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#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain

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Aug 26, 2020

Guest

David Eagleman

David Eagleman, a renowned neuroscientist from Stanford, dives deep into the captivating world of neuroplasticity. He discusses how our brains adapt throughout life, reshaping ourselves in response to experiences. The relationship between neuroplasticity and emerging technologies like brain-computer interfaces unveils exciting possibilities in human transformation. Eagleman also tackles complex topics like free will, the nature of evil, and how AI might learn from human cognitive processes. His insights challenge our understanding of intelligence and consciousness.

01:41:52

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Liveware vs. Hardware/Software

The brain is liveware, constantly reconfiguring its physical structure as it learns.
This differs from traditional hardware/software, allowing for greater adaptability.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Hemispherectomy in Children

Children under seven can have a hemispherectomy (one brain hemisphere removed) and still function.
They may have a slight limp, but their brain rewires to compensate.

insights

INSIGHT

Engineering Liveware

While evolution took a long time to create the human brain, we can study its blueprints.
Understanding the brain's general principles is key to replicating its liveware nature.

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

The Malleable Mind: Neuroplasticity Unveiled

05:23 • 21min

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Neuroplasticity Meets Technology

26:07 • 17min

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The Brain, Free Will, and Human Behavior

42:48 • 23min

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Neuroplasticity and AI: Understanding Human Intelligence

01:05:23 • 17min

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Innovative Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces

01:22:22 • 2min

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Exploring Sensory Substitution and Expansion

01:24:29 • 2min

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Expanding Reality: Understanding Umwelt and Enhanced Sensory Perception

01:26:19 • 3min

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Exploring the Limits of Perception

01:29:06 • 10min

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Embracing Passion and the Wonders of Neuroscience

01:39:13 • 2min

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Sum

Forty Tales from the Afterlives

David Eagleman

The Denial of Death

Ernest Becker

In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash.

Livewired

The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain

David Eagleman

In 'Livewired', David Eagleman delves into the dynamic and adaptive nature of the human brain, highlighting its ability to reconfigure itself in response to environmental stimuli. The book covers a wide range of topics, including synesthesia, dreaming, and wearable neurotech devices that revolutionize how we think about the senses. Eagleman also introduces his concept of 'liveware' and discusses how the brain's adaptability can lead to remarkable feats, such as a blind person learning to 'see' with their tongue or a deaf person learning to 'hear' with their skin. The book is praised for its accessible and engaging writing style, making complex neuroscience accessible to a broad audience.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

A History of Nazi Germany

William L. Shirer

This book is a monumental study based on extensive documentation, including testimony from Nazi leaders and concentration camp inmates, diaries of officials, transcripts of secret conferences, army orders, and private letters. Shirer spent five and a half years sifting through this massive documentation to create a definitive record of one of the most frightening chapters in human history. The book explores how Hitler's regime came to power, its impact on Germany and the world, and its eventual downfall. It is widely acclaimed as the definitive work on Nazi Germany and has won several awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

The novel tells the story of Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl, and Werner Pfennig, a German orphan, whose paths converge in occupied France during World War II. Marie-Laure lives in Paris with her father, a locksmith at the Museum of Natural History, and later flees to Saint-Malo with what might be the museum's most valuable and dangerous jewel. Werner, fascinated by radios and science, is enlisted to track the Resistance. The book explores themes of kindness, greed, love, and perseverance amidst the harsh circumstances of war. Doerr's writing is praised for its vivid descriptions, moral complexity, and the way it illuminates the human spirit during times of great hardship.

Cosmos

A Personal Voyage

Carl Sagan

In 'Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,' Carl Sagan takes readers on a journey through space and time, exploring the origins of the universe, the nature of stars and galaxies, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The book is a companion to the popular PBS television series of the same name and combines science, philosophy, and history to provide a broad perspective on the cosmos and humanity's place within it.

Invisible Cities

Italo Calvino

Invisible Cities is a novel by Italo Calvino that defies traditional narrative structures. The book revolves around the conversations between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where Polo describes 55 imaginary cities he encountered during his travels. These cities are not just physical places but also metaphors for human experiences, desires, and the passage of time. The novel explores themes of memory, place, and the subjective nature of experience, highlighting how our perceptions of cities and the world are shaped by our personal histories and biases. The cities described by Polo are often reflections of his home city, Venice, and serve as vehicles for Calvino's commentary on human nature, culture, and the limits of communication.

David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford.

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Episode links:
David’s Website: https://www.eagleman.com/
David’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/davideagleman
Livewired (book): https://amzn.to/3ba4ezv

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Here’s the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

OUTLINE:
00:00 – Introduction
05:05 – Livewired
16:39 – Hardware vs software
25:53 – Brain-computer interfaces
35:12 – 2020 is a challenge for neuroplasticity
46:08 – Free will
50:43 – Nature of evil
58:55 – Psychiatry
1:06:28 – GPT-3
1:13:31 – Intelligence in the brain
1:21:51 – Neosensory
1:31:27 – Book recommendations
1:34:07 – Meaning of life
1:36:53 – Advice for young people

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