Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

The range of human perceptual experiences (with Anil Seth)

May 3, 2023

Anil Seth, a leading neuroscientist and author, dives into the fascinating world of human perception. He explores how our brain constructs reality, revealing that color isn't an inherent property but a product of sensory processes. The discussion touches on mental health's influence on perception and the beauty of neurodiversity. Seth highlights unique experiences like synesthesia and the connection between art and science, advocating for a greater understanding of how diverse perceptions enrich our lives. Plus, he shares insights from the immersive Dream Machine experience.

01:08:11

Creator website

Episode guests

Anil Seth

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Perception Census

01:35

The Overlap Between Art and Science: Exploring Purposes and Collaborations

01:51

Intro

2min

The Constructed Nature of Perception

18min

Understanding the Constructed Nature of Perception

4min

Understanding the Nuances of Human Perception

4min

Exploring the Richness of Human Perception and Neurodiversity

6min

Exploring Perceptual Diversity

15min

Bridging Art and Science

11min

Journey Through the Dream Machine

8min

Read the full transcript here.

How does the world differ from our perception of it? Where is color located? Is the self constructed in the same way our concept of the world is constructed? Aside from being interesting bits of trivia, why does any of that really matter? In what ways does perception most often differ among humans? How different are art and science?

Anil Seth is a neuroscientist, author, and public speaker who has pioneered research into the brain basis of consciousness for more than twenty years. His mission is to advance the science of consciousness, and to use its insights for the benefits of society, technology, and medicine. He is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex; Co-Director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Program on Brain, Mind, and Consciousness; a European Research Council Advanced Investigator; and Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal Neuroscience of Consciousness. He has published more than 180 research papers and has been recognized by Web of Science, over several years, as being in the top 0.1% of researchers worldwide. A former Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow, his two TED talks have been viewed more than thirteen million times, he has appeared in several films, and he has written for Aeon, The Guardian, Granta, New Scientist, and Scientific American, and he is lead scientist on the Dreamachine project. His new book Being You: A New Science of Consciousness was an instant Sunday Times Bestseller and a 2021 Book of the Year for The Economist, The New Statesman, Bloomberg Business, The Guardian, The Financial Times and elsewhere. Check out Dreamachine, take part in The Perception Census, visit Anil's website, or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Staff

Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director
Josh Castle — Producer
Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer
Uri Bram — Factotum
WeAmplify — Transcriptionists
Miles Kestran — Marketing

Music

Affiliates

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