Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Dr. Niko Kukushkin - One Hand Clapping: Rethinking the Human Mind

7 snips

Aug 11, 2025

Dr. Niko Kukushkin, a renowned neuroscientist and writer, dives deep into the mysteries of the human mind. He explores the brain's role as a prediction machine and how its complexity shapes consciousness. The conversation probes the neurobiology of psychedelics, linking them to enhanced sensory experiences. Kukushkin also discusses the impacts of loneliness on intelligence and emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty for long-term happiness. Through these insights, he challenges conventional beliefs about memory, motivation, and what it means to live authentically.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Connected Through Deep Histories

Nikolay Kukushkin traces elements of mind and body back to atoms and billions-year histories.
He argues that lineage gives life meaning and connects each person to the universe.

INSIGHT

Brain As Nature's Singularity

Our brains compress nature's branching diversity back to a unifying singularity of patterns, Nikolay Kukushkin says.
Moving toward that unity increases the depth of our conscious awareness.

INSIGHT

Psychedelics Reveal Filtered Perception

Nikolay Kukushkin explains psychedelics ramp up bottom-up sensory flow while top-down expectations scramble to fit it.
This expands perceived bandwidth and reveals the information our brain normally filters out.

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

Get the app

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!

In this conversation, neuroscientist and author Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin joins us to explore some of the deepest questions about the human mind. Drawing from his book One Hand Clapping, Dr. Kukushkin offers a rare synthesis of biology, evolution, and philosophy—challenging us to reconsider not only how the mind works, but what it means to be a mind at all.

Topics & Questions Covered:

What inspired One Hand Clapping and the central questions it seeks to answer
The brain as a “singularity” of nature’s complexity and its implications for consciousness
Consciousness through the neurobiology of psychedelics
The value and meaning of memory vs. the present moment
The dopamine “economy” and its links to addiction, burnout, and anxiety
Why unpredictability—not reward—drives behavior
“The cortex wants peace, the reward system wants chaos” – reconciling two competing systems
How social life shaped intelligence and what loneliness does to the brain
Can AI help us understand our own minds?
The role of uncertainty in long-term happiness and mental wellness
Why “life isn’t a problem to solve—it’s something to be experienced”

Nikolay Kukushkin, PhD, is a neuroscientist, writer, and science communicator whose work bridges hard science and human experience. Trained at institutions such as Oxford and Harvard, he has conducted pioneering research on memory formation, synaptic plasticity, and the neural basis of learning. Currently based at NYU’s Carew Laboratory, he investigates the molecular foundations of behavior.

Beyond his academic work, Dr. Kukushkin has written hundreds of popular science articles in both Russian and international media, earning recognition for his ability to combine clarity, scientific rigor, and philosophical insight. One Hand Clapping is his first book in English, following its acclaimed Russian release by Alpina Non-Fiction. He lives in New York with his wife, continuing to explore what makes the human brain not only a machine of thought but a vessel of meaning.

Learn More:
Website: nikolaykukushkin.com