Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share 1123: David Eagleman | Your Prehistoric Brain on Modern Problems
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
1123: David Eagleman | Your Prehistoric Brain on Modern Problems
David Eagleman explains why counterfeiting works, how our empathy fails, why mind reading remains elusive, and if we'll ever upload our minds to computers.
What We Discuss with David Eagleman:
Dr. David Eagleman worked with the European Central Bank on anti-counterfeiting measures, and his research revealed that most people don't notice security features on bills. His key recommendation was to use faces rather than buildings for watermarks since our brains have specialized neural real estate for recognizing faces, making counterfeit detection easier.
Research shows our brains have less empathy for people we consider part of our "outgroup." FMRI studies demonstrated that even simple one-word labels (like religious affiliations) can trigger this differential response in the brain's pain matrix when witnessing someone experiencing pain.
True mind reading via brain scanning is likely impossible in our lifetime. While we can decode basic sensory input (like visual or auditory cortex activity), actual thoughts involve complex personal experiences, memories, and creative combinations that would be impossible to capture without knowing someone's entire life history.
Uploading a human brain to digital form presents enormous technical challenges and philosophical questions. The computational requirements exceed our current global capacity, and questions about identity (is the upload "you" if your physical body dies?) remain unresolved. Brain plasticity would also need to be captured for the upload to remain dynamic.
Understanding our brain's natural tendency toward ingroup/outgroup thinking gives us the opportunity to consciously overcome these biases. By recognizing our shared humanity and finding common interests with those different from us, we can build bridges across divides and develop greater empathy for all people. This awareness can help us make more compassionate choices in our daily interactions.
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1123
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
View all episodes
By Jordan Harbinger
4.8
1175611,756 ratings
David Eagleman explains why counterfeiting works, how our empathy fails, why mind reading remains elusive, and if we'll ever upload our minds to computers.
What We Discuss with David Eagleman:
Dr. David Eagleman worked with the European Central Bank on anti-counterfeiting measures, and his research revealed that most people don't notice security features on bills. His key recommendation was to use faces rather than buildings for watermarks since our brains have specialized neural real estate for recognizing faces, making counterfeit detection easier.
Research shows our brains have less empathy for people we consider part of our "outgroup." FMRI studies demonstrated that even simple one-word labels (like religious affiliations) can trigger this differential response in the brain's pain matrix when witnessing someone experiencing pain.
True mind reading via brain scanning is likely impossible in our lifetime. While we can decode basic sensory input (like visual or auditory cortex activity), actual thoughts involve complex personal experiences, memories, and creative combinations that would be impossible to capture without knowing someone's entire life history.
Uploading a human brain to digital form presents enormous technical challenges and philosophical questions. The computational requirements exceed our current global capacity, and questions about identity (is the upload "you" if your physical body dies?) remain unresolved. Brain plasticity would also need to be captured for the upload to remain dynamic.
Understanding our brain's natural tendency toward ingroup/outgroup thinking gives us the opportunity to consciously overcome these biases. By recognizing our shared humanity and finding common interests with those different from us, we can build bridges across divides and develop greater empathy for all people. This awareness can help us make more compassionate choices in our daily interactions.
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1123
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More shows like The Jordan Harbinger Show
View all
Stuff You Should Know
78,291 Listeners
The Joe Rogan Experience
228,421 Listeners
Adam Carolla Show
37,197 Listeners
We're Alive
9,599 Listeners
The Ben Shapiro Show
154,125 Listeners
The James Altucher Show
2,505 Listeners
The Art of Manliness
14,280 Listeners
The Adam and Dr. Drew Show
8,749 Listeners
Reasonable Doubt
3,604 Listeners
Making Sense with Sam Harris
26,386 Listeners
RHAP: We Know Survivor
1,513 Listeners
Between Us
5,945 Listeners
Court Junkie
8,577 Listeners
Something You Should Know
4,186 Listeners
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
33,345 Listeners
Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe
21,691 Listeners
Cold Case Files
8,673 Listeners
TRIGGERnometry
2,042 Listeners
The Daily Stoic
4,903 Listeners
Quillette Podcast
797 Listeners
The Charlie Kirk Show
70,203 Listeners
The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad
1,169 Listeners
The Last Invention
703 Listeners