Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen

The Malleability of the Brain (David Eagleman)

Dec 14, 2023

Renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman discusses the malleability of the brain and its ability to adapt to various inputs. He covers topics like synesthesia, perception in the blind and deaf, and the creation of imaginary worlds. They also touch on consciousness, brain damage, technology for vision, parenting in the digital age, accessibility of knowledge for children, and dreams. The conversation is highly engaging and thought-provoking.

01:06:11

Episode guests

David Eagleman

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Even as we age, our brain remains flexible and capable of rewiring itself in response to unexpected events.

Sensory substitution can enable individuals with sensory impairments to perceive and process sensory information effectively.

Maintaining an active social life and engaging in cognitive activities are crucial for brain health and delaying cognitive decline.

Deep dives

The Malleability of the Brain

As we grow older, our brain's flexibility does not actually decrease, but rather it adapts to our understanding of the world. The brain changes in response to surprise or unexpected events, remaining plastic and capable of rewiring even in older age. However, most people choose not to utilize this plasticity as they feel they have figured out how things work. To keep the brain young and healthy, it is essential to seek novelty, challenges, and constantly stimulate it with new experiences.

Introduction

3min

The Malleability of the Brain and its Ability to Adapt

5min

Understanding Consciousness and the Impact of Brain Damage

9min

Technology for Vision and Neuroplasticity

13min

Parenting and Managing Internet Use

3min

Access to Knowledge for Children Today

19min

Convenient and Healthy Meal Delivery Service

2min

Counter Clockwise Study, Social Life, and Dreams

13min

Exploring Writing Standards, Neural Resources, and Psychic Phenomena

4min

“As you grow older, your brain is able to keep rewiring all the time. And so we have this impression that the flexibility of the brain decreases as you get older. But in fact, it's just because your brain's job is just to figure out how to get by in the world and do a good job in the world. And once you've figured most things out, like, oh, these are different kinds of personalities, and this is how I need to do something at work, and this is how I use email and phone and whatever, then your brain does less changing only because it has successfully done its job, and it doesn't need to keep changing. The brain changes when there's surprise, when there's something that happened that it wasn't expecting, then it changes up. So, you still have plenty of plasticity even when you're 90 years old. It's just that most people aren't using it at that point because they say, Oh, I got it. I know how things work.”

So says David Eagleman, renowned neuroscientist, podcast host, and the author of many bestselling books about consciousness and the brain—along with more than 120 academic publications. Besides his perch as a neuroscientist at Stanford University, David is the co-founder of two venture-backed companies, including Neosensory, which is a pioneering wrist device that enables the deaf to hear. Yep, that’s right.

David is fascinating, and hopefully this conversation lives up to his capacity: We discuss the malleability of the brain to adjust to its inputs, the roots of synesthesia, how those who are born blind and deaf can now use touch to see and hear, and why we dream. Ultimately, we explore just how it happens that a brain trapped in a dark vault can create the vibrancy of our existence.

David is a TED speaker, a Guggenheim Fellow, and serves on several boards, including the American Brain Foundation and the The Long Now Foundation. He is the Chief Scientific Advisor for the Mind Science Foundation, and the winner of Claude Shannon Luminary Award from Bell Labs and the McGovern Award for Excellence in Biomedical Communication.

What’s cooler? He has served as the scientific advisor to several television shows (including Westworld and Perception).

Ironically—considering we both host podcasts and David is a neuroscientist—we had some technical difficulties during our conversation, but the hope is that this is not perceptible to you!

MORE FROM DAVID EAGLEMAN:

Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain

The Brain: The Story of You

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives

David’s Podcast: “Inner Cosmos”

David’s Website

Follow David on Instagram

David’s Company: Neosensory

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices