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May 2023
1h 48m

#674: Neuroscientist David Eagleman — Ex...

Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig
About this episode

Brought to you by Vuori comfortable and durable performance apparel, Athletic Greens’s AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement, and AeroPress 3-in-1 coffee press for delicious brews.

David Eagleman (@davideagleman) is a neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author, TED speaker, and Guggenheim Fellow. He is the writer and presenter of the Emmy-nominated series The Brain on PBS, as well as the podcast Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman. In Palo Alto, California, he teaches at Stanford University, runs a startup neurotech company called Neosensory, and directs the Center for Science and Law. Dr. Eagleman also runs a film and television production company, Cognito Entertainment, to bring scientific themes (fiction and nonfiction) to the screen. He is the author of eight books, including the international bestsellers Sum, Incognito, and his newest book, Livewired.

Please enjoy!

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[07:10] Mnemonists and synesthetes.

[12:13] Creating new senses.

[17:39] Practical applications in practice.

[24:36] Five years from now.

[28:26] The curious resilience and vulnerability of memory.

[32:25] Testing the accuracy of memory.

[34:50] Meeting Francis Crick.

[36:25] The dangerous lumberjack.

[39:43] Dream projects.

[41:23] Exploring consciousness.

[44:38] Dreaming and brain plasticity.

[54:13] Influences.

[57:23] Why neuroscience?

[1:00:22] Sum: An extended failure that became a wild success.

[1:05:36] The Don Vaughn method.

[1:07:02] Recommended reading.

[1:08:50] Hypothesis testing.

[1:09:40] Lazy Susan advice.

[1:11:18] A week in the life of David.

[1:16:28] Livewired.

[1:20:48] Assumptions ripe for challenging.

[1:25:34] Possibilianism.

[1:27:35] David’s billboard.

[1:30:28] Empire of the Invisible.

[1:32:11] Learning from AI.

[1:34:42] Perception of time.

[1:39:47] Idiotheses.

[1:40:59] Parting thoughts.

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