In this episode, we go deep into a scientific look at consciousness. We ask, how do our brains experience reality? What is consciousness? Is our perception of reality nothing more than a “controlled hallucination?” What is the “hard problem of consciousness” and what are the major aspects of consciousness? How can we use the neuroscience of consciousness to better ourselves and improve our lives? And much more with our guest Anil Seth. 

Anil Seth is the professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. He is the co-director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, the editor in chief of Neuroscience of Consciousness, and was the President of the British Science Association for psychology in 2017. His TED talk has been viewed over 2.5 million times and his work featured in The Guardian, the BBC, New Scientist, and more!

How does our brain experience reality?Consciousness is a funny thing - we don’t have a good definition of it, but everyone knows what consciousness is There is a subjective experience of consciousness for being humanThe questions of consciousness are some of the most important and urgent questions we can askWhat is the “hard problem of consciousness?” and why is it so important?What are the problems of consciousness?

The easy problem is figuring out how brains do what they do, how they implement functions, guide behavior, allow the world to be sensed, how the brain works as a mechanism - this will keep neuroscientists and biologists busy for a long time

The hard problem is explaining how and why any of this should have anything to do with conscious experience and why conscious experiences happen

However detailed your understanding of the brain is - it will leave untouched the question of how/why consciousness exists in the first place The three major aspects of consciousness (they inter-related and not necessarily independent)

Conscious level - a scale from being completely lacking in consciousness (a coma, dead) all the way to being fully awake and fully conscious

Conscious content - when you’re conscious you’re conscious OF something

The experience of being a particular person

When we perceive things, our brain is taking energy waves and electrical signals and interpreting them into prior predictions and expectationsOptical illusions really demonstrate how adapted our visual system isInformed skepticism is an incredibly valuable thinking framework - the scientific method and a healthy dose of humility help us move towards truthHow Anil’s own battle with negative emotions and negative emotional states has been shaped by the work he does in neuroscienceWhat interventions have helped Anil battle his own depression?

Going for a long walk in the country

Exercise

Fresh Air

Nature

When you’re in the thick of it - you forget these interventions work, but they DO work

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps Anil as well

You aren’t defined by your own suffering - does having the Flu define you as a person? Why should a psychological issue?

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