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David Eagleman: The Psychology of Time, How the Brain Shapes Reality & Human Nature | Human Behavior | YAPClassic

Sep 5, 2025
Guest
David Eagleman
Join David Eagleman, a renowned neuroscientist and author, as he delves into the fascinating world of human perception and the brain's remarkable adaptability. He shares his childhood experience of time slowing down during a fall, igniting his passion for psychology. Discover the concepts of sensory substitution, the potential for new human senses, and the evolutionary role of dreams. Eagleman also explores brain plasticity, the intersection of science and religion, and the future of technology, prompting us to rethink our understanding of consciousness and reality.
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ANECDOTE

Childhood Fall Sparked Time Research

  • David Eagleman fell from a roof at eight and later learned the fall lasted about 0.6 seconds.
  • That memory sparked his lifelong study of time perception and why danger feels slowed down.
INSIGHT

We Live Slightly In The Past

  • Conscious perception is always delayed; we live at least half a second in the past.
  • Reflexes act earlier unconsciously, so awareness often follows action.
INSIGHT

Reality Is Species-And Person-Specific

  • Umwelt means each species constructs reality from its available sensory signals.
  • Humans vary too: colorblindness, extra photoreceptors, synesthesia, and aphantasia reshape personal realities.
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