Episode
#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
1:41:52
Published: Wed Aug 26 2020
Description
David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford. Support this podcast by supporting our sponsors: - Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex - BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex – Cash App: download app & use code "LexPodcast" Episode links: David's Website: https://www.eagleman.com/ David's Twitter: https://twitter.com/davideagleman Livewired (book): https://amzn.to/3ba4ezv If you would like to get more information about this podcast go to https://lexfridman.com/podcast or connect with @lexfridman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, or YouTube where you can watch the video versions of these conversations. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify, or support it on Patreon. Here's the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. OUTLINE: 00:00 - Introduction 05:05 - Livewired 16:39 - Hardware vs software 25:53 - Brain-computer interfaces 35:12 - 2020 is a challenge for neuroplasticity 46:08 - Free will 50:43 - Nature of evil 58:55 - Psychiatry 1:06:28 - GPT-3 1:13:31 - Intelligence in the brain 1:21:51 - Neosensory 1:31:27 - Book recommendations 1:34:07 - Meaning of life 1:36:53 - Advice for young people
Chapters
Neuroscientist David Eagleman discusses his belief that we are far from reaching the limits of the human brain and its potential for adaptation and excellence in the face of new and smarter technologies.
00:00 - 02:57 (02:57)
Summary
Neuroscientist David Eagleman discusses his belief that we are far from reaching the limits of the human brain and its potential for adaptation and excellence in the face of new and smarter technologies.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
A discussion about the malleability of the hardware of the human brain and the principles of plastic systems.
02:57 - 11:30 (08:32)
Summary
A discussion about the malleability of the hardware of the human brain and the principles of plastic systems. The brain is typically thought about in terms of the metaphors we already have, like hardware and software.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the concept of brain plasticity and how different parts have different plasticity windows.
11:30 - 16:16 (04:46)
Summary
The podcast discusses the concept of brain plasticity and how different parts have different plasticity windows. The speakers question whether malleability is more genetic or dependent on the data received.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The creation of the brain, from embryonic stem cells to the aging process, enables neurobiologists to understand Raibow's Law in neurology, where older memories are more stable than newer ones as different layers of biochemistry changes at various speeds.
16:16 - 25:00 (08:44)
Summary
The creation of the brain, from embryonic stem cells to the aging process, enables neurobiologists to understand Raibow's Law in neurology, where older memories are more stable than newer ones as different layers of biochemistry changes at various speeds.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The Liveware system of the human brain is being augmented with the help of devices like Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) such as Neuralink, where a communication channel is built between the brain and computers at the basic applications level, and holds promise for futuristic applications as well.
25:00 - 34:19 (09:19)
Summary
The Liveware system of the human brain is being augmented with the help of devices like Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) such as Neuralink, where a communication channel is built between the brain and computers at the basic applications level, and holds promise for futuristic applications as well. The integration of these technologies with the natural human system brings up debates about what is “natural” and the potential outcomes of this convergence.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The year 2020 has been tough for nearly everybody, but it has had one silver lining: brain plasticity.
34:19 - 41:32 (07:12)
Summary
The year 2020 has been tough for nearly everybody, but it has had one silver lining: brain plasticity. Essentially, people have been forced out of their routines and it's allowing them to take on new challenges and learn more effectively.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Despite the common notion that attention span is growing shorter, most people listen to the entirety of podcasts.
41:32 - 51:11 (09:39)
Summary
Despite the common notion that attention span is growing shorter, most people listen to the entirety of podcasts. The brain is a complex system that can be influenced by different experiences, highlighting the importance of investing in children's formative years.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Researchers conduct fMRI scans on participants to study how the brain processes in-group versus out-group members, showcasing a potential source of prejudice and discrimination.
51:11 - 59:17 (08:05)
Summary
Researchers conduct fMRI scans on participants to study how the brain processes in-group versus out-group members, showcasing a potential source of prejudice and discrimination.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The incorporation of neuroscience and psychiatry in the legal system can provide useful information in mental health cases, such as schizophrenia and drug addiction.
59:18 - 1:06:41 (07:22)
Summary
The incorporation of neuroscience and psychiatry in the legal system can provide useful information in mental health cases, such as schizophrenia and drug addiction. Establishing specialized courts with judges and juries who have expertise in mental illness could be an effective solution.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Despite the mind-blowing impressiveness of artificial neural networks, they lack some basic things like relevance, which humans take for granted.
1:06:41 - 1:17:03 (10:22)
Summary
Despite the mind-blowing impressiveness of artificial neural networks, they lack some basic things like relevance, which humans take for granted. Computers don't have the capacity to absorb and care about different things like humans do.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Psychologists developed a terror management theory that fear of mortality is at the core of our choices, but most people do not meditate on the idea of the fear of death and instead focus on daily tasks and deadlines.
1:17:03 - 1:22:27 (05:23)
Summary
Psychologists developed a terror management theory that fear of mortality is at the core of our choices, but most people do not meditate on the idea of the fear of death and instead focus on daily tasks and deadlines.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Humans have the natural ability to pick up on things that are not visible to the naked eye, like the magnetic field of the earth or the moods of other people, which can be even more powerful than we realize.
1:22:27 - 1:27:20 (04:53)
Summary
Humans have the natural ability to pick up on things that are not visible to the naked eye, like the magnetic field of the earth or the moods of other people, which can be even more powerful than we realize.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The human ability to sense reality is limited by our biology and there are innumerable possibilities that exist beyond our perception, as science has revealed.
1:27:20 - 1:33:12 (05:51)
Summary
The human ability to sense reality is limited by our biology and there are innumerable possibilities that exist beyond our perception, as science has revealed. Brilliant minds can recommend books that expand our understanding of our reality, which can be detached from the physical world.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The concept of Live Wide, which explores brain plasticity and the potential paths we could have taken in life, is discussed from different cultural and societal perspectives.
1:33:12 - 1:37:41 (04:29)
Summary
The concept of Live Wide, which explores brain plasticity and the potential paths we could have taken in life, is discussed from different cultural and societal perspectives. The idea is that we all navigate a particular path due to a combination of factors, including choice and circumstance.
Episode#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
College should be less vocational and instead focus on digesting information to gain a storehouse of knowledge that can be creatively remixed.
1:37:42 - 1:41:29 (03:47)
Summary
College should be less vocational and instead focus on digesting information to gain a storehouse of knowledge that can be creatively remixed. The important thing is to learn how to learn and be adaptable.