About the Guest: Terrence Deacon, PhD is a Professor in the department of Anthropology at UC-Berkeley. He has written many papers and multiple books about the evolution of human language, origins of consciousness, and related topics.

Episode Summary: Nick and Dr. Deacon discuss various aspects of biological evolution, from natural vs. sexual selection to gene duplication and the consequences of domestication; the domestication of dogs and songbirds; human vs. non-human forms of vocal communication; ritual behavior & the origins symbolic cognition; artificial intelligence & large language models (LLMs); and more.

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

#language #consciousness #evolution #biology #AI #artificialintelligence #cognition #anthropology

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Evolution, Language, Domestication, Symbolic Cognition, AI & Large Language Models | Terrence Deacon | #141

Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists &amp; thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it.

 The weekly M&amp;M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today. 
Not medical advice.

At M&amp;M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it. 
As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body &amp; mind work by curating &amp; synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet. 
I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint. 
My beliefs:

Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas &amp; preferred conclusions.Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.
Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload &amp; historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi:

“Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)“Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)“Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)

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About the guest: Robert Malenka, MD, PhD is psychiatrist & neuroscientist. He has spent most of his career at Stanford University, where his lab studies synaptic plasticity, mechanisms of drug action in the brain, and the neural basis of behavior. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Malenka discuss: mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the brain, such as LTP & LTD; addiction & the dopamine reward circuitry of the brain; psychoactive drugs ranging from stimulants (cocaine, nicotine, amphetamines) to opioids (fentanyl), psychedelics, MDMA, THC, and alcohol; and more.

Related episodes: How Does Ketamine Work & Is It Addictive? | Christian Lüscher | #90Neuroscience of Social Behavior, Pain, Empathy, Emotion, Brain Mechanisms of MDMA | Monique Smith | #159
 Support the Show. All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M; Substack 

Try Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.

Try SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount.

Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off.

Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Drugs, Addiction & Neuroplasticity: Psychedelics, MDMA, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine (Adderall), Nicotine, Marijuana & Alcohol | Robert Malenka | #162

About the guest: Christoffer Clemmensen, PhD is scientist running the Metabolism & Molecular Pharmacology group at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. His lab studies the biological basis of obesity & other metabolic disorders. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Clemmensen discuss: GLP-1 & gut hormones; obesity & metabolic disease; GLP-1 agonists and weight loss drugs (e.g. Ozempic); novel, dual-action weight loss drugs his lab has created; and more.

Previous discussion: Metabolism, Obesity & Psychedelics for Metabolic Disease | Christoffer Clemmensen | #105

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice. Support the Show. All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M; Substack 

Try Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.

Try SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount.

Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off.

Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

GLP-1, Weight Loss Drugs, Ozempic, Obesity, NMDA Receptors, Metabolism & Brain Health | Christoffer Clemmensen | #161

About the guest: Eugene Morin, PhD is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Trent who studies Paleolithic humans and animals. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Morin discuss evolution of Paleolithic humans; Neanderthal diet & cultural capacity; key human adaptations related to endurance and stamina; hunter gatherer hunting strategies; evolution of human digestion; and more.

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

 Support the Show. All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M; Substack 

Try Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.

Try SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount.

Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off.

Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Diet, Hunting, Culture and Evolution of Paleolithic Humans & Hunter Gatherers | Eugene Morin | #160

About the guest: Monique Smith, PhD is an assistant professor of neurobiology at the University of California-San Diego, where her lab studies the neuroscience of social behavior, pain, and emotion. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Smith discuss: the neurobiology of pain perception; social & empathy-like behavior in animals; emotion; brain mechanisms of MDMA; serotonin; and more.

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

 Support the Show. All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M; Substack 

Try Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.

Try SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount.

Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off.

Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Neuroscience of Social Behavior, Pain, Empathy, Emotion, Brain Mechanisms of MDMA | Monique Smith | #159

About the guest: Dominic D'Agostino, PhD is a researcher and professor at the University of South Florida, where his lab studies metabolism, human biology, and related subjects. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. D'Agostino discuss: ketosis and the ketogenic diet; effects of ketosis on diabetes, insulin resistance & metabolic health; effects on brain & mental health; relationship with exercise performance; cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides & other biomarkers; cancer; and more.

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

 Support the Show. All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M; Substack 

Try Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.

Try SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount.

Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off.

Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Evolution, Language, Domestication, Symbolic Cognition, AI & Large Language Models | Terrence Deacon | #141

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