Mind-Body Solution

Lauren Ross, a philosopher of science with a medical background, and Megan Peters, a computational neuroscientist, delve into the synergy of science and philosophy. They discuss misconceptions that pit the two against each other, emphasizing how philosophy provides clarity and rigor to scientific inquiry. The duo also explores how neuroscience informs philosophical debates, particularly in understanding consciousness. They highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and challenge conventional notions of subjective experience, pushing for a more integrated approach to knowledge.

What does it really mean to see with the mind’s eye?In this conversation, neurologist and consciousness researcher Professor Adam Zeman (Cognitive & Behavioural Neurologist, University of Exeter) joins Dr Tevin Naidu on Mind-Body Solution to explore the mysterious link between imagination, memory, and perception - and what happens when the mind’s eye goes dark.Zeman coined the term aphantasia, the inability to form mental images, and has spent decades studying how imagination shapes our sense of self and consciousness. Together, we discuss:- The neuroscience of mental imagery and its vividness- What aphantasia and hyperphantasia reveal about the brain-mind interface- Imagination’s evolutionary and social roles- How disorders of imagery illuminate the nature of consciousness- Why defining "inner experience" remains one of science's deepest puzzlesTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) - Introduction: Why imagination matters and the four big ideas(02:14) - What do we mean by “imagination”? Everyday vs scientific senses(05:46) - How imagination is implemented in the brain: top-down vs bottom-up processes(09:08) - The phenomenology of imagery: vividness, aphantasia, hyperphantasia(12:58) - Aphantasia explained: discovery, definition, and how common it is(16:50) - Measuring imagery: questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and limitations(20:30) - Dreams vs wakeful imagery: why people without imagery often still dream(24:12) - Aphantasia and memory: effects on autobiographical recall and learning(27:54) - Hyperphantasia and creativity: strengths, tradeoffs, and examples(31:28) - Clinical cases & the TIME project: epilepsy, transient amnesia, and memory links(34:50) - Accelerated long-term forgetting: what it reveals about memory consolidation(38:12) - Disorders of visual imagery: aphantasia, prosopagnosia, and related syndromes(41:55) - Therapeutic and performance uses of imagery: sports, music, psychotherapy(45:20) - Objective neural markers: fMRI, activation of visual cortices and network differences(48:56) - Assessing imagery in the clinic: best practices and pitfalls(52:30) - Imagination and consciousness: philosophical implications for “life in the mind”(55:50) - Language, sharing imagination, and why we evolved communicative imagination(59:38) - Dementia, PRESIDE and clinical relevance: early markers and research directions(01:03:50) - Future directions: AI, computational models, and bridging phenomenology + neuroscience(01:07:30) - Closing reflections: practical takeaways for researchers, clinicians, and curious minds EPISODE LINKS:- Adam's Website:- Adam's X: https://twitter.com/zemanlab- Adam's Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7BSh2mQAAAAJ&hl=en- Adam's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Adam-Zeman/author/B001H6UT84?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1760539071&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true- Science of Imagination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkYwKjkCJgECONNECT:- Website: https://mindbodysolution.org - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MindBodySolution- Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

The Mind-at-Large Project is a three-year, multidisciplinary initiative exploring consciousness and its role in reality. Mind-at-Large seeks to expand this paradigm - investigating the mind’s presence across scales, from quantum systems and living organisms to ecosystems and the cosmos itself. This series examines ideas such as panpsychism, pantheism, idealism, 4E cognition, animism, perspectivism, and non-human intelligence, while also engaging with extraordinary phenomenologies found in psychedelic experiences, mystical states, and anomalous consciousness.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) – Introduction: The Mind-at-Large Project – Consciousness Beyond the Brain(02:30) – Setting the Stage: Bridging Science, Philosophy & Mysticism(06:10) – What Does “Mind-at-Large” Mean? Context from Bergson, James & Whitehead(10:25) – Peter on Philosophy’s Role: Expanding Mind Beyond Materialism(14:02) – Matt on Process Philosophy: Cosmos as a Living Mind(18:35) – Psychedelics, Panpsychism & the Renewal of Consciousness Studies(23:15) – The Crisis of Materialism: Why Science Needs a Broader Ontology(28:20) – Reconciling Science & Spirituality Without Dogma(33:40) – Whitehead’s Influence: From Process to Participation(39:15) – Consciousness as Cosmos: The Participatory Universe(43:45) – Bergson’s "Élan Vital" and the Evolution of Experience(47:52) – Peter on Nietzsche, Bergson & Psychedelic Metaphysics(53:00) – Matt on Cosmotheology: The Universe as an Ongoing Creation(58:24) – Ethics of Expanding Consciousness: Individual & Cosmic Implications(1:03:12) – Philosophy’s Function Today: Meaning in an Age of Mechanism(1:07:40) – The Role of Psychedelics in Re-enchanting the World(1:13:02) – Toward an Integrative Science of Mind-at-Large(1:18:26) – Panpsychism vs. Idealism: Mapping the Metaphysical Terrain(1:23:58) – Matt on Whitehead’s Process Metaphysics & Ecology of Mind(1:29:47) – Peter on Nietzsche’s Eternal Return & Mind as Becoming(1:34:25) – The Future of Consciousness Studies: Interdisciplinary Frontiers(1:40:10) – Mind-at-Large Conferences: Mission, Vision & Collaboration(1:46:28) – Closing Reflections: Consciousness, Cosmos & Human MeaningEPISODE LINKS:- Mind-at-Large Project: https://mindatlargeproject.com- Peter's Website: https://www.philosopher.eu- Peter's YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Ontologistics- Peter's X: https://twitter.com/PeterSjostedtH- Peter’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-peter-sjöstedt-hughes-2b7a2927- Peter's Podcast: https://youtu.be/t6FZ5AB5998?si=RUNsQLyRMJQR9HXW- Peter's Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4yCrqS0dCY- Matt's Website: https://footnotes2plato.com- Matt's YouTube: https://youtube.com/@footnotes2plato- Matt's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vgskuk6Ef0- Matt's Lecture: https://youtu.be/XGulaiHDheY?si=bsZU-ohYTmhjTQJ6- Matt's X: https://x.com/ThouArtThat- Matt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdavidsegallCONNECT:- Website: https://mindbodysolution.org- Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

What really goes on in our inner lives? Do we all think in words, narrating our experience with a constant "inner voice"? Or is that just a myth of the mind?In this conversation, Dr Tevin Naidu speaks with Professor Russell Hurlburt, pioneer of the Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) method, a groundbreaking approach to studying inner experience using random beepers and in-depth interviews. Hurlburt challenges our assumptions about consciousness, showing that what people think their minds are like often doesn’t match reality.About Russell Hurlburt:Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Originator of the Descriptive Experience Sampling method, and author of six books on inner experience. He has studied everyday and clinical populations alike, from adolescents to patients with schizophrenia, anxiety, and bulimia.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro & Inner Experience: Who is Russell Hurlburt and why inner experience matters03:02 Consciousness vs Mind: Why Russ avoids strict definitions and focuses on lived experience05:34 Inventing the Beeper (1973): Origins of Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES)07:41 From Questionnaires to DES: Why self-report methods failed and random sampling was needed10:03 Intellectual Roots of DES: Phenomenology, eyewitness memory, and psychology’s blind spots16:52 Skinner & Radical Behaviorism: Agreements, divergences, and the reality of private events18:20 How DES Works: Random beeps, sampling, and expositional interviews explained21:01 Inside the Method: What participants do during a DES study and how data is collected23:32 Iterative Interviewing: Correcting armchair reports and improving experiential fidelity30:18 Engineering Mind Meets Psychology: Why random sampling reveals hidden mental processes33:48 Biggest Surprises from DES: Counterintuitive discoveries about everyday inner experience36:16 Inner Speech is Rare: Why inner monologue is less common than most assume42:01 Phenomenology of Inner Speech: Full sentences, missing words, voices, and spatial location49:44 Clinical Relevance: How DES challenges psychiatric categories like DSM and ICD54:44 Schizophrenia & Splattered Perception: Figure/ground breakdowns in inner experience58:10 Inner Seeing vs. Mental Images: The difference between "seeing" and mere imagery1:02:26 The Problem of the Self: Why defining the self is philosophically problematic1:37:28 Future Directions in DES: AI, methodology, and a fidelity-based science of mind1:53:45 Malleability of Inner Experience: Case studies (Fran, Mel) and closing reflectionsEPISODE LINKS:- Russell's Website: https://hurlburt.faculty.unlv.edu//- Russell's DES interviews: https://hurlburt.faculty.unlv.edu/ieo/ieo.html- Russell's Books: https://hurlburt.faculty.unlv.edu//sampling.html#books - Exploring Inner Experience: https://hurlburt.faculty.unlv.edu//sampling.htmlCONNECT:- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

Robert Prentner, a philosopher and founder of the Interface Consciousness Lab, dives deep into the intersection of consciousness, phenomenology, and mathematics. He explores how phenomenology can be formalized without losing its essence and argues that consciousness is fundamental, transcending physicalism. Prentner discusses the risks of reductionism in mathematical approaches and introduces concepts like phenomenal spaces and artificial phenomenology. He highlights the importance of understanding interfaces not just in behavior but in how systems experience and present reality.

In this episode of Mind-Body Solution, Dr Tevin Naidu speaks with Dr Ruth Kastner, physicist and philosopher, about her groundbreaking Possibilist Transactional Formulation (PTF) of quantum theory. Kastner argues that quantum mechanics reveals a deeper realm of ontic possibilities, beyond spacetime, where transactions between emitters and absorbers give rise to the physical world we observe.This conversation bridges physics, philosophy, and metaphysics, offering a radical yet rigorous vision of reality as fundamentally processual, relational, and deeply mysterious. Dr Ruth Kastner earned her M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Maryland.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) - Introduction & Ruth Kastner's journey into quantum foundations(00:24) - Why quantum paradoxes grabbed her: entanglement, EPR & the measurement problem(03:04) - History, philosophy & foundations: why historical context matters for physics(04:11 )- Discovering the Transactional Formulation: Kramer, Wheeler-Feynman & absorber theory roots(09:36) - The Transactional Formulation explained: emitters, absorbers, offers & confirmations(11:06) - Time-symmetric direct-action theory & the role of virtual photons(13:16) - Absorber response and the ‘handshake’: how transactions actualize energy transfer(17:47) - The Born Rule: why PTF gives a physical explanation for quantum probabilities(20:27) - Possibilist metaphysics: wavefunctions as ontic possibilities in Hilbert space(24:10) - Iceberg metaphor: spacetime as the measurable "tip" of quantum reality(26:24) - Objective reduction & von Neumann's "process 1" in the transactional picture(27:03) - Maudlin's critique & replies: causal loops, relativistic formulation & objections answered(31:19) - Retrocausality clarified: what retrocausation does and doesn’t mean in PTF(34:51) - Emergent spacetime from transactions: emission/absorption events & Einstein equations(43:54) - Consciousness & quantum theory: why mind is not a measurement "band-aid"(46:52) - The mind-body problem reframed: monism, receptivity & quantum possibilities(49:35) - Time symmetry, indeterminacy & free will: where physics leaves room for choice(52:15) - Yoga, receptivity & embodiment: contemplative practice informing Kastner’s thinking(58:14) - Cosmology & empirical prospects: dark matter, dark energy & testable predictions(1:03:51) - Further reading & resources: books, papers & the Possibilist Transactional Formulation EPISODE LINKS:- Ruth's Website: https://www.ruthekastner.org/- Ruth's Academic Blog: https://transactionalinterpretation.org/- Ruth's Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eCEoqOcAAAAJ&hl=en- Ruth's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ruth-E.-Kastner/author/B008HTAV4G?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueCONNECT:- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

In a fascinating conversation, Daniela Schiller, a leading neuroscientist and director of the Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience at Mount Sinai, delves into the malleability of memory and emotion. She discusses how fear memories form in the brain and the flexibility of emotional responses, emphasizing that our experiences are not hardwired. Schiller highlights ethical concerns around modifying traumatic memories and introduces the concept of the Human Affectome. The discussion also spans consciousness, social navigation, and the integration of neuroscience with philosophy.

Mark Solms, a pioneering neuropsychologist, and Karl Friston, a leading neuroscientist, dive deep into the nature of consciousness and artificial intelligence. They discuss the complexities of defining consciousness and its relationship to intelligence, arguing that machine awareness poses ethical dilemmas. The duo explores whether artificial systems can achieve genuine feelings and subjective experiences, emphasizing that true understanding cannot be merely mimicked. Their insights offer a profound perspective on the future of sentience and the potential for engineering artificial consciousness.

Dr Azra Raza is a Professor of Medicine, Clinical Director of the Evans Foundation MDS Center, and Executive Director of The First Cell Coalition for Cancer Survivors at Columbia University in New York. She is the best-selling author of "The First Cell: And the human costs of pursuing cancer to the last". She started her research in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) in 1982 and moved to Rush University, Chicago, Illinois in 1992, where she was the Charles Arthur Weaver Professor in Oncology and Director, Division of Myeloid Diseases. The MDS Program, along with a Tissue Repository containing more than 50,000 samples from MDS and acute leukemia patients was successfully relocated to the University of Massachusetts in 2004 and to Columbia University in 2010. Before moving to New York, Dr Raza was the Chief of Hematology Oncology and the Gladys Smith Martin Professor of Oncology at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester. She has published the results of her laboratory research and clinical trials in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Blood, Cancer, Cancer Research, the British Journal of Hematology, Leukemia, and Leukemia Research. Dr Raza serves on numerous national and international panels as a reviewer, consultant, and advisor and is the recipient of a number of awards.TIMESTAMPS:(0:00) - Introduction (0:50) - The First Cell: and the human costs of pursuing cancer to the last(4:10) - Defining Cancer(7:50) - A Cancer Paradigm Shift: Finding the First Cell(11:16) - "The Cure for Cancer"(19:05) - Azra's Journey, Development & Reception(24:40) - Hope, Honesty & Harm in a Clinical Setting(33:00) - Current Medical Politics vs Revolutionary Detections/Treatments(39:00) - Increasing Lifespan & Healthspan(43:01) - "Michael Levin Should Win The Nobel Prize!"(51:00) - A Good Life & a Good Death(56:00) - How Words distort our relationship with Disease(1:00:00) - How Disease & Death Shape Our Lives(1:05:40) - The First Cell Book(1:09:15) - A Better Healthcare System(1:12:27) - Conclusion EPISODE LINKS:- Azra's Website: https://azraraza.com- Azra's Books: https://azraraza.com/books- Azra's X: https://x.com/AzraRazaMD- Azra's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@AzraRazaMDCONNECT:- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution- YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu- Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu=============================Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

Join Aaron Sloman, Emeritus Professor of AI and Cognitive Science, as he redefines life through the lens of information rather than just biological processes. He shares insights on animal cognition, emphasizing intelligence that can exist without language. The conversation ventures into the complexities of the mind-body problem and the role of technology in cognitive augmentation. Sloman also questions the deeper purpose of human existence amid modern challenges, urging a multidisciplinary approach to unlock the mysteries of life.