Neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene discusses how human babies are exceptional learners surpassing artificial intelligence. They explore the science of consciousness, the brain as a Bayesian statistician, and the differences in learning between humans and computers. The importance of studying how babies learn and the four pillars of learning are also discussed. The podcast highlights the ever-evolving nature of science and compares education systems in the US and France.
Recognizing the innate capacities of babies and understanding that learning involves both nature and nurture is crucial for educators.
Advancements in brain imaging have allowed researchers to study cognition and identify the differences between human cognitive processes and those of computers.
The book 'How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine For Now' explores the innate learning abilities of the human brain and emphasizes the importance of curiosity, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation in the learning process.
Deep dives
The Importance of Understanding the Capacity of the Baby Brain
The speaker emphasizes the significance of teachers and educators recognizing the full potential of the baby brain. They stress that learning is a combination of innate abilities and acquired knowledge, debunking the notion of nature versus nurture. The speaker highlights the need for educators to appreciate the innate capacities of babies and understand that learning is a dynamic process involving both nature and nurture.
The Journey from Mathematics to Cognitive Science
The guest, Stannis Laus de Haan, shares their journey from starting in mathematics to becoming a brain scientist and cognitive scientist. They explain how advancements in brain imaging allowed them to study cognition and understand the differences between human cognitive processes and those of computers. The guest also mentions their work with brain imaging and their role as the director of Neurospin, France's most advanced brain imaging center.
The Book: How We Learn and the Superiority of the Human Brain
Stannis Laus de Haan introduces their new book, 'How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine For Now'. They discuss how the human brain excels at learning compared to other animals and machines. The book explores the learning algorithms of human beings, the innate abilities that aid in learning, and practical strategies for improving learning. The guest also emphasizes the importance of understanding the four pillars of learning: curiosity, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation, to enhance the learning process.
Babies as Little Scientists and the Plasticity of the Brain
Babies are born with innate knowledge and are prodigious learners due to the incredible plasticity of their brains. They constantly experiment and use their prior knowledge to make predictions and adjust their learning accordingly. While computers require large data sets to learn, babies can learn with just one exposure. Social interaction plays a role in learning, as babies know that adults are teaching them and can tell what the adults are paying attention to. The neuronal recycling hypothesis suggests that when we learn new skills, we repurpose brain areas that evolved for other purposes. For example, when we learn to read, parts of the brain dedicated to object recognition are repurposed to recognize the shapes of words and letters.
The Four Pillars of Learning and the Importance of Attention and Active Engagement
The four pillars of learning are attention, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation. Attention is vital for learning, as there is little learning in the absence of attention. Teachers play a crucial role in directing children's attention to the appropriate level. Active engagement involves the brain actively formulating hypotheses, performing mental experiments, and selecting among them. Passive learning is not as effective as active engagement, and curiosity is a fundamental property of the learning algorithm. Curiosity triggers the dopamine system in the brain, motivating us to explore new domains and ask questions. Fostering curiosity can have lifelong effects on learning.
This is an interview with Stanislas Dehaene about his new book How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine . . . for Now. According to neuroscientist Dehaene neuroscience has revealed that human babies are incredible "learning machines" whose abilities exceed those of the best current artificial intelligence. We explore why this is so and how this information could be used to help learners (and teachers) of all ages.
