Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Dive into the fascinating world of speed and perception as discussed in this episode. Explore the disparity between human brains and computers, the illusion of objects created by spinning LED lights, and the hypothetical scenario of brains operating a trillion times faster. Discover how our perception of time and interactions with machines may evolve in the future.

Join David Eagleman and Max Bennett as they delve into the evolutionary journey of intelligence in the animal kingdom, highlighting the development of large brains in primates due to social complexities and the cognitive abilities of primates in determining hierarchy within societies. They also explore the concept of theory of mind in both primates and artificial intelligence, offering insights into the evolution of human language and the crucial role of mentalizing in effective communication.

Explore the human brain's fascination with conspiracy theories, examining origins, cognitive dissonance, storytelling, and group dynamics. Delve into the psychology and neuroscience behind conspiracy theories, linking them to cultural and neural phenomena. Analyze the allure of conspiracy theories in providing explanations for random events and the characteristics that make them compelling.

Magician Robert Strong and cognitive neuroscientists Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde discuss how magicians manipulate attention, deceive the brain, and create illusions. They explore the neuroscience behind magic tricks, highlighting attention manipulation, misdirection, and the collaboration between magic and neuroscience in studying perception and consciousness.

Join David Eagleman and cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot as they discuss why familiar things lose their shine over time. They explore concepts like habituation, repetition suppression, anticipation, and the value of variety in maintaining joy. Discover strategies to combat habituation and keep relationships, work, and daily experiences fresh and exciting.

Explore the brain's fascination with faces, from recognition to blindness. Learn about super recognizers and how computer algorithms perceive faces. Discover the challenges in facial recognition technology and the impact of diversity representation in media.

Israeli Maoz and Palestinian Aziz discuss rehumanizing the enemy and peacebuilding, sharing personal stories of pain and sorrow. They highlight the neuroscience of dehumanization, ingroups, outgroups, and the possibilities for repair and unity in conflict zones.

Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson discusses the complexities of intuition, highlighting the brain's subconscious operations and the need to balance intuition with caution. The podcast explores enhancing intuitive decision-making skills through self-awareness and practicing on small tasks. Additionally, it delves into the future of intuition with advanced sensors and AI to decode human emotions, reshaping academia and decision-making processes.

Isaac Saul, representing varied viewpoints, discusses steel-manning and polarization with Eagleman. They explore belief formation, extreme polarization, and seeking balance in politics. They touch on media polarization, critical thinking in education, and fostering open-minded conversations in a divided society.

Guest Ed Catmull, Pixar founder, discusses internal visual experiences, challenging universal visualization norms. Delve into Pixar's history, cognitive differences in visualization, Catmull's aphantasia discovery, and the power of art in education. Explore diverse inner worlds and the spectrum of visualization abilities.