Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Eagleman answers listeners questions, debunks the myth of only using 10% of our brain, explores empathic responses, discusses the ineffectiveness of the Implicit Associations Test in courtrooms, and addresses questions about dreams and memory.

Explore auditory illusions, pareidolia, visual experiences, and the ambiguity of perception. Discover the intriguing nature of human perception through the viral dress illusion debate. Delve into the brain's construction of perception and the role of assumptions in shaping our perceptions. Learn how our brain processes ambiguous signals and imposes meaning on them. Understand how our expectations and prior assumptions determine what we see and hear. Uncover the power of assumptions in shaping interpretations and experiences.

Can we understand ourselves by studying molecules? The connection between passport color and schizophrenia. The complexities of genetic predispositions for criminal behavior. The relevance of biology for self-knowledge. The interplay of genes, environment, and behavior. The impact of genetics and life circumstances on depression. The complex relationship between nature and nurture. The limitations of understanding human experience through neuroscience. The mistake of reductionism. Unraveling the mysteries of the human brain.

Delve into the complexities of the brain and the quest for self-knowledge. Explore the limitations of introspection and the influence of unconscious processes. Discover the impact of physical brain damage on behavior and personality. Learn about the effects of narcotics on the brain and behavior. Understand the chemical composition and addictive effects of cocaine. Explore the intricate link between biology and identity.

Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky explores the influence of language on perception and attention, discussing topics such as color perception, representation of time, black storytelling, cultural orientation awareness, orientation patterns, thinking patterns, grammar's impact on children's thinking, and the relationship between language and our brains.

Explore the possibilities and limitations of mind-reading technology, including portable brain scanning in airports. Discover the incredible potential of brain-computer interfaces in controlling the outside world. Learn about the decoding of words from brain signals and the complex nature of thoughts. Understand the challenges of brain interpretation and understanding someone's thoughts and emotions. Find out how to access more podcast content and enjoy some travel and sale advertisements.

Explore the phenomenon of word aversion and its connection to synesthesia, autism, shapes, and sound probabilities. Discover why certain words like 'moist' trigger strong negative emotional responses. Learn about the mere exposure effect and how repeated exposure to something can lead to a preference for it. Dive into the concept of neighborhood density and its relation to word aversion. Get insights into ongoing research on the genetic and neural bases of word aversion.

David Eagleman is joined by Christopher Chabris and Dan Simons to discuss their book, Nobody's Fool. They explore various topics related to deception, including understanding others, cognitive shortcuts, the deception of attention, the confidence of AI models, struggling to update beliefs, and expanding mental models.

Exploring the brain's ability to readjust its circuitry and its impact on our perceptions. Topics include motion after effect, visual aftereffects, the McCulloch effect, adaptation in the brain, invisible parts of the world, predicting and filtering sensory information, and retina functions in day and night.

Explore the challenges of deciphering an alien language and the parallels to understanding communication among Earth's diverse species. Delve into the Fermi Paradox and uncover intriguing hypotheses surrounding the absence of extraterrestrial signals. Discover the power of data and AI in opening up infinite possibilities. Explore advancements in AI for translating and decoding animal languages. Discuss the challenges of understanding and translating the language of an alien species. Explore the potential of technology in decoding animal languages and communicate with extraterrestrial beings in the future.