How does the mind work? What makes us sad? What makes us laugh? Despite advances in neuroscience, the answers to these questions remain elusive. Neuroscientist Patrick House talks about these mysteries and about his book Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. House's insights illuminate not just what we know and don't know about our minds--he also helps us understand what it means to be human.

Patrick House is a neuroscientist and writer whose research focuses on free will and how mind-control parasites alter their host's behaviour.If it wasn't for us experiencing it, the universe would give us no indication that consciousness even exists. The most fundamental part of human experience has many proposed explanations, but just how well-grounded are these, and what are we missing?Expect to learn why removing parts of the brain change some aspects of the self but not all of them, what it's like for animals who can put half of their brain to sleep at once, how the brain is intimately linked with timekeeping, why almost all explanations of consciousness are unsatisfactory, what the future of brain-research looks like and much more...Sponsors:Get 10% discount & free shipping on the best Ketone Drink at https://ketone-iq.com/ (use code MW10)Get 83% discount & 3 months free from Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM (use code MODERNWISDOM)Get 15% discount on the amazing 6 Minute Diary at https://bit.ly/diarywisdom (use code MW15) (USA - https://amzn.to/3b2fQbR and use 15MINUTES)Extra Stuff:Follow Patrick on Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/patrick__house Buy Patrick's Book - https://amzn.to/3zyGYbF Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom-Get in touch.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillxTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcastEmail: https://chriswillx.com/contact/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While operating on a 16-year-old girl who suffered from severe seizures, neurosurgeon Itzhak Fried stumbled on the region of the brain that makes us laugh. To neuroscientist Patrick House, Fried's ability to produce laughter surgically raises deep and disconcerting questions about how the brain works. Join Fried, House, and EconTalk's Russ Roberts for a live broadcast from Jerusalem's Shalem College that is a sequel of sorts to House's earlier appearance on EconTalk. House and Fried discuss the mystery of consciousness and try to square the biological bases for emotions with the circle of our humanity.

In this engaging discussion, Patrick House, a Stanford neuroscientist, unravels the enigmatic nature of consciousness. He shares his personal journey and how upbringing shapes our perceptions. The conversation dives into the intricate ties between consciousness and neurodivergence, exploring the diverse human cognitive experience. House also reflects on the interplay of literature, sci-fi, and science in understanding consciousness, while examining its connection to pain perception. This dialogue is a fascinating blend of humor and profound insights!

Tao Ruspoli, an Italian-American filmmaker and co-founder of the Bombay Beach Biennale, invites festival producer Dulcinee DeGuere and neuroscientist Patrick House for a captivating discussion. They explore how inhospitable environments, like the Salton Sea, can breed creativity and the significance of confronting death to find meaning. The conversation delves into the Biennale's themes of hierarchy and community, questioning philosophical structures while celebrating the transformative power of art amidst contradictions and impermanence.