside Out" with György Buzsáki | 22 May 2020 | 01:11:18 | |
In this episode I talk with neuroscientist György Buzsáki about his new book The Brain from Inside Out. We explore how abandoning what he calls the "Outside In" approach to understanding the brain can lead to surprising new insights.
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| BS 171 Matthew Cobb, author of "The Idea of the Brain" | 24 Apr 2020 | 01:12:20 | |
This episode of Brain Science is an interview with neuroscientist Matthew Cobb author of "The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience." Cobb approaches the history of neuroscience from a different perspective than previous writers. He writes from the perspective of a working scientist with a deep interest in the history of ideas and the interaction between science and culture. This approach makes for a fascinating discussion. Through out history assumptions about the brain have been influenced by both culture and contemporary science. For example, before the discovery of electricity it was impossible to image that the brain uses both chemical and electrical signals to communicate. Similarly, our current understanding is heavily influenced by the computer metaphor, which actually misses much about how real brains function. Another aspect of our discussion involves several ongoing debates with neuroscience such as the importance of localization versus network properties. We also touch on the tendency toward neuromythology, which is the tendency to think that understanding the brain is the only tool for understanding what it means to be human. Dr. Cobb reminds of the importance of being aware of the work in a wide varieties of fields include science and the humanities. Links and References:
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| BS 170 Numbers in the Brain with Andreas Nieder | 27 Mar 2020 | 01:14:00 | |
BS 170 is an interview with Andreas Nieder, author of "A Brain for Numbers: The Biology of the Number Instinct." We talk about the surprising discovery that a wide variety of animals have a number instinct, which is called the approximate number system. This appears to provide the basis for the more abstract mathematical abilities that are seen in humans. We also explore the relationship between mathematics and language. Links and References:
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