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Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience
Much of the layperson's knowledge of the brain is predicated on a lack of understanding about this mysterious organ. To start building a more straightforward, accurate understanding of current breakthroughs in neuroscience, you have to start by shattering popular brain myths.
Each of these 24 lectures takes as its focus a single powerful, prevalent brain myth, and uses it as a launch pad from which to explore myriad topics in neuroscience: decision making, memory, dreams, emotions, neuroplasticity, consciousness, mental illness, and much more.
Our memory is an accurate, objective record of the past. Our senses reflect the world as it really exists. Our dreams have hidden meanings. We are only using 10% of our total brain power. Modern technology (including social media) is making us less intelligent. Dr. Viskontas doesn't just settle for obliterating these and other myths. Instead, she replaces them with scientific facts gathered from experiments, research, and case studies. The result is an eye-opening adventure into the latest understanding of why the brain works the way it does.
Whatever order you enjoy these lectures in, you'll be left with insights that will help you better determine the hard scientific truths behind the breaking news (and myths) of tomorrow.
Each of these 24 lectures takes as its focus a single powerful, prevalent brain myth, and uses it as a launch pad from which to explore myriad topics in neuroscience: decision making, memory, dreams, emotions, neuroplasticity, consciousness, mental illness, and much more.
Our memory is an accurate, objective record of the past. Our senses reflect the world as it really exists. Our dreams have hidden meanings. We are only using 10% of our total brain power. Modern technology (including social media) is making us less intelligent. Dr. Viskontas doesn't just settle for obliterating these and other myths. Instead, she replaces them with scientific facts gathered from experiments, research, and case studies. The result is an eye-opening adventure into the latest understanding of why the brain works the way it does.
Whatever order you enjoy these lectures in, you'll be left with insights that will help you better determine the hard scientific truths behind the breaking news (and myths) of tomorrow.
Audiobook
First published February 3, 2017
43 people are currently reading
808 people want to read
About the author
Indre Viskontas
6 books70 followersIndre Viskontas is a sought-after science communicator across all mediums. She co-hosted the 6-episode docuseries Miracle Detectives on the Oprah Winfrey Network and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, major radio stations across the US, including several appearances on the NPR program City Arts & Lectures and The Sunday Edition on the CBC in Canada. She currently co-hosts the web series Science in Progress for Tested.com and VRV. She is also the host of the popular science podcast Inquiring Minds, which boasts more than 7 million downloads. As a working singer, she is especially interested in the intersection between art and science, particularly when it involves music, and her new podcast, Cadence: what music tells us about the mind is now available on iTunes.
Follow her on twitter: @indrevis
Combining a passion for music with scientific curiosity, she is affectionately known as Dr. Dre by her students at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she is pioneering the application of neuroscience to musical training, and at the University of San Francisco, where she is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology. She received a BSc in psychology and French literature from the University of Toronto, an MM degree in vocal performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at UCLA.
As a scientist, Dr. Viskontas has published more than 50 original papers and chapters related to the neural basis of memory and creativity, including several seminal articles in top scientific journals. Her scientific work has been featured in Oliver Sacks’ book Musicophilia, Nature: Science Careers and Discover Magazine. She has also written for Mother Jones.com, American Scientist, Vitriol Magazine and other publications.
She often gives keynote talks, for organizations as diverse as Genentech, the Dallas Symphony, SXSW and Ogilvy along with frequent invited talks at conferences and academic institutions. Her 24-lecture course Essential Scientific Concepts was released by The Great Courses in 2014, selling more than 20,000 copies in its first year. Her second course, Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience was released in early 2017.
Follow her on twitter: @indrevis
Combining a passion for music with scientific curiosity, she is affectionately known as Dr. Dre by her students at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she is pioneering the application of neuroscience to musical training, and at the University of San Francisco, where she is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology. She received a BSc in psychology and French literature from the University of Toronto, an MM degree in vocal performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at UCLA.
As a scientist, Dr. Viskontas has published more than 50 original papers and chapters related to the neural basis of memory and creativity, including several seminal articles in top scientific journals. Her scientific work has been featured in Oliver Sacks’ book Musicophilia, Nature: Science Careers and Discover Magazine. She has also written for Mother Jones.com, American Scientist, Vitriol Magazine and other publications.
She often gives keynote talks, for organizations as diverse as Genentech, the Dallas Symphony, SXSW and Ogilvy along with frequent invited talks at conferences and academic institutions. Her 24-lecture course Essential Scientific Concepts was released by The Great Courses in 2014, selling more than 20,000 copies in its first year. Her second course, Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience was released in early 2017.
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August 6, 2022
Lecture Title — Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience
Lecturer — Professor Indre Viskontas, Ph.D. University of California Los Angeles
These are twenty-four lectures about neuroscience structured to focus on popular understandings of the way our brains work. The title of "Brain Myths Exploded" is a bit of hyperbole to capture the attention of the audience, but in reality it is addressing widely held perceptions that are oversimplifications. In most cases the so called myths are factoids based on a kernel of truth whereas reality is more complicated. It's not that the myths are untrue—they're incomplete truths that sometimes can be misleading to correct understanding.
Of the questions examined by the lectures, the one that bothers me the most is Lecture 6 that says memories are not necessarily very accurate. I am proud of the fact that I can remember things from my childhood as young as age three, and I don't appreciate being told that they're not accurate. Actually, I have a plan to test my memory from that age. My family took a trip to Carlsbad Caverns when I was three, and I've never been back since. Someday I plan to visit there again and see if I can find scenes that fit my memories. If not I guess I'll have to recalibrate them.
I can't imagine a more enjoyable way to learn about neurology than to listen to these lectures. I have listed the lecture titles below which state the "myth" being examined followed by a short answer to that myth. The answers are cryptic and short and do not do justice to the lecture's content. Trust me, the lectures are much more interesting than what's written here.
Lecture 1 • IS YOUR BRAIN PERFECTLY DESIGNED?
A product of evolution, the brain is shaped by natural selection and includes many inefficient hacks.
Lecture 2 • ARE BIGGER BRAINS SMARTER?
Intelligence and brain size, even in humans, are only moderately correlated. When you look across species, the correlation is even smaller.
Lecture 3 • IS MENTAL ILLNESS JUST A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE?
Neurotransmitters, the chemicals in the brain, are only one part of healthy brain function, and their levels are in constant flux.
Lecture 4 • ARE CREATIVE PEOPLE RIGHT-BRAINED?
The hemispheres are highly interconnected and work together in sync much of the time. Although there is some lateralization of function, many functions are bilateral, and the left brain is necessary for creativity.
Lecture 5 • HOW DIFFERENT ARE MALE AND FEMALE BRAINS?
The similarities between the brains of men and women far outweigh the differences, and the differences are difficult to tease apart from different environments.
Lecture 6 • HOW ACCURATE IS YOUR MEMORY?
Memory is reconstructive. Each time we remember an event, we have to build up the memory from scratch, and every instance of remembering changes the way that the memory will be retrieved in the future.
Lecture 7 • DO YOU ONLY USE 10% OF YOUR BRAIN?
We use all of our brain—and, in fact, the reality is the opposite. If you don’t use a part of your brain for one function, it will get reassigned. Cortical real estate is competitive!
Lecture 8 • DO YOU PERCEIVE THE WORLD AS IT REALLY IS?
We experience the world through our senses, and our senses only track a tiny portion of the environment. And our senses give us only a rough sketch; the brain fills in the rest.
Lecture 9 • IS YOUR BRAIN TOO SMART FOR MAGIC TRICKS?
Illusions are present in all of our senses and can give us an idea of how the brain accomplishes the difficult task of perceiving the world.
Lecture 10 • IS YOUR BRAIN OBJECTIVE?
Our brains are pattern detectors: We look for regularities in the environment, and this tendency means that we search for evidence that supports our beliefs rather than information that might challenge them.
Lecture 11 • DO YOU HAVE 5 INDEPENDENT SENSES?
Taste perception is much more complex than simply where food hits your taste buds. In fact, taste is largely based on smell.
Lecture 12 • CAN CERTAIN FOODS MAKE YOU SMARTER?
Eating a healthy diet is important for brain health because the brain is so metabolically expensive. But so far, there aren’t any foods that consistently improve cognitive functions.
Lecture 13 • CAN BRAIN GAMES MAKE YOU SMARTER?
Brain-training games might make you better at playing games, but the evidence that any effect is transferred to activities of daily living or general intelligence is sparse.
Lecture 14 • DOES YOUR BRAIN SHUT DOWN DURING SLEEP?
Your brain is very active during sleep— but in a very different way than it is when you’re awake.
Lecture 15 • ARE YOUR DECISIONS RATIONAL?
Most of our thoughts are dominated by self-talk, and our conscious mind is not privy to many of the processes that lead to our decisions.
Lecture 16 • ARE YOU ALWAYS CONSCIOUS WHILE AWAKE?
Consciousness is a continuum with many levels that we can alter in many different ways, and animals can also be conscious in ways that might surprise you.
Lecture 17 • ARE OTHER ANIMALS CONSCIOUS?
The brains of animals are remarkably complicated, and they are much more similar to our brains than many people think.
Lecture 18 • CAN YOU MULTITASK EFFICIENTLY?
When you think you’re multitasking, you’re actually switching quickly between tasks, and each switch comes at a cost. Tests show that people who think they're good at multitasking usually do worse at multitasking than those who don't make that claim. Also, people who are bilingual from childhood test better at multitasking.
Lecture 19 • ARE DREAMS MEANINGFUL?
Dreams likely simply reflect the interpreter’s attempt to make sense of random neural firings.
Lecture 20 • CAN BRAIN SCANS READ YOUR MIND?
Your brain is a Swiss army knife or a multipurpose tool: Many parts of your brain have many different functions, and when a part of your brain is active in a brain scan, we can’t always tell which function it’s accomplishing.
Lecture 21 • CAN ADULT BRAINS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER?
The brain continues to be changeable throughout your lifespan.
Lecture 22 • DO SPECIAL NEURONS ENABLE SOCIAL LIFE? (i.e. Is reading a book or some other intellectual task better for the brain than socializing with other people?)
In the evolution of homo sapiens, brain size became large when we started living in groups. The worst thing for development of a baby's brain is to deprive them of social stimulation.
Lecture 23 • IS YOUR BRAIN UNPREJUDICED?
Our brains have evolved to take many shortcuts, and one of the negative consequences of this is the fact that we tend to make inferences about people who are not like us automatically and unconsciously.
Lecture 24 • DOES TECHNOLOGY MAKE YOU STUPID?
Spending a lot of time doing anything will rewire your brain, but the uses of technology vary widely, and some of them actually make us smarter. (e.g. We now remember where to find certain information instead of memorizing it.)
___________
The following is an excerpt from Lecture 12. It is of special interest to me because I have been taking an omega-3 dietary supplement (fish oil) for a number of years. I started based on hearsay that it was a good thing to do, but never really understood the reasons why. I decided to insert this excerpt here for my future reference—in case I'm asked why.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
The following link is to a The Atlantic article titled, "The Fishy Science of Omega-3s".
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
Lecturer — Professor Indre Viskontas, Ph.D. University of California Los Angeles
These are twenty-four lectures about neuroscience structured to focus on popular understandings of the way our brains work. The title of "Brain Myths Exploded" is a bit of hyperbole to capture the attention of the audience, but in reality it is addressing widely held perceptions that are oversimplifications. In most cases the so called myths are factoids based on a kernel of truth whereas reality is more complicated. It's not that the myths are untrue—they're incomplete truths that sometimes can be misleading to correct understanding.
Of the questions examined by the lectures, the one that bothers me the most is Lecture 6 that says memories are not necessarily very accurate. I am proud of the fact that I can remember things from my childhood as young as age three, and I don't appreciate being told that they're not accurate. Actually, I have a plan to test my memory from that age. My family took a trip to Carlsbad Caverns when I was three, and I've never been back since. Someday I plan to visit there again and see if I can find scenes that fit my memories. If not I guess I'll have to recalibrate them.
I can't imagine a more enjoyable way to learn about neurology than to listen to these lectures. I have listed the lecture titles below which state the "myth" being examined followed by a short answer to that myth. The answers are cryptic and short and do not do justice to the lecture's content. Trust me, the lectures are much more interesting than what's written here.
Lecture 1 • IS YOUR BRAIN PERFECTLY DESIGNED?
A product of evolution, the brain is shaped by natural selection and includes many inefficient hacks.
Lecture 2 • ARE BIGGER BRAINS SMARTER?
Intelligence and brain size, even in humans, are only moderately correlated. When you look across species, the correlation is even smaller.
Lecture 3 • IS MENTAL ILLNESS JUST A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE?
Neurotransmitters, the chemicals in the brain, are only one part of healthy brain function, and their levels are in constant flux.
Lecture 4 • ARE CREATIVE PEOPLE RIGHT-BRAINED?
The hemispheres are highly interconnected and work together in sync much of the time. Although there is some lateralization of function, many functions are bilateral, and the left brain is necessary for creativity.
Lecture 5 • HOW DIFFERENT ARE MALE AND FEMALE BRAINS?
The similarities between the brains of men and women far outweigh the differences, and the differences are difficult to tease apart from different environments.
Lecture 6 • HOW ACCURATE IS YOUR MEMORY?
Memory is reconstructive. Each time we remember an event, we have to build up the memory from scratch, and every instance of remembering changes the way that the memory will be retrieved in the future.
Lecture 7 • DO YOU ONLY USE 10% OF YOUR BRAIN?
We use all of our brain—and, in fact, the reality is the opposite. If you don’t use a part of your brain for one function, it will get reassigned. Cortical real estate is competitive!
Lecture 8 • DO YOU PERCEIVE THE WORLD AS IT REALLY IS?
We experience the world through our senses, and our senses only track a tiny portion of the environment. And our senses give us only a rough sketch; the brain fills in the rest.
Lecture 9 • IS YOUR BRAIN TOO SMART FOR MAGIC TRICKS?
Illusions are present in all of our senses and can give us an idea of how the brain accomplishes the difficult task of perceiving the world.
Lecture 10 • IS YOUR BRAIN OBJECTIVE?
Our brains are pattern detectors: We look for regularities in the environment, and this tendency means that we search for evidence that supports our beliefs rather than information that might challenge them.
Lecture 11 • DO YOU HAVE 5 INDEPENDENT SENSES?
Taste perception is much more complex than simply where food hits your taste buds. In fact, taste is largely based on smell.
Lecture 12 • CAN CERTAIN FOODS MAKE YOU SMARTER?
Eating a healthy diet is important for brain health because the brain is so metabolically expensive. But so far, there aren’t any foods that consistently improve cognitive functions.
Lecture 13 • CAN BRAIN GAMES MAKE YOU SMARTER?
Brain-training games might make you better at playing games, but the evidence that any effect is transferred to activities of daily living or general intelligence is sparse.
Lecture 14 • DOES YOUR BRAIN SHUT DOWN DURING SLEEP?
Your brain is very active during sleep— but in a very different way than it is when you’re awake.
Lecture 15 • ARE YOUR DECISIONS RATIONAL?
Most of our thoughts are dominated by self-talk, and our conscious mind is not privy to many of the processes that lead to our decisions.
Lecture 16 • ARE YOU ALWAYS CONSCIOUS WHILE AWAKE?
Consciousness is a continuum with many levels that we can alter in many different ways, and animals can also be conscious in ways that might surprise you.
Lecture 17 • ARE OTHER ANIMALS CONSCIOUS?
The brains of animals are remarkably complicated, and they are much more similar to our brains than many people think.
Lecture 18 • CAN YOU MULTITASK EFFICIENTLY?
When you think you’re multitasking, you’re actually switching quickly between tasks, and each switch comes at a cost. Tests show that people who think they're good at multitasking usually do worse at multitasking than those who don't make that claim. Also, people who are bilingual from childhood test better at multitasking.
Lecture 19 • ARE DREAMS MEANINGFUL?
Dreams likely simply reflect the interpreter’s attempt to make sense of random neural firings.
Lecture 20 • CAN BRAIN SCANS READ YOUR MIND?
Your brain is a Swiss army knife or a multipurpose tool: Many parts of your brain have many different functions, and when a part of your brain is active in a brain scan, we can’t always tell which function it’s accomplishing.
Lecture 21 • CAN ADULT BRAINS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER?
The brain continues to be changeable throughout your lifespan.
Lecture 22 • DO SPECIAL NEURONS ENABLE SOCIAL LIFE? (i.e. Is reading a book or some other intellectual task better for the brain than socializing with other people?)
In the evolution of homo sapiens, brain size became large when we started living in groups. The worst thing for development of a baby's brain is to deprive them of social stimulation.
Lecture 23 • IS YOUR BRAIN UNPREJUDICED?
Our brains have evolved to take many shortcuts, and one of the negative consequences of this is the fact that we tend to make inferences about people who are not like us automatically and unconsciously.
Lecture 24 • DOES TECHNOLOGY MAKE YOU STUPID?
Spending a lot of time doing anything will rewire your brain, but the uses of technology vary widely, and some of them actually make us smarter. (e.g. We now remember where to find certain information instead of memorizing it.)
___________
The following is an excerpt from Lecture 12. It is of special interest to me because I have been taking an omega-3 dietary supplement (fish oil) for a number of years. I started based on hearsay that it was a good thing to do, but never really understood the reasons why. I decided to insert this excerpt here for my future reference—in case I'm asked why.
Some foods, for example, can trigger the release of certain hormones that can then affect brain function. One of these hormones is called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has a number of jobs, one of which is to guide and promote the growth of new neurons and the connections between them.The following is a link to an Atlantic article titled "Fish Oil Is Good! No, Bad! No, Good! No, Wait."
It’s very active in the hippocampus, which is where our short- term memories are turned into long-term ones. The hippocampus is our window both to the past and to the future; we need it to travel backward in time in our memory and forward in time in our imagination.
Because it plays a big role in shaping the hippocampus, BDNF is important for long-term memory formation. If you put an animal— human or otherwise—in an enriching environment, for example, more BDNF will be produced in his brain, leading to more synapses, more dendrites, and more neurons, the ultimate effect of which is that the animal learns more. It gets smarter than an animal raised in an impoverished environment, whose brain has lower levels of BDNF and fewer of these changes.
The key ingredient in fish oil is omega-3 polyunsaturated acid— specifically, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—and you might have heard claims that it’s good for your brain. You can find it in oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, or you can take it as a supplement. DHA is thought to play a role in brain development by increasing the expression of BDNF.
From work with rodents, we know that omega-3 fatty acids turn on genes that help keep the signaling system between brain cells working properly and enable neuroplasticity, or the types of physical changes that drive learning.
DHA is the most prevalent fatty acid in brain cell membranes—the protective covering that keeps the good stuff in the cell and the bad stuff out—but that also plays a major role in signaling between cells.
There’s some evidence that our ability to add DHA to our diets was a turning point in our evolutionary history, helping our brains grow in size compared with the rest of our body—increasing the brain-to-body-mass ratio, or encephalization quotient. DHA is also an antioxidant.
DHA supplements are recommended by the American Heart Association because they seem to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. And cardiovascular problems contribute to cognitive decline. Eating a lot of fish also seems to be associated with a lower risk of stroke.
They also reduce inflammation, which has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. And omega-3 fatty acids might even play a direct role in decreasing Alzheimer’s pathology because they reduce amyloid production and the plaques that are a signature of the disease are made up of amyloid.
Fish oil likely won’t make a difference unless you’re pregnant, under the age of 1, or at risk of showing cognitive impairment, either in childhood or in old age. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence of DHA to make you smarter.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
The following link is to a The Atlantic article titled, "The Fishy Science of Omega-3s".
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
September 27, 2019
It's so easy to gravitate toward a book by authors, such as Malcom Gladwell, who exploit all the sexiness of neuroscience without being too worried about actual science or how rigorous the methods were behind what they include in their catchy popsci books. Indre Viskontas' lectures are every bit as exicting as Gladwell book, but you can actually trust that what you read is something you can believe fully and do not have to swallow with a grain of salt. Right after I finished this exceptional neuroscience series, my daughter was assigned an article by Gladwell. How can they actually assign him in a college course?
This series requires no prerequisites and is truly the best thing out there right now if you are trying to understand the basics of neuroscience (and you simultaneously want to be entertained). I cannot recommend this course highly enough.
This series requires no prerequisites and is truly the best thing out there right now if you are trying to understand the basics of neuroscience (and you simultaneously want to be entertained). I cannot recommend this course highly enough.
May 2, 2022
I really enjoy books written by active researchers in the field. This is not exactly a book, since it is a series of lectures in audiobook format. Nevertheless, the subject is fascinating. Some of the topics covered in the book are old hat -- meaning, that I've read about them several times in other other books. Nevertheless, there are enough new topics in this book to hold my interest. In fact, up until now, I had really believed in some of these brain myths. Indre Viskontas gently lets you know why these myths were initially ingrained into our culture, and the research that has shown why the myths need to be exploded.
The author is not only a neuroscientist, but an opera singer, too!
The author is not only a neuroscientist, but an opera singer, too!
January 30, 2018
This enlightened the crap outta me. It's about brains, as some of you may have guessed after seeing title. I have high marks for all of The Great Courses that I've listened to so far but this one stands out. Check it out if you enjoy accumulating knowledge just for the sport of it. Fun stuff.
March 8, 2020
Climate change is a scientific fact and evolution by natural selection is real and humans really aren’t that special in the whole scheme of things. I found the negative reviews on the Great Course page regarding this lecture as somewhat of a hoot because they disagree with the assertions in my first sentence and faulted the lecturer for her relationship with reality.
It’s clear to me that the lecturer will always know more about this stuff than I’m capable of ever learning and for the most part I sat in awe with her grasp of the subject matter. Almost always within these lectures she stays away from the TED talk fallacy of stating theories as reality while lacking data to back up her belief since she always had such a good grasp of reality and the data, logic and empirical chutzpah to share an abductive (best explanation that fits the data) explanation while not closing the topic off to further exploration as Malcom Gladwell does in his books or as almost every single TED talk would do.
I did disagree with some of her framing and assertions, but that’s minor. I just don’t believe in the S1 and S2 Daniel Kahneman thinking formulation as the lecturer most definitely did because it just seems like pseudo-science to me because it’s not possible to refute it with any experiment since ipso facto it will always seem to work because the conclusion of all designed experiments to refute it will lie within the premises tautologically. I believe more strongly in the right v left brain metaphor and don’t think it’s a myth as she does, and she refutes the dichotomy of the brain by strawmaning the argument with ‘the right brain has creativity’, I just think nobody worth considering believes that creativity resides only in the right hemisphere and that assertion is refutable instantly, but then again the lecturer is not absolute in her assertions and seems to also believe in many elements of the right and left brain metaphor similar to how I do.
Science and understanding is at its best when it is entertaining and these lectures are, and I just tend to love lectures which irritate people who cannot stand them because they in their stupidity think climate change is not a scientific fact, or that evolution by natural selection is faulty, or that think humans are special just because they’ve been told they are. Truth has a liberal bias and the worst person of all is the one who thinks they already know the truth but don’t and they will tend to view lectures such as this one not worthy of curing their ignorance since in their own mind they are absolutely certain and are closed minded. As for me, I know I’m ignorant and want to understand the world up to my ability of understanding and appreciate lectures such as this one that show me how much more I need to learn about the world, besides climate change is a scientific fact, evolution is a scientific fact best explained by natural selection, and humans did evolve as did our mind is a scientific fact.
It’s clear to me that the lecturer will always know more about this stuff than I’m capable of ever learning and for the most part I sat in awe with her grasp of the subject matter. Almost always within these lectures she stays away from the TED talk fallacy of stating theories as reality while lacking data to back up her belief since she always had such a good grasp of reality and the data, logic and empirical chutzpah to share an abductive (best explanation that fits the data) explanation while not closing the topic off to further exploration as Malcom Gladwell does in his books or as almost every single TED talk would do.
I did disagree with some of her framing and assertions, but that’s minor. I just don’t believe in the S1 and S2 Daniel Kahneman thinking formulation as the lecturer most definitely did because it just seems like pseudo-science to me because it’s not possible to refute it with any experiment since ipso facto it will always seem to work because the conclusion of all designed experiments to refute it will lie within the premises tautologically. I believe more strongly in the right v left brain metaphor and don’t think it’s a myth as she does, and she refutes the dichotomy of the brain by strawmaning the argument with ‘the right brain has creativity’, I just think nobody worth considering believes that creativity resides only in the right hemisphere and that assertion is refutable instantly, but then again the lecturer is not absolute in her assertions and seems to also believe in many elements of the right and left brain metaphor similar to how I do.
Science and understanding is at its best when it is entertaining and these lectures are, and I just tend to love lectures which irritate people who cannot stand them because they in their stupidity think climate change is not a scientific fact, or that evolution by natural selection is faulty, or that think humans are special just because they’ve been told they are. Truth has a liberal bias and the worst person of all is the one who thinks they already know the truth but don’t and they will tend to view lectures such as this one not worthy of curing their ignorance since in their own mind they are absolutely certain and are closed minded. As for me, I know I’m ignorant and want to understand the world up to my ability of understanding and appreciate lectures such as this one that show me how much more I need to learn about the world, besides climate change is a scientific fact, evolution is a scientific fact best explained by natural selection, and humans did evolve as did our mind is a scientific fact.
May 13, 2018
I don’t know what I find more disturbing: that my eye only has a 1 megapixel resolution or that my peripheral vision is a big fat lie constructed by my brain?
I would have rated this full 5 if not for overabundance of medical info. Now, of course I expected that. The subject here is neuroscience, after all! Still, I felt bored during those moments. I just wanted to learn cool facts about my great pal: Brain!
Each lecture was a rollercoaster of information and I particularly enjoy the professor credentials. Here we have a renown female neuroscientist who is also a professional opera singer. Talk about a career! She packed a good amount of facts in each lecture, spoke about research that backs up her findings and tied it to every day life of an average person for better understanding.
Not my usual taste and naturally no real way to rate Characters, Story and Setting in the way that I like, but it’s been awhile since my last foray into the world of non fiction, so figured: why not.
If you look at this and immediately go: oh! Now that sounds like a cool topic, go ahead and start up. If the topic doesn’t capture you, like it did me, move along. You’ll most likely get bored when she begins talking about neuron synapses and such.
Roman “Ragnar”
I would have rated this full 5 if not for overabundance of medical info. Now, of course I expected that. The subject here is neuroscience, after all! Still, I felt bored during those moments. I just wanted to learn cool facts about my great pal: Brain!
Each lecture was a rollercoaster of information and I particularly enjoy the professor credentials. Here we have a renown female neuroscientist who is also a professional opera singer. Talk about a career! She packed a good amount of facts in each lecture, spoke about research that backs up her findings and tied it to every day life of an average person for better understanding.
Not my usual taste and naturally no real way to rate Characters, Story and Setting in the way that I like, but it’s been awhile since my last foray into the world of non fiction, so figured: why not.
If you look at this and immediately go: oh! Now that sounds like a cool topic, go ahead and start up. If the topic doesn’t capture you, like it did me, move along. You’ll most likely get bored when she begins talking about neuron synapses and such.
Roman “Ragnar”
June 25, 2020
Three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
This series of lectures on brain myths is ok, not great but not bad, either. There was a little too much pop-science and not enough hard science. I like my science dry and factual, free of opinion and trendy but unproven “hot topics.”
The presenter is ok as well, but a little slow. I had to speed it up to 1.25x to inject a little pep into the series.
This series of lectures on brain myths is ok, not great but not bad, either. There was a little too much pop-science and not enough hard science. I like my science dry and factual, free of opinion and trendy but unproven “hot topics.”
The presenter is ok as well, but a little slow. I had to speed it up to 1.25x to inject a little pep into the series.
March 1, 2018
This is the right series for anyone interested in neuroscience to sharpen his/her information and get rid of the myths (that are so abundant in the field).
October 11, 2017
24 brain-related lectures with each lecture addressing one brain myth and discussing related topics. The myths/topics that were discussed include: Are bigger brains smarter? Are creative people right-minded? Do you perceive the world as it really is? Are you decision rational? Are dreams meaningful? (see link for full list of questions https://www.thegreatcourses.com/cours... )
Background in brain neuroscience (which I don’t have) is generally not required as the lecturer defines & explains the technical terms/concepts, but it definitely does help to grasp them quicker. Naturally, some lectures were more interesting than others, but all were informative.
One thing that was common in the lectures and you quickly come to realize is that brain neuroscience is far from complete. There is no straightforward answer, but rather the answer is almost always “complicated.” One study shows one thing and the other shows the complete opposite thing. One interpretation of a study is “this”, but another interpretation of the same study is “that.” Because of this, further reading from different sources is definitely required in order to have confidence in what one understands and know about the brain.
Background in brain neuroscience (which I don’t have) is generally not required as the lecturer defines & explains the technical terms/concepts, but it definitely does help to grasp them quicker. Naturally, some lectures were more interesting than others, but all were informative.
One thing that was common in the lectures and you quickly come to realize is that brain neuroscience is far from complete. There is no straightforward answer, but rather the answer is almost always “complicated.” One study shows one thing and the other shows the complete opposite thing. One interpretation of a study is “this”, but another interpretation of the same study is “that.” Because of this, further reading from different sources is definitely required in order to have confidence in what one understands and know about the brain.
December 20, 2018
This is a must read book for anyone. While I don't agree with everything said in this book, this book is vastly still a lot more useful than anyone can fathom. Completely rooted in science and even exploring some spiritual themes with the science of the brain in the purview, this book is a masterpiece neuroscience work that is laid out in such a way that even laymen can understand their brain better than they have known all their life.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to know themselves better, why they do what they do, why they feel what they feel, and to understand ones own idiosyncrasies.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to know themselves better, why they do what they do, why they feel what they feel, and to understand ones own idiosyncrasies.
March 15, 2018
Overall, a quite good overview of some of the myths related to the brain. I did not like some of the myths explored; for example, they explore the difference in function of the left and right brain as a myth, even though it is true that the functionality is more dominant on one side than the other,because it is not absolute, it is considered a 'myth'. It does clarify many things, though I never like the phrasing of 'debunking' in any sort of media, it often reeks of pedantry and smarminess (see politifact/snopes).
January 3, 2019
There are many books out there in the genre of what I like to call “pop psychology”. But that term may be a disservice. There is new, good information in the books of, for example, Malcolm Gladwell, and the research findings of Daniel Kahneman (who won a Nobel) have been presented both in his own book, and in one by Michael Lewis.
When I bought this audio book / course (on sale!), I had not yet tired of these themes. I since have. But bought it I did, so I felt obligated to listen. And I found out that I had been a believer in some of these “brain myths” – and I have been corrected. Some of the interesting takeaways from the course: (I listened to the course, but reviewed the PDF of the lectures)
--Brain size is only moderated correlated with intelligence. I wish that the author had discussed birds with this topic, since their brains are so small, yet some (crows) are intelligent. She did mention the idea of brain size in relation to size of the animal.
--Chemical imbalances in the brain may contribute to mental illness, but the actuality is far more complex than this.
--Right brain/left brain differences are fun to speculate about, but in fact, there is constant communication between the brain hemispheres.
--Every time a memory is recalled, it is rewritten.
--We DON”T use only 10% of our brain.
--“We experience the world through our senses, and our senses only track a tiny portion of the environment…our senses give us only a rough sketch; the brain fills in the rest.”
--Confirmation bias – we look for evidence that confirms our existing beliefs.
--There is some evidence that caloric restriction may enhance brain function.
--The author discusses Kahneman’s work on how we do not make rational decisions (“Thinking Fast and Slow”)
--Consciousness to unconsciousness is a continuum.
--The brains of animals are like ours.
--The author concludes that dreams are probably an attempt to make sense of random neural firings.
--Exercise not only improves blood flow to the brain, but it stimulates the growth of new neurons.
These are extreme Cliff Notes to this course, but it is packed with detailed explanations and supporting studies. Although this course is for the layman, it provides a lot of interesting information.
When I bought this audio book / course (on sale!), I had not yet tired of these themes. I since have. But bought it I did, so I felt obligated to listen. And I found out that I had been a believer in some of these “brain myths” – and I have been corrected. Some of the interesting takeaways from the course: (I listened to the course, but reviewed the PDF of the lectures)
--Brain size is only moderated correlated with intelligence. I wish that the author had discussed birds with this topic, since their brains are so small, yet some (crows) are intelligent. She did mention the idea of brain size in relation to size of the animal.
--Chemical imbalances in the brain may contribute to mental illness, but the actuality is far more complex than this.
--Right brain/left brain differences are fun to speculate about, but in fact, there is constant communication between the brain hemispheres.
--Every time a memory is recalled, it is rewritten.
--We DON”T use only 10% of our brain.
--“We experience the world through our senses, and our senses only track a tiny portion of the environment…our senses give us only a rough sketch; the brain fills in the rest.”
--Confirmation bias – we look for evidence that confirms our existing beliefs.
--There is some evidence that caloric restriction may enhance brain function.
--The author discusses Kahneman’s work on how we do not make rational decisions (“Thinking Fast and Slow”)
--Consciousness to unconsciousness is a continuum.
--The brains of animals are like ours.
--The author concludes that dreams are probably an attempt to make sense of random neural firings.
--Exercise not only improves blood flow to the brain, but it stimulates the growth of new neurons.
These are extreme Cliff Notes to this course, but it is packed with detailed explanations and supporting studies. Although this course is for the layman, it provides a lot of interesting information.
September 25, 2019
This is a series of 24 lectures that address such questions as the following:
Are bigger brains better?
Are creative people right-brained?
Is mental illness just a chemical imbalance?
Can you really multitask efficiently?
Do we really only use 10% of our brains?
Can certain foods make you smarter?
Does technology make you stupid?
Are dreams meaningful?
Spoiler alert: most of the time the answer is "It's complicated."
It's an excellent and fascinating series of lectures. Viskontas sets a good pace and stays on track. Her examples are clear and relevant to to the topic. She's also comfortable in front of the camera.
She explains the current (at date of production) research well, pointing out when results have conflicting points of view or weaknesses in process.
Really, there was only one thing about this series I found less than excellent, and it's admittedly a personal peeve. Dr. Viskontas is a trained singer, so I was surprised that she has a habit of speaking with a high rising terminal, often referred to as "upspeak." It's the vocal pattern usually used when asking a question, and one usually associated with women who are unsure of themselves or seeking validation for their comments. Unfortunately, it's become so common that even some men do it now. My point is that I found it both distracting and grating. (My husband actually stopped watching because of it.) It's certainly not a speaking pattern I would expect from such a confident, well-educated professional regardless of gender.
Are bigger brains better?
Are creative people right-brained?
Is mental illness just a chemical imbalance?
Can you really multitask efficiently?
Do we really only use 10% of our brains?
Can certain foods make you smarter?
Does technology make you stupid?
Are dreams meaningful?
Spoiler alert: most of the time the answer is "It's complicated."
It's an excellent and fascinating series of lectures. Viskontas sets a good pace and stays on track. Her examples are clear and relevant to to the topic. She's also comfortable in front of the camera.
She explains the current (at date of production) research well, pointing out when results have conflicting points of view or weaknesses in process.
Really, there was only one thing about this series I found less than excellent, and it's admittedly a personal peeve. Dr. Viskontas is a trained singer, so I was surprised that she has a habit of speaking with a high rising terminal, often referred to as "upspeak." It's the vocal pattern usually used when asking a question, and one usually associated with women who are unsure of themselves or seeking validation for their comments. Unfortunately, it's become so common that even some men do it now. My point is that I found it both distracting and grating. (My husband actually stopped watching because of it.) It's certainly not a speaking pattern I would expect from such a confident, well-educated professional regardless of gender.
March 28, 2022
"It was amazing." - 5 out of 5 star rating.
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this Great Course. Indre did a truly amazing job as a presenter, content delivered, and just creating overall fun factor on the topic of brain myths and neuroscience generalities.
Every chapter was enjoyable and I took about one (1) page worth of notes. A few random highlights that I enjoyed was the coverage on brain to body ratio (humans, birds, ants, etc.), brain similarities in homosexual men and heterosexual women, the validity of 'professional' wine tasters, nutrition, and the importance of exercise for mental health.
Very strong yet remarkably fun Great Course. Highly recommend.
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this Great Course. Indre did a truly amazing job as a presenter, content delivered, and just creating overall fun factor on the topic of brain myths and neuroscience generalities.
Every chapter was enjoyable and I took about one (1) page worth of notes. A few random highlights that I enjoyed was the coverage on brain to body ratio (humans, birds, ants, etc.), brain similarities in homosexual men and heterosexual women, the validity of 'professional' wine tasters, nutrition, and the importance of exercise for mental health.
Very strong yet remarkably fun Great Course. Highly recommend.
January 19, 2018
This is another take on advances in modern brain science. Viskontas' approach is to start each chapter with a popular myth about the brain, for instance the idea that we use only 10% of our brains, and then give us an overview of what current neuroscience tells us about this particular myth. This is Great Courses offering, so it's in the form of two dozen lectures, each under an hour. Viskontas is a lively lecturer, who tells stories, and weaves in personal background where it's enlightening, and altogether kept me completely engaged.
Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
November 20, 2017
This is a pretty good overview of neuroscience, specifically through taking common misperceptions about the brain, showing how they're not true or not fully true, and explaining the systems behind them. It never gets very advanced, but is a good introduction and overview. Each chapter is standalone and could be listened to in any order.
December 12, 2017
Pretty good recap of items you can get in other books (Predictably irrational, Blink, Memory Illusion), but I liked the format and it was a good reminder of the subject matter.
About the only minor complaint is that the author name drops a bit; "My good friend Dr. XYZ".
About the only minor complaint is that the author name drops a bit; "My good friend Dr. XYZ".
November 30, 2017
Absolutely fascinating. Indre Viskontas is enjoyably to listen to and makes the science entertaining. I simply wish I could remember more of what I learned. I will have to listen to it again!
March 13, 2021
Interesting and fascinating information presented by a very knowlegable and passionate lecturer. I enjoyed this very much.
June 18, 2018
Cool book. But hard to get through. It makes you think. If it a try if you are a thinker.
May 1, 2021
Each lecture was quite interesting and enlightening.
July 30, 2017
An absolute must listen.
Human brain is about the single most important organ for life on this planet as of now. Even as a large number of us develop an ever deeper understanding of subjects ranging from the big bang and black holes to artificial intelligence or genetics, what we - the non-experts - understand about human brains is pitifully low. Neuroscience is not only extremely incomplete but enormously complicated when explained in the standard, theoretical ways. Too many terms with exotic names, almost no logical/deductive explanation streams make explanations about the working of this organ nothing but a long string of facts that exist without any rhyme or reason.
The lecture series is a wonderful exception to the usual drudgery. The lecturer creates crisp narratives to impart great learnings without allowing things to get complicated almost ever. This series makes it possible to appreciate the working of brains without having to learn the underlying, immensely complex biochemistry. Yes, some of the debunked myths are too simplistic and some appear like artificially-propped strawmen to make stories, but almost every section offers valuable insights. And the lecturer is warmingly humorous and charmingly self-deprecating.
This series is far and away the easiest read/listen on neuroscience for a lay reader like me and remarkably, it still does not appear to have compromised on the learning quotient.
Human brain is about the single most important organ for life on this planet as of now. Even as a large number of us develop an ever deeper understanding of subjects ranging from the big bang and black holes to artificial intelligence or genetics, what we - the non-experts - understand about human brains is pitifully low. Neuroscience is not only extremely incomplete but enormously complicated when explained in the standard, theoretical ways. Too many terms with exotic names, almost no logical/deductive explanation streams make explanations about the working of this organ nothing but a long string of facts that exist without any rhyme or reason.
The lecture series is a wonderful exception to the usual drudgery. The lecturer creates crisp narratives to impart great learnings without allowing things to get complicated almost ever. This series makes it possible to appreciate the working of brains without having to learn the underlying, immensely complex biochemistry. Yes, some of the debunked myths are too simplistic and some appear like artificially-propped strawmen to make stories, but almost every section offers valuable insights. And the lecturer is warmingly humorous and charmingly self-deprecating.
This series is far and away the easiest read/listen on neuroscience for a lay reader like me and remarkably, it still does not appear to have compromised on the learning quotient.
March 6, 2018
Although the subject matter is the author's expertise I felt the explanations lacked conviction even though so called scientific data and evidence backed it up . Most of it was simply a regurgitation of studies and dead ends with more studies needed o earlier studies debunked
Furthermore I was really turned off by lecture number 23, discussing prejudice and the possibility it is identifiable in the brain . The author exampled acts of violence against blacks by the police as if that were the only type of prejudice. Prejudice it does not represent a specific behavior, but many and not us with one group of people but many. A more favorable aspect of identification in the brain would be the effects of different emotions on the brain.
Furthermore I was really turned off by lecture number 23, discussing prejudice and the possibility it is identifiable in the brain . The author exampled acts of violence against blacks by the police as if that were the only type of prejudice. Prejudice it does not represent a specific behavior, but many and not us with one group of people but many. A more favorable aspect of identification in the brain would be the effects of different emotions on the brain.
January 30, 2018
I really like the content of this Great Courses lecture series, but I found the professor's speech patterns really irritating. There was too much emphasis on too many words, intonation that would look like question marks scattered across the printed page (a particular peeve of mine), and a tendency to slur over syllables (e.g., "neurimaging" instead of neuroimaging). However, the studies, findings, personal anecdotes, and selection of "myths" along with a grounded, practical approach to the content kept me listening.
March 7, 2018
Manages to squeeze a couple of facts in an ocean of opinion.
September 17, 2018
حتی اگه دانشجو یا علاقهمند به نوروساینس نیستید، در مقام انسانی صاحب مغز وظیفه دارید به این سخنرانیهای جذاب و شنیدنی گوش بدید.
February 11, 2018
This was a "Great Courses" series of lectures/notes. I liked Viskontas's presentation style (she's personable, and has good examples regarding her toddler, career as an opera singer, and so on). Unusually (at least for me), I don't have a ton of critical commentary to add--this is a course aimed at communicating where contemporary neuroscience is at a number of issues, and how this differs from the impression you may get from reading science journalism (or, unfortunately, from a number of scientists who write for popular audiences). While I'm guessing some of Viskontas's claims here (regarding consciousness, or implicit bias) might raise a few hackles, I couldn't think of a single lecture where I ended up thinking "Wow, she's really over her skis here" or anything.
So, with that in mind, here a few of the big takeaways that I thought were good/useful:
1. The brain (and human thought and consciousness, etc.) is an imperfect product of natural selection. We sometimes feel that *our* brains are different, but it's worth remembering this is false. There's absolutely nothing in contemporary neuroscience that suggests our brains (or minds) are somehow "special" or ineffable.
2. Human brain size isn't really that unusual, given our nature as social primates. And we don't really have any great account of brain size/makeup (in human individuals) relates to intelligence. We also don't know male/female brain differences relate to differences in cognition.
3. The right brain/left brain ("creative" vs. "logical") isn't a thing. Neither are learning styles or learning preferences. So, stop talking about them with your students!
4. We aren't nearly as good at remembering or perceiving or judging as we think we are. We suck at multitasking. Finally (and most importantly), we really need to get rid of the idea that "we" are expert or impartial observers of what is going on in our minds. What we think of "consciousness" is just one of many mental processes we use to represent reality, and doesn't play anything like the role in our mental life as we might think. (Viskontas thinks Dennett is on the right track re: consciousness, as do I).
5. All of Kahneman's type 1 ("fast thinking") and type 2 ("slow thinking") is worth keeping in mind. Again, our self-image of ourselves as deliberate, rational thinkers is flawed (and recognizing this is a good first step to actually *becoming* more deliberate or rational).
6. Computer use doesn't make you stupider or more distractable.. Posting on social media doesn't make you less social. (In fact, high quality studies show something like the opposite in both cases).
7. Unless you're malnourished, your favorite supplement probably doesn't make any difference to brain function. Oh, and eating sugar doesn't make toddlers more hyper. It really doesn't, even if you "seen it happen." (This goes for everything else here, too!).
8. Adults can grow new brain cells, but only in certain areas.
9. Mirror neurons and Von economo are worth getting excited about, but let's not get *too* excited (hint, hint, science writers...).
10. Other things to stop saying: "You're only using 10% of your brain," "That dream you had last night mean....", "I perceive the world as it is..."
Most of these ideas seemed somewhat familiar to me, but a few were entirely new, and I felt like I learned quite a bit over the course of the lectures. So, I'd recommend them wholeheartedly :).
So, with that in mind, here a few of the big takeaways that I thought were good/useful:
1. The brain (and human thought and consciousness, etc.) is an imperfect product of natural selection. We sometimes feel that *our* brains are different, but it's worth remembering this is false. There's absolutely nothing in contemporary neuroscience that suggests our brains (or minds) are somehow "special" or ineffable.
2. Human brain size isn't really that unusual, given our nature as social primates. And we don't really have any great account of brain size/makeup (in human individuals) relates to intelligence. We also don't know male/female brain differences relate to differences in cognition.
3. The right brain/left brain ("creative" vs. "logical") isn't a thing. Neither are learning styles or learning preferences. So, stop talking about them with your students!
4. We aren't nearly as good at remembering or perceiving or judging as we think we are. We suck at multitasking. Finally (and most importantly), we really need to get rid of the idea that "we" are expert or impartial observers of what is going on in our minds. What we think of "consciousness" is just one of many mental processes we use to represent reality, and doesn't play anything like the role in our mental life as we might think. (Viskontas thinks Dennett is on the right track re: consciousness, as do I).
5. All of Kahneman's type 1 ("fast thinking") and type 2 ("slow thinking") is worth keeping in mind. Again, our self-image of ourselves as deliberate, rational thinkers is flawed (and recognizing this is a good first step to actually *becoming* more deliberate or rational).
6. Computer use doesn't make you stupider or more distractable.. Posting on social media doesn't make you less social. (In fact, high quality studies show something like the opposite in both cases).
7. Unless you're malnourished, your favorite supplement probably doesn't make any difference to brain function. Oh, and eating sugar doesn't make toddlers more hyper. It really doesn't, even if you "seen it happen." (This goes for everything else here, too!).
8. Adults can grow new brain cells, but only in certain areas.
9. Mirror neurons and Von economo are worth getting excited about, but let's not get *too* excited (hint, hint, science writers...).
10. Other things to stop saying: "You're only using 10% of your brain," "That dream you had last night mean....", "I perceive the world as it is..."
Most of these ideas seemed somewhat familiar to me, but a few were entirely new, and I felt like I learned quite a bit over the course of the lectures. So, I'd recommend them wholeheartedly :).
November 3, 2018
Whew! This was awesome - I learned a lot! I read this because I was curiuos, and it was time well spent. But, I have to say, it was challenging. It's not the kind of book I could read in big chunks - I could read a lesson or maybe 2 at one time, and then I had to switch over to something different and less challening. I suppose if you already know all about the brain's vast chemical structure and its detailed anatomy, this book wouldn't be nearly so diffiuclt. But, for me, I am really only casually aquainted with the brain's many functions and geography - so I struggled and had to re-read many passages. My neuroscience background is basically non existant. However, Viskontas makes it all digestible by explaining everything the reader needs to know about the brain, and then relays current scientific data that disproves commonly held myths we all have about our brains. Each chapter deals with a different myth, so it's a clear and straightforward layout. Some of these chapters are on YouTube, so you can get a feel for what the whole book is like by watching some of these 30 minute segments online for free. I loved the detailed descriptions of the various clincial and observational studies that formed the basis of her arguments. It was a clear and objective look at the most current science on neuroscience. Anyone who takes the time to pay attention to this book will learn something new, even if you have no formal background in neuroscience. I can totally see how what I learned will come in handy during everyday conversations with friends and family - many myths about our brain (right brain vs. left brain, bigger is better, adults can't learn new things, technology is making us stupid, etc.) are things we talk about often enough, and am much more informed about these subjects now. I will probably return to this book for a second reading in a year or two, as it contains so much information, and I'm sure my own brain only retained a small fraction in my first reading.
April 21, 2019
I love the field of neurology. It’s one of the few fields where there is actually a lot that we don’t know. Must be fun speculating and experimenting and discovering stuff.
Another course on this subject that I had taken - your best brain - has a fair amount of overlap with this one. In some ways, the details of the brain construction are better explained in that course. But there are portions covered here which aren’t available there. The format of this lecture series is: present a myth, explain the working of the brain in regards to that myth, hence debunk it and give the truth behind the myth. There’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t listen to both.
Indre viskontas is a very very enthusiastic narrator. That is always important for a tough subject like this. She has a great voice too. You can tell she might be a singer. She keeps a great pace and she always stays balanced on the plank which has overly technical on one side to fall off in, and incomplete on the explanation on the other.
The myths discussed in the course are firmly grounded in real life, if you look at the chapters, you would realise it would be great to have answers to those questions. Despite the whole lot we don’t know in the field, we get fairly detailed answers to the questions each chapter raises.
I don’t remember all of what I read. But there’s a good chance I will re-listen to this course in this ear. It’s a subject that is good to know about.
Another course on this subject that I had taken - your best brain - has a fair amount of overlap with this one. In some ways, the details of the brain construction are better explained in that course. But there are portions covered here which aren’t available there. The format of this lecture series is: present a myth, explain the working of the brain in regards to that myth, hence debunk it and give the truth behind the myth. There’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t listen to both.
Indre viskontas is a very very enthusiastic narrator. That is always important for a tough subject like this. She has a great voice too. You can tell she might be a singer. She keeps a great pace and she always stays balanced on the plank which has overly technical on one side to fall off in, and incomplete on the explanation on the other.
The myths discussed in the course are firmly grounded in real life, if you look at the chapters, you would realise it would be great to have answers to those questions. Despite the whole lot we don’t know in the field, we get fairly detailed answers to the questions each chapter raises.
I don’t remember all of what I read. But there’s a good chance I will re-listen to this course in this ear. It’s a subject that is good to know about.
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