Why We Dream: Defending Visual Cortex

Dr. David Eagleman, PhD, is a neuroscientist, bestselling author and professor at Stanford University. We discuss how to leverage the science of neuroplasticity to learn new skills and information and how accurate and false memories form and are forgotten. We also discuss time perception and why it speeds up or slows down depending on our age and stress level. We cover dreaming and the meaning of visual and other dream content. And we discuss the neuroscience of cultural and political polarization and how to remedy it. This episode provides science-based knowledge and practical tools you can use to enhance learning and better understand your experience of life in the past, present and future.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) David Eagleman

(00:02:35) Neuroplasticity & Learning; Cortex, Flexibility & Repurposing, Savantism

(00:11:07) Sponsors: Mateina & Rorra

(00:13:27) Specialization vs Diversification, Practice; Internet & Curiosity

(00:22:05) Building a Well-Rounded Brain, Tool: Critical Thinking & Creativity

(00:28:18) Neuroplasticity & Adults, Tools: Novelty & Challenge

(00:32:41) Neuromodulators & Plasticity, Psychedelics; Directed Plasticity

(00:38:50) Sponsor: AG1

(00:39:41) Building a Better Future Self, Tool: Ulysses Contract to Avoid Bad Behaviors

(00:50:13) Brain Chatter, Aphantasia & Practice

(00:56:57) Specialization vs Diverse Experience, Childhood & Brain

(01:00:50) Space & Time Perception, Tool: Space-Time Bridging Meditation

(01:06:17) Are We Good at Estimating Time?; Fear, Time & Memory

(01:11:23) Sponsor: Lingo

(01:12:53) Fearful Situations & Time Perception; Joyful Events & Novelty, Tool: Do Things Differently

(01:18:56) Staying in the Present, Mental Illness & Time Domains, Addiction

(01:27:09) Social Media, Addiction, Curiosity

(01:30:51) Vision & Auditory Deficits, Sensory Substitution, Neosensory Wristband

(01:35:26) Sponsor: Function

(01:37:13) Sensory Reliance, Echolocation, Potato Head Theory, Sensory Addition

(01:41:36) Why We Dream, Vision & Neuroplasticity, REM Sleep, Blindness

(01:49:55) Victims, Fear, Memory Drift & Recall, Eyewitness Testimony & Jury Education

(01:56:10) Kids vs Adults, Memory Manipulation; Photos

(01:59:27) Polarization, In vs Out Groups, Empathy; Fairness

(02:06:31) Polarization, Reward vs Punishment; Propaganda, Language, Complexification

(02:19:27) Current Projects; Acknowledgements

(02:21:44) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures

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