Instant Genius How your brain builds your picture of reality
Jun 19, 2025
Daniel Yon, an experimental psychologist from Birkbeck, University of London and author of *A Trick of the Mind*, dives deep into how our brains shape our perception of reality. He explains how our minds operate like scientists, constructing theories based on past experiences. The discussion covers intriguing topics like the nature of hallucinations, how we perceive the emotions of others, and the complex interplay between identity and creativity. This exploration uncovers the fascinating ways our mental processes influence our understanding of the world and ourselves.
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Brain's Role in Vision
- Vision is not just like a camera capturing pixels; the brain interprets ambiguous sensory input based on expectations.
- Perception results from mixing raw signals with brain predictions to resolve ambiguity.
Knowledge Shapes Perception
- Recognizing objects like eggs uses rich prior knowledge from past experiences.
- Our brains apply these learned theories to interpret and predict how objects behave.
Brain Predicts Movement Futures
- The brain predicts future positions of moving objects to compensate for slow perception.
- Predictions allow rapid and effective reactions, crucial for survival.