Brain Science With Ginger Campbell, Md: Neuroscience For Everyone

BS 174 is an interview with neuroscientist and philosopher Georg Northoff about his fascinating book "The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem." We explore the significance of the growing evidence that most of the brain's activity occurs independently of external stimuli with a focus on the implications of this finding for our understanding of how the brain generates consciousness. Links and References: The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem by Georg Northoff The Brain from Inside Out by György Buzsáki  (BS 172) Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind by Andy Clark (BS 126) Northoff G, et al. Is temporal-spatial dynamics the “common currency” of brain and mind? In Quest of “Spatiotemporal Neuroscience”. Why Life Rev (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2019.05.002 (Link to Abstract) Georg Northoff website: http://www.georgnorthoff.com (for videos, talks and additional papers Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for a

In this special episode of Brain Science host Dr Ginger Campbell reads an excerpt from her bestseller "Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origin of Certainty." While it might seem ironic to talk about certainty during these extremely uncertain times, understanding how our brain generates the feeling of knowing or certainty is actually more relevant than ever. Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty is based on several early episodes of Brain Science and highlights the work of retired neurologist Dr. Robert Burton. Both physicians are fascinated by the surprising discovery that most of what our brain does is outside conscious awareness. They explore the evidence behind this claim as well as its implications. Ultimately they agree that this discovery could encourage us all to have more compassion and tolerance for both ourselves and others.   Links and References: Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD (Click here to buy) A Skeptic's Guide to the Mind: What N

In this episode I talk with neuroscientist György Buzsáki about his new book The Brain from Inside Out. We explore how abandoning what he calls the "Outside In" approach to understanding the brain can lead to surprising new insights.   Links and References: Buzsaki's Lab The Brain from Inside Out by György Buzsáki MD PhD Rhythms of the Brain by György Buzsáki (BSP 31) Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: The Great Courses Plus: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/ginger TextExpander: https:textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Please mark your calendar for June 16, 2020 to buy the second edition of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger Campbell, MD. Everyone who buys the book in June is eligible for a live webinar later this summer. Learn how you can support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automat

This episode of Brain Science is an interview with neuroscientist Matthew Cobb author of "The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience." Cobb approaches the history of neuroscience from a different perspective than previous writers. He writes from the perspective of a working scientist with a deep interest in the history of ideas and the interaction between science and culture. This approach makes for a fascinating discussion. Through out history assumptions about the brain have been influenced by both culture and contemporary science. For example, before the discovery of electricity it was impossible to image that the brain uses both chemical and electrical signals to communicate. Similarly, our current understanding is heavily influenced by the computer metaphor, which actually misses much about how real brains function. Another aspect of our discussion involves several ongoing debates with neuroscience such as the importance of localization versus network properties. We also touch on the tend

BS 170 is an interview with Andreas Nieder, author of "A Brain for Numbers: The Biology of the Number Instinct." We talk about the surprising discovery that a wide variety of animals have a number instinct, which is called the approximate number system. This appears to provide the basis for the more abstract mathematical abilities that are seen in humans. We also explore the relationship between mathematics and language. Links and References: A Brain for Numbers: The Biology of the Number Instinct by Andreas Nieder The Number Sense: How the Mind Creates Mathematics, Revised and Updated Edition (2011) by Stanislas Dehaene Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at http://textexpander.com/podcast Announcements:   In April 2020 Brain Science returns to a monthly schedule: it return to the 4th Friday of every month. The expanded 2nd Edition of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty will be published in l

This episode is an exploration of glial cells with R Douglas Fields, author of "The Other Brain: The Scientific and Medical Breakthroughs That Will Heal Our Brains and Revolutionize Our Health." Glial Cells outnumber the neurons in our nervous system, but until the last few years they were thought to merely support cells. Dr. Fields takes us through the discovery that they have their own signaling methods and are much more important than we ever imagined. This interview first aired in 2010, but Dr. Fields reviewed the original transcript and made no significant corrections. What was once controversial is now mainstream. I recorded a new introduction and summary and I have included some more recent references below. Links and References: The Other Brain: The Scientific and Medical Breakthroughs That Will Heal Our Brains and Revolutionize Our Health by R. Douglas Fields Fields, R.D., Bukalo, O. Myelin makes memories. Nat Neurosci(2020).https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-0606-x Fields, R.D., The Brain

BS 168 is an interview with psychologist Cecilia Heyes from Oxford University in the UK. We talk about her fascinating book "Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking." Our focus is on exploring the evidence that several cognitive skills that appear to be unique to humans are learned from other people rather than being inherited genetically as is often assumed. The proposal that language is a cognitive gadget NOT a cognitive instinct is controversial and has very important implications. Links and References: Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking by Cecilia Heyes Oostenbroek J, Slaughter, V, et. Al. (2016). Comprehensive longitudinal study challenges the existence of neonatal imitation in humans. Current Biology 26(10), 1334-1338. See show notes at http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional links and references. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at http://textexpander.com/podcast Announcements: Brain Science comes out on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month. The expanded

This is an interview with Stanislas Dehaene about his new book How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine . . . for Now.  According to neuroscientist Dehaene neuroscience has revealed that human babies are incredible "learning machines" whose abilities exceed those of the best current artificial intelligence. We explore why this is so and how this information could be used to help learners (and teachers) of all ages. Links and References: How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine . . . for Now by Stanislas Dehaene Visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts. Announcements: A 2nd expanded edition of Dr. Campbell's book Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty will be released in May 2020. Please join the Brain Science podcast Group on Goodreads at http://brainscienceforum.com. Brain Science comes out on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a scre

Brain Science 166 features the return of neuroscientist Stephen Macknik. We talk about his recent work that is focused on developing a new visual prosthesis based on recent discoveries and techniques like optogenetics. This episode is more technical than usual but Dr. Macknik makes the material accessible to all listeners. Links and References: http://macknik.neuralcorrelate.com YouTube video: https://youtu.be/TiA1W1OnU9c Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for  additional references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsor: The Great Courses Plus: http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/ginger Announcements:   Brain Science comes out on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn how you can support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, A

This episode is an encore presentation of an interview with neuroscientists Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde. We talk about their international bestseller "Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions." Macknik and Martinez-Conde are neuroscientists who study vision, but several years ago they had the innovative idea of collaborating with magicians to explore how their use of both visual and cognitive illusions reveals secrets about how our brains work. This may sound esoteric, but it has practical consequences, especially for making sound decisions in our complex world. I will be back in 2 weeks with a new interview with Stephen Macknik. Links and References: Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions by Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde Stephen Macknik Susana Martinez-Conde Please Visit Our Sponsors: BetterHelp at http://betterhelp.com/ginger TextExpander at TextExpander.com/podcast Announcements:  

Brain Science is entering its 14th year and for the first time since 2008 I will be producing two episodes a month. They will come out  on the 2nd and 4th Friday every month. This trailer provides a brief introduction to new listeners and a few announcements. The next full episode will be released on January 10, 2020.

This is our 13th annual review episode. I share a few highlights from episodes 153-163 and include a few extra reflections on the recent 4-part series about the neuroscience of Consciousness. This month's episode transcript is included for FREE. Partial list of Books/Authors featured in 2019: Understanding the Brain: From Cells to Behavior to Cognition by John E. Dowling (BS 153) Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging by Alan D. Castel (BS 154) Brain Inspired (podcast) with Paul Middlebrooks (BS 155) The New Mind Readers: What Neuroimaging Can and Cannot Reveal about Our Thoughts by Russell A. Poldrack (BS 156) Remembering: What 50 Years of Research with Famous Amnesia Patient H.M. Can Teach Us about Memory and How It Works by Donald G. MacKay (BS 157) Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition by Patricia Churchland (BS 158) Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are by Kevin J. Mitchell (BS 159) Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts by Stanislas

This episode of Books and Ideas is an interview with Susan Schneider, author of a fascinating new book called Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind. Schneider's book goes beyond the question of whether AI might become conscious to issues that might affect us on a more personal level.   I am cross posting this in the feed for Brain Science because there is an obvious overlap with the issue of consciousness, which we often discuss on Brain Science. Links and References: Susan Schneider (personal website) Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind by Susan Schneider Announcements: Plesae complete a brief audience survy. Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/boo

Christof Koch returns to Brain Science for the 3rd time and in this episode he shares his new book The Feeling of Life Itself: Why Consciousness Is Widespread but Can't Be Computed. He tells us why he doesn't think the Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC) are enough to explain subjective experience and he gives us a brief overview of the Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of Consciousness. Links and References: Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander @http://textexpander.com/podcast BetterHelp @http://betterhelp.com/ginger Announcements: Please complete a brief audience survey. Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about Premium Content at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Learn about Dr. Campbell's new coaching efforts at http://brainscien

This episode is an interview with Dr. Michael Graziano, author of Rethinking Consciousness: A Scientific Theory of Subjective Experience. We discuss how his Attention Schema Theory compliments several current theories and how it answers the question of how the brain generates subjective experience ("qualia").   Links and References: Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for references and episode transcripts. Announcements:   Please complete a brief audience survey. Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about Premium Content at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Learn about Dr. Campbell's new coaching efforts at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/coaching Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Wind

Respected neuroscientist Dr. Joseph Ledoux's new book is The Deep History of Ourselves: The Four-Billion-Year Story of How We Got Conscious Brains. In this episode we discuss Dr. Ledoux's ideas about the relationship between emotion and consciousness. His conclusions are controversial, but thought provoking. Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for complete show notes with links and episode transcripts. Links and References: Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for references and episode transcripts. Announcements: Please complete a brief audience survey. Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about Premium Content at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Learn about Dr. Campbell's new coaching efforts at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/coaching Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically

This month's episode is the beginning a four part series about the Neuroscience of Consciousness. This month I am discussing and comparing the ideas from several recent books on the subject in preparation for several upcoming interviews on the subject. Many people consider consciousness to be the biggest mystery of all, but in this episode we explore how progress has been made in unraveling the  ultimate "mystery of how our brain makes us human." Books featured in BS 160 (listed in the order cited): Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts by Stanislas Dehaene (2014) The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll (2016) The Strange Order of Things: Life, Feeling, and the Making of Cultures by Antonio Damasio (2018) From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds by Daniel C. Dennett (2017) Consciousness Demystified by Todd E. Feinberg, MD and Jon M. Mallatt, PhD   Links and References: Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast

BS 159 is an interview with Dr. Kevin Mitchell, author of Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are. We discuss the fact that our brain-based behavior is actually more innate than is commonly realized. Even identical twins are innately different despite having nearly identical genomes. This is because of events that occur during brain development. Listen now to learn more about what science is revealing about this fascinating topic. (PS: we also talk about the role of brain plasticity.) Links and References: Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are by Kevin J. Mitchell Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts. Announcements:   Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about how to support the show at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Learn about Dr. Campb

This month marks the return of popular Brain Science guest Dr. Patricia Churchland (BS 55 and BS 81). We talk about her new book, Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition. This book is a great combination of up to date neuroscience and critical thinking. It is recommended for listeners of all backgrounds. Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for detailed show notes and episode transcripts. Links and References: Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for references and episode transcripts. Announcements: Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about Premium Content at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations. You can now donate via Venmo. Learn about Dr. Campbell's new coaching efforts at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/coaching Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. Check ou

This episode of Brain Science features Dr. Donald MacKay, author of Remembering: What 50 Years of Research with Famous Amnesia Patient H.M. Can Teach Us about Memory and How It Works. H.M. may have been the most studied patient in history, but Mackay's work uncovers some surprising discoveries about the role of the hippocampus in language, as well as important implications for the aging brain. Please go to http://brainsciencepodcast.com for complete show notes and episode transcripts. Announcements: Send email to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Brain Science in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Learn about Premium Content at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Please Visit Our Sponsors: Babbel: the worlds leading language learning app TextExpander: an app for Mac and Windows that saves you