Psychologists and neuroscientists struggle with how best to interpret human motivation and decision making. The assumption is that below a mental “surface” of conscious awareness lies a deep and complex set of inner beliefs, values, and desires that govern our thoughts, ideas, and actions, and that to know this depth is to know ourselves. In the The Mind Is Flat: The Remarkable Shallowness of the Improvising Brain (Yale UP, 2019), behavioural scientist Nick Chater contends just the opposite: rather than being the plaything of unconscious currents, the brain generates behaviors in the moment based entirely on our past experiences. Engaging the reader with eye-opening experiments and visual examples, Chater first demolishes our intuitive sense of how our mind works, then argues for a positive interpretation of the brain as a ceaseless and creative improviser.Dr. Nick Chater is Professor of behavioral science at the Warwick Business School and cofounder of Decision Technology Ltd. He has contributed to more than two hundred articles and book chapters and is author, co-author, or co-editor of fourteen books.Dr. John Griffiths (@neurodidact) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Head of Whole Brain Modelling at the CAMH Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics. His research group (www.grifflab.com) works at the intersection of computational neuroscience and neuroimaging, building simulations of human brain activity aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurological illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/neuroscience

In this podcast, they delve into the complexities of human behavior, the Bayesian brain hypothesis, and the evolution of human communication systems. They explore collective intelligence driving human progress, creativity in language usage, and the unique nature of human language compared to AI systems. The conversation also touches on the shift in concerns regarding AI evolution, from fears of AGI to mimetic intelligence and the implications for society.

Nick Chater, a behavioural scientist and Professor at Warwick Business School, reveals that our minds operate on a surface level, challenging the belief in deep unconscious motivations. He discusses how memory shapes our decisions in real-time and highlights the fascinating McGurk effect, which shows how our senses can mislead us. Chater also critiques the complexity of human thought and the limitations of multitasking, urging us to see our identity as fluid rather than fixed, illustrating how our preferences evolve with each experience.

Morten Christiansen, a Professor of Psychology at Cornell, and Nick Chater, a Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick, dive into the fascinating world of language in their enlightening discussion. They explore how language functions as both a playful medium and a critical tool for social interaction. The pair challenges traditional views by emphasizing the evolving nature of communication, especially in the age of the internet. They also investigate the psychological implications of language on thought and even touch on the complexities of multilingualism and machine translation.

In this insightful discussion, Nick Chater, a Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School, explores the intersection of behavioral science and public policy. He highlights the challenges of integrating autonomous vehicles into society and the critical role of effective communication in human-machine interactions. Chater also critiques the focus on individual actions versus systemic changes, advocating for innovative policy framing to foster public support. Additionally, he delves into the complexities of public health policies, such as smoking regulations, and the impact of behavioral nudges.