In this month's episode of Brain Science, neuroscientist Mark Solms talks about his new book "The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Origins of Consciousness." Solms was inspired by the pioneering work of Jaak Panksepp who argued that the origins of consciousness can be traced to the brainstem. In his new book Solms presents the evidence for this viewpoint and explains how the work of computational neuroscientist Karl Friston has provided additional support. We consider the implications for our understanding of both human consciousness and our appreciation for the consciousness of other animals. Links and References: The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness by Mark Solms Mark Solms: University of Cape Town, South Africa Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions by Jaak Panksepp (BS 134) The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions by Jaak Panksepp and Lucy Biven (BSP 91) Solms, M; Friston, K; (2018) How and why consciousness arises: Some considerations from physics and physiology. Journal of Consciousness Studies , 25 (5-6) pp. 202-238. (Download PDF) Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts.     Please Visit Our Sponsors: GreenChef TextExpander Announcements: Email Dr. Campbell if you want to help with improving the Brain Science website or request new features. Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis

Jeff Hawkins has spent nearly twenty years on a quest to discover how the brain's cortex generates intelligence. In this episode he talks about his new book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence, which describes some of his most recent research in a way that is accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Links and References: A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins Detailed References on Numenta website Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts.   Please Visit Our Sponsors TextExpander at textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Email Dr. Campbell if you want to help design the new website for Brain Science. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com

Neuroscientist Ginger Campbell interviews Iris Berent, author of 'The Blind Storyteller: How We Reason About Human Nature.' They discuss biases towards dualism and essentialism in neuroscience, the impact of these biases on mental illness, biases in scientific research, understanding dyslexia, the impact of essentialism on evolution, and advice for students interested in cognitive science.

This month's episode of Brain Science features Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the world's leading researchers on the neuroscience of autism. We discuss his latest book "The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention." This book reminds us that many different kinds of science can enrich our lives and our understanding of what it means to be human. Sir Baron-Cohen explores the overlap between the human ability to invent and experiment and the condition that is currently called autism. Autism is often seen as a deficit in social cognition or empathy, but Baron-Cohen shows convincingly that there is a significant overlap between autism and what he calls extreme systemizing. Because systemizing or pattern recognition drives the human ability to constantly invent new technologies, it appears to compliment social skills such as empathy.   Sir Baron-Cohen share the evidence that people tend to be stronger in one area or the other. Most importantly, he emphasizes that autism is not necessarily a disabling condition because those with extremely strong pattern recognition skills can make many valuable contributions. Links and References: The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention by Simon Baron-Cohen Greenberg DM, Warrier V, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S. Testing the Empathizing-Systemizing theory of sex differences and the Extreme Male Brain theory of autism in half a million people. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Nov 27;115(48):12152-12157. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1811032115. Epub 2018 Nov 12. PMID: 30420503; PMCID: PMC6275492. Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD. University of Cambridge (UK) Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts. Bonus Content: Listen to BS 99 with Temple Grandin via the free Brain Science mobile app. Download the app from your favorite App Store. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at https://textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please check out Dr. Campbell's other podcasts: Books and Ideas and Graying Rainbows where ever you get your favorite audio. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis

This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with neuroscientists E. Bruce Goldstein, author of "The Mind: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain." We review some key ideas about how the brain creates the Mind, the important role of unconscious processes and prediction. It is a great starter episode for new listeners and a concise review for longtime fans. Links and References: The Mind: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain by E. Bruce Goldstein Author website Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: Text Expander at textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com  Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com

It's time for our 14th Annual Review Episode! Despite the challenges of 2020, it has been an outstanding year for Brain Science: the show passed 11 million downloads and Dr. Campbell released of second edition of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty. This episode is also a great introduction for new listeners. It can be enjoyed even if you haven’t listened to the episodes being discussed. A free transcript is also available for this episode. Here is a list of this year's episodes: BS 165 (encore) Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde, authors of Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions BS 166 Stephen Macknik describes new a visual prosthesis BS 167 Stanislas Dehaene, author of How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine . . . for Now BS 168 Cecelia Heyes, author of Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking BS 169 (encore) R. Douglas Fields The Other Brain BS 170 Andreas Nieder, author of The Number Instinct BS 171 Matthew Cobb, author of The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience BS 172 György Buzsáki, author of The Brain from Inside Out   BS 173 Excerpt from Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell BS 174 Georg Northoff, author of The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem BS 175 Carol Tavris, co-author of Mistakes Were Made (but not by me)- an exploration of cognitive dissonance BS 176 Seth Grant explains synapse complexity BS 177 Bernard Baars and David Edelman talk about consciousness BS 178 Peter Sterling, author of What Is Health?: Allostasis and the Evolution of Human Design Note: the transcript for this episode is Free. Additional show notes and more episode transcripts are available at brainsciencepodcast.com. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at textexpander.com/pocasts The Neurology Podcast at ann.com/podcasts Announcements: Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (autographed copies are available) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis

Neuroscientist Peter Sterling discusses the concept of allostasis and its implications for health. He explores evolutionary developments, the role of the hypothalamus, and the impact of dopamine. He also emphasizes the importance of recalibrating our reward systems and using critical thinking in neuroscience and medicine.

Bernard Baars is a pioneer in the neuroscience of consciousness. He first proposed Global Workspace Theory back in 1980, which was before consciousness was considered an acceptable topic of scientific research. His approach inspired others including the current Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, which I discussed briefly in episode 160. This episode is an interview with Dr. Baars that focuses on his most recent book On Consciousness. He is joined by his colleague David Edelman. Links and References: ON CONSCIOUSNESS: Science & Subjectivity - Updated Works on Global Workspace Theory by Bernard J. Baars On Consciousness podcast: on YouTube The Ancient Origins of Consciousness: How the Brain Created Experience by Todd E. Feinberg and Jon M. Mallatt (Dr. Mallatt was interviewed in BS 128.) Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts by Stanislas Dehaene (BS 160 and BS 167) Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at http://textexpander.com/podcast The Neurology Minute in your favorite podcasting app Announcements: November 17, 2020 at 4PM Eastern Time: Join Dr. Campbell for a special webinar entitled Embracing Uncertainty: How to Thrive in Uncertain Times. Click here to learn more. Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis

This is my fifth interview with molecular biologist and neuroscientist Dr. Seth Grant from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Grant was recently recognized for his pioneering work by the  Federation of European Neuroscientists. He continues to make fundamental discoveries about the structure and function of the synapse and this month we discuss the discovery that synapse complexity and diversity is greater than expected, along with the  implications of these discoveries.  Links and References: Seth Grant: University of Edinburgh FENS EJN Award 2020 Cizeron M, Qiu Z, Koniaris B, et al. A brainwide atlas of synapses across the mouse life span. Science. 2020;369(6501):270-275. doi:10.1126/science.aba3163 Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additonal references and episode transcripts.   Please Visit Our Sponsors: GreenChef: at http://greenchef.com/ginger80 TextExpander at http://textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Coming November 17, 2020: Webinar: "Embracing Uncertainty: How to Thrive in Uncertain Times." Listen to closing announcements to learn more. Coming soon! episode compilations based on topic or guest. Look for all Seth Grant's interview next month. Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month. Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis

Dr. Carol Tavris discusses Cognitive Dissonance, its impact on beliefs and behaviors. Explores societal divisions, self-justification, and decision-making. Highlights examples like Sarah Silverman's reaction and the role of forgiveness. Examines cognitive dissonance during the COVID pandemic and in political contexts. Emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in navigating conflicting beliefs.