Why do human brains need social interaction? Why might AI chatbots be insufficient to scratch the itch? What do we love so much about real human touch and in-person interaction? Why do so many of us live with dogs? From empathy to introversion to social media to isolation (and what to do about it), we’ve got it all this week with guest Ben Rein, author of the new book Why Brains Need Friends. 

Why do human brains need social interaction? Why might AI chatbots be insufficient to scratch the itch? What do we love so much about real human touch and in-person interaction? Why do&nbsp;so many of us live with dogs? From empathy to introversion to social media to isolation (and what to do about it), we&rsquo;ve got it all this week with guest Ben Rein, author of the new book Why Brains Need Friends.&nbsp;

Neuroscientist and author David Eagleman discusses how our brain interprets the world and what that means for us. Through storytelling, research, interviews, and experiments, David Eagleman tackles wild questions that illuminate new facets of our lives and our realities.

Neuroscientist and author David Eagleman discusses how our brain interprets the world and what that means for us. Through storytelling, research, interviews, and experiments, David Eagleman tackles wild questions that illuminate new facets of our lives and our realities.

Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Ep125 "Why do brains need friends?" (with Ben Rein)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e92e03df-6220-44ec-abe5-b375002af1cc/transcript

Why do we read so much into how a robot moves, and what does that tell us about human brains? Why did our history make us so sensitive to movement? Why do we trust graceful motion? Should we make a robot 'look' at an object it’s about to pick up, even if it doesn’t need to? Is movement the original form of animal intelligence? Join Eagleman with guest Catie Cuan, a roboticist, dancer, and choreographer. Catie’s an expert on the strange social interface between humans and machines, and she’s gotten there by dancing with robots.

Why do we read so much into how a robot moves, and what does that tell us about human brains? Why did our history make us so sensitive to movement? Why do we trust graceful motion? Should we make a robot 'look' at an object it&rsquo;s about to pick up, even if it doesn&rsquo;t need to? Is movement the original form of animal intelligence? Join Eagleman with guest Catie Cuan, a roboticist, dancer, and choreographer. Catie&rsquo;s an expert on the strange social interface between humans and machines, and she&rsquo;s gotten there by dancing with robots.

Ep156 What Do We Learn About AI by Dancing with Robots? with Catie Cuan

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9f178f26-b545-4e19-b707-b45c00183bfe/transcript

Why do brains generate strange thoughts sometimes? And why do some brains refuse to let go of those thoughts? Today we'll talk about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with expert Jon Hershfield, getting a view from the inside and the outside. Why do some people lock the door but go back repeatedly to check it, and still have a feeling of uncertainty that it’s locked? Why do some people wash their hands over and over and never feel that they reach a point when it’s “done”. How, for some people, are intrusive thoughts like junkmail that the brain just cant help opening? We’ll see how obsessive thoughts can get caught in loops, and how those loops might therapeutically be broken.

Why do brains generate strange thoughts sometimes? And why do some brains refuse to let go of those thoughts? Today we'll talk about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with expert Jon Hershfield, getting a view from the inside and the outside. Why do some people lock the door but go back repeatedly to check it, and still have a feeling of uncertainty that it&rsquo;s locked? Why do some people wash their hands over and over and never feel that they reach a point when it&rsquo;s &ldquo;done&rdquo;.&nbsp;How, for some people, are intrusive thoughts like junkmail that the brain just cant help opening? We&rsquo;ll see how obsessive thoughts can get caught in loops, and how those loops might therapeutically be broken.

Ep155 "Why Can’t Some People Stop Thinking Certain Thoughts?" with Jon Hershfield

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ceb607d1-41bc-4a2b-bf47-b455003a813c/transcript

What if your brain got stuck in sadness and never reset? What does it feel like when joy disappears completely? Can a person love their family deeply and still want to die? What do you do when treatment after treatment fails? What if the difference between despair and recovery is electrical? How can we better recognize invisible struggles in those around us? Join Eagleman with guest Jon Nelson, a man who suffered for years under the grip of depression, and finally found a science-fiction like treatment which gave him relief.

What if your brain got stuck in sadness and never reset? What does it feel like when joy disappears completely? Can a person love their family deeply and still want to die? What do you do when treatment after treatment fails? What if the difference between despair and recovery is electrical? How can we better recognize invisible struggles in those around us? Join Eagleman with guest Jon Nelson, a man who suffered for years under the grip of depression, and finally found a science-fiction like treatment which gave him relief.

Ep154  "Can a Depressed Brain Find Its Way Out?" with Jon Nelson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9dbbed21-ac2f-4cff-a984-b44e001e680f/transcript

Ep125 "Why do brains need friends?" (with Ben Rein)

In 1 playlist(s)

Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips