Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman Ep85 rebroadcast - "What is a Thought?"
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Jun 23, 2025 Explore the origins and physicality of thoughts, akin to a peach tree bearing its fruit. Discover how internal dialogue shapes your daily experiences and the complexities behind those thoughts. Delve into the wonders of nonverbal thinking and the challenges of obsessive-compulsive disorder, including the need for specialized therapy. Uncover how the brain uses mental rehearsals to navigate outcomes and enhance learning. Finally, reflect on the multifaceted nature of thoughts and how they contribute to your identity.
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Tape Recorder Stole Tongue Anecdote
- In 1949, Arthur Alberts recorded African music with a tape recorder, causing cultural confusion.
- A tribesman accused him of "stealing his tongue" when hearing his voice played back, highlighting the surprising physical nature of voices.
Thoughts Are Physical
- Thoughts are physical, arising from biological brain activity.
- Brain changes, whether chemical, damage, or sleep states, directly alter thought patterns and capacities.
Thoughts As Neural Symphony
- Thoughts involve coordinated firing of millions or billions of neurons working as an orchestra.
- A thought emerges from this network rather than being localized to one brain area.
