A single microscopic brain cell cannot think, is not conscious, but if you bring in a few more brain cells, and a few more, and connect them all, at a certain point, the group itself will be able to think and experience emotions and have opinions and a personality and know that it exists. How can such astonishing things be made from such simple ingredients? Well, answering that question means learning not only who we are but, more importantly, how we are. Today, using what neuroscientists know so far, we are going to make a town function like a brain, using people as neurons.
Mind reading might sound like pseudoscientific, but its scientific counterpart, thought identification, is very much a real thing. It's based in neuroimaging and machine learning, and what's really cool is that experiments in mind reading aren't just about spying on what someone is thinking. They're about figuring out what thoughts are even made of. When you think of something, what does that mental picture actually look like? What resolution is it in? How high fidelity is a memory, and how do they change over time? In this episode, we are going to look at how
reading people's minds can help us answer these questions.
Ever wonder what's happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works with this illuminating series. The first episode looks at how memory works and examines the way in which the brain stores, processes, and retrains memories. It also looks at the ways in which memory can fail and discusses how memories can warp over time. It talks to neuroscientists and a memory champion who explains her techniques.
The second episode of the series looks at dreams and tries to explain what happens in the brain and body after we go to sleep. It looks at the significance of dreams and what dreams can teach us about ourselves. It talks to neuroscientists who discuss slow-wave sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep during which dreams occur. It looks at the history of dream interpretation and its validity.
The third episode looks at anxiety and explores why it is so common. It talks to neuroscientists who explain the physiological and evolutionary basis of anxiety. Although it can help animals escape predators, anxiety can cause serious problems for human beings. It talks to sufferers of anxiety and examines the different types of anxiety people can feel. It also looks at how social media can cause anxiety.
Modern headlines are claiming mindfulness may cure anxiety, depression, and a whole host of other health problems. How can this simple practice of watching your own breath change the way your brain works? And can that change your life? The fourth episode of the series looks at the power of mindfulness and meditation. It examines different kinds on meditation (transcendental, dynamic, and religious) and notes that they are different from mindfulness meditation (Satipatthana). Also it talks to neuroscientists who discuss what happens in the brain during meditation.
Today, using what neuroscientists know so far, we are going to make a town function like a brain, using people as neurons.