David Eagleman, a leading neuroscientist known for his work on brain plasticity, chats with musician Brian Eno about the remarkable adaptability of the human brain. They delve into how sensory experiences can be enhanced through technology, allowing the blind to 'see' with their tongues. The conversation also touches on the relationship between dreaming and sensory functions, and how our emotions, like love and heartbreak, intertwine with neuroscience, challenging the notion that aging diminishes cognitive abilities.
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insights INSIGHT
Livewired vs. Plasticity
The term "livewired" represents the brain's continuous reconfiguration, unlike "plasticity", which implies a fixed state after molding.
This highlights the dynamic nature of the brain, constantly adapting and changing throughout life.
insights INSIGHT
Permanently Unfinished
Humans are permanently unfinished beings, constantly remolding and never reaching a final state.
This continuous change is a key characteristic of human brains.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Seeking Novelty
Seek novelty and challenge your brain to maintain plasticity.
The pandemic disrupted routines, prompting reflection and new life choices, beneficial for brain plasticity.
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Live Wired, by David Eagleman, delves into the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and rewire itself throughout life. Eagleman explores the plasticity of the brain, showcasing how experiences shape neural pathways and influence our perceptions. He examines various neurological conditions and how the brain compensates for damage or loss of function. The book highlights the brain's capacity for learning and growth, emphasizing the importance of neuroplasticity in personal development. Eagleman's engaging writing style makes complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience, inspiring readers to appreciate the brain's dynamic nature.
The Runaway Species
How Human Creativity Remakes the World
David Eagleman
Anthony Brandt
In 'The Runaway Species', David Eagleman and Anthony Brandt delve into the heart of human creativity, examining how innovations build on existing ideas. The book celebrates the human spirit and provides a vision for improving our future by understanding and embracing our ability to innovate. Through dramatic storytelling, stunning images, and cutting-edge neuroscience, the authors uncover the essential elements of creativity and encourage a more creative future. They highlight how creators in various fields remodel what they inherit by bending, breaking, and blending raw materials of experience to produce new outcomes.
Some
Some
40 Tales from the Afterlife
David Eagleman
What does drug withdrawal have in common with a broken heart? Why is the enemy of memory not time, but other memories? How can a blind person learn to see with her tongue or a deaf person learn to hear with his skin? Why did many people in the 1980s mistakenly perceive book pages to be slightly red in colour? Will we one day be able to control a robot with our thoughts, just as we do our fingers and toes? Why do we dream at night, and what does that have to do with the rotation of the planet? These are just some of the questions David Eagleman answered when he came to Intelligence Squared for this exclusive online event. Eagleman is a leading neuroscientist, as well as one of the world’s most dynamic and engaging science communicators. He specialises in brain plasticity – the idea that our brains are constantly changing and reconfiguring the world around us. The more experiences we have, the more the brain absorbs and the more it adjusts. In conversation with musician and producer Brian Eno, Eagleman discussed his latest findings which he outlines in his new book, Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain. And he showed that far from getting less malleable as we get older, our brains can continue to learn and absorb information quickly, if we keep on providing them with stimuli and new experiences. To buy the book click here: https://www.primrosehillbooks.com/product/livewired-the-inside-story-of-the-ever-changing-brain-david-eagleman-intel/
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