"The Spontaneous Brain" with Georg Northoff (BS 174)
/
BS 174 is an interview with neuroscientist and philosopher Georg Northoff about his fascinating book The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem. We explore the significance of the growing evidence that most of the brain's activity occurs independently of external stimuli with a focus on the implications of this finding for our understanding of how the brain generates consciousness.
We recently explored the importance of the brain’s spontaneous activity with György Buzsáki (BS 172), but Northoff suggests a surprising implication. He proposes that if mental features such as consciousness and our sense of self are generated by the brain’s alignment with the world then perhaps we should abandon discussion of the so-called Mind-Body (or Mind-Brain) problem and instead consider the relationship between the world and the brain. This is what he calls the World-Brain problem.
How to get this episode:
Buy Episode Transcript for $3. (Premium link; also available to Patreon supporters)
Premium Subscribers have unlimited access to ALL old episodes and transcripts, as well as extra content for selected episodes. All content is available browser or the free Brain Science mobile app.
Patreon supporters have access to new transcripts ($3+/month) and ad-free audio files ($10+/month). You can also access your bonus content via the free Patreon mobile app.
New episodes of Brain Science are ALWAYS FREE. The most recent 50+ episodes are also free. See the individual show notes for links to the audio files.
Important Reminder:
Patreon supporters need to go to Your Memberships to update their tiers (>$3/month for transcripts or >$10/month for ad-free audio).
Listen in your Favorite Audio app: Audible, Amazon music, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube and many more.
Links and References:
The Spontaneous Brain: From the Mind–Body to the World–Brain Problem by Georg Northoff
The Brain from Inside Out by György Buzsáki (BS 172)
Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind by Andy Clark (BS 126)
Northoff G, et al. Is temporal-spatial dynamics the “common currency” of brain and mind? In Quest of “Spatiotemporal Neuroscience”. Why Life Rev (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2019.05.002
Georg Northoff website: http://www.georgnorthoff.com (for videos, talks and additional papers
Episode Transcript contains additional references
Please Visit Our Sponsors:
Announcements:
Brain Science comes out on 4th Friday each month.
Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD
Post a review on by August 31 to receive an invitation to a special webinar with Dr. Campbell
Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations
Sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up.
Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.)
Connect on Social Media:
Twitter: @docartemis
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast
Contact Dr. Campbell:
Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com
Voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/docartemis
