New Senses for Humans – David Eagleman

14 snips

Apr 5, 2024

David Eagleman, a Stanford neuroscientist and founder of Neosensory, dives into fascinating concepts of sensory substitution and the brain's adaptability. He discusses how the brain can rewire itself to interpret sensory inputs in new ways, like mapping wrist sensations to sound. The conversation also covers tinnitus and how multisensory stimulation can ease its symptoms. Additionally, Eagleman reflects on the intersection of AI and neuroscience, pondering future medical breakthroughs and the role of AI in enhancing human connections.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Brain Doesn’t Care How Data Arrives

The brain treats patterned spikes the same regardless of sensory origin, so a wristband can effectively function like a cochlea.
After months users report they “hear” sounds via the wrist rather than interpret discrete vibrations.

ANECDOTE

From Lab Vest To Neosensory Wristband

Eagleman built a vibrotactile vest that let deaf people perceive sound via skin patterns.
VCs funded a wristband spinout, Neosensory, to miniaturize that lab vest into a consumer device.

INSIGHT

Temporal Delivery Builds Intuition

Time-series inputs map naturally to tactile delivery and can create intuitive, gut-level sensing.
Delivering data over time lets the brain develop fast pattern-based instincts without conscious analysis.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

If you ever get the chance to hang out with David Eagleman, first of all do it. The first thing you’re going to notice is that he’s extremely nice, fun, outgoing and very friendly. He’s lit up in the brain and he’s prolific, he’s doing a zillion different things and he’s still somehow nice enough to hang out and listen and chat.

Davis is a neuroscientist teaching at Stanford. He’s got an amazing TED talk you have to watch. He’s an author of – I don’t know how many books – fiction and nonfiction. The newest one’s called “Incognito: the secret lives of the brain,” which you should read, if you want to learn about the brain.

He’s also written novels, like the award-winning titled “Sum: forty Tales from the Afterlives.” and even has a podcast where David is working his ass off, writing these deep lectures about humans, their brains and their physiology. It’s called “Inner Cosmos.” It’s a work of art. You need to listen to that. On top of that, he’s the founder of a company called Neosensory, which is doing sensory substitution.

We talk about that a bunch in this episode, an incredible ability that they’ve learned in research for human brains to rewire themselves. To take input from different senses and map them on to other ones.

Recorded in Ojai, California on Sunday, March 24th of 2024.

Important Links:

Neosensory
Center for Science and Law
BrainCheck
David Eagleman
TED Talk – Can we create new senses for humans?

About David Eagleman

David Eagleman is an American neuroscientist, author, and science communicator. He teaches neuroscience at Stanford University and is CEO and co-founder of Neosensory, a company that develops devices for sensory substitution. He also directs the non-profit Center for Science and Law, which seeks to align the legal system with modern neuroscience and is Chief Science Officer and co-founder of BrainCheck, a digital cognitive health platform used in medical practices and health systems. He is known for his work on brain plasticity, time perception, synesthesia, and neurolaw.

He is a Guggenheim Fellow and a New York Times-bestselling author published in 32 languages. He is the writer and presenter of the international television series, The Brain with David Eagleman, and the host of the podcast “Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman.” As of early 2024, Inner Cosmos was nominated for the best science podcast of the year at the iHeart Podcast Awards at SXSW.

Recorded on March 24, 2024

The post New Senses for Humans – David Eagleman appeared first on .