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The Tim Ferriss Show
#674: Neuroscientist David Eagleman — Exploring Consciousness, Sensory Augmentation, The Lazy Susan Method of Extraordinary Productivity, Dreaming, Improving Hearing with a Wristband, Synesthesia, Stretching Time with Novelty, Lessons from Titans of Science, and Much More
May 26, 2023
48:48:57
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Quick takeaways
- Dreaming during REM sleep protects the visual system by maintaining brain plasticity.
- Francis Crick emphasized the importance of generating multiple hypotheses to understand consciousness.
- The nature of consciousness is still a mystery in neuroscience, with two main hypotheses.
- Unsolved questions in neuroscience include memory, decision-making, emotions, perception, brain development, plasticity, and connectivity.
Deep dives
Dreaming and Brain Plasticity
Dreaming serves the purpose of protecting the visual system's territory during the night by maintaining the brain's plasticity. The brain is in constant reconfiguration and the visual system needs to defend itself against the encroachment of other senses. Dreaming occurs in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which specialized circuits blast random activity specifically into the primary visual cortex. This random activity keeps the visual system activated and prevents other senses from taking over. The amount of REM sleep correlates with the plasticity of the brain, with more REM sleep indicating higher plasticity. This hypothesis explains why humans, who have highly plastic brains, dream so much compared to other less plastic animals.
Francis Crick and the Neural Correlates of Consciousness
Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, was fascinated by the question of why things have meaning to us. He focused on understanding the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), aiming to identify the specific areas of the brain involved in consciousness. Crick recognized that having multiple ideas and hypotheses is crucial in science, as most ideas turn out to be wrong. He considered it important to continuously generate hypotheses and explore new avenues of thought to make progress in understanding the complexities of consciousness.
The Complexity of Consciousness
Consciousness is still a mysterious and complex phenomenon in neuroscience. It is unclear whether consciousness is an emergent property that arises from the organization of brain cells or a fundamental quality of the cosmos. There are two main hypotheses: one proposes that consciousness emerges from the brain's organization, and the other suggests that it is an inherent quality of the universe. Research on consciousness, including the study of the neural correlates of consciousness, continues to explore these questions and shed light on the nature of subjective experience.
Unsolved Questions in Neuroscience
There are many unsolved questions in neuroscience that researchers continue to explore. Some include the neural basis of memory, the mechanisms of decision-making, the nature of emotions, the origins of perception and subjective experience, the intricacies of brain development, the mysteries of synaptic plasticity, and the complexities of brain connectivity. These questions represent ongoing areas of inquiry and discovery in the field of neuroscience.
The Power of Memory and Perception
David Eagleman discusses the impact of memory and perception on our experiences. He shares the findings from his research on time perception and how our memories shape our perception of time. He explains how living in novelty and seeking new experiences can create richer memories, making time seem as if it's lasting longer.
Challenging Certainty and Questioning Truths
Eagleman emphasizes the importance of questioning our own truths. He explores the limitations of our internal models and highlights the value of uncertainty in scientific inquiry. By encouraging individuals to question their beliefs and be open to new perspectives, he suggests that we can deepen our understanding of the world.
The Pursuit of Rich Memories
Eagleman explains how laying down rich memories can create a sense of living longer. He discusses the idea that our perception of time is influenced by the amount of detail and novelty we experience. By continuously seeking new experiences and encountering the unfamiliar, we can expand our perception of time and make our lives feel more fulfilling.
The Potential of Advancements in Brain Technology
Eagleman highlights the need for advancements in measuring brain activity. He discusses the importance of developing technological tools that can capture the spiking activity of individual brain neurons and decode the neural code. These advancements could lead to a deeper understanding of the brain and its complexities in the future.
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David Eagleman (@davideagleman) is a neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author, TED speaker, and Guggenheim Fellow. He is the writer and presenter of the Emmy-nominated series The Brain on PBS, as well as the podcast Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman. In Palo Alto, California, he teaches at Stanford University, runs a startup neurotech company called Neosensory, and directs the Center for Science and Law. Dr. Eagleman also runs a film and television production company, Cognito Entertainment, to bring scientific themes (fiction and nonfiction) to the screen. He is the author of eight books, including the international bestsellers Sum, Incognito, and his newest book, Livewired.
Please enjoy!
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[07:10] Mnemonists and synesthetes.
[12:13] Creating new senses.
[17:39] Practical applications in practice.
[24:36] Five years from now.
[28:26] The curious resilience and vulnerability of memory.
[32:25] Testing the accuracy of memory.
[34:50] Meeting Francis Crick.
[36:25] The dangerous lumberjack.
[39:43] Dream projects.
[41:23] Exploring consciousness.
[44:38] Dreaming and brain plasticity.
[54:13] Influences.
[57:23] Why neuroscience?
[1:00:22] Sum: An extended failure that became a wild success.
[1:05:36] The Don Vaughn method.
[1:07:02] Recommended reading.
[1:08:50] Hypothesis testing.
[1:09:40] Lazy Susan advice.
[1:11:18] A week in the life of David.
[1:16:28] Livewired.
[1:20:48] Assumptions ripe for challenging.
[1:25:34] Possibilianism.
[1:27:35] David’s billboard.
[1:30:28] Empire of the Invisible.
[1:32:11] Learning from AI.
[1:34:42] Perception of time.
[1:39:47] Idiotheses.
[1:40:59] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.
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