Interview with Philosopher Alva Noë (BSP 58)

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Episode 58 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with philosopher Alva Noë, whose book Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness argues persuasively that our Minds are MORE than just our brains. He says that "the brain is necessary but not sufficient" to create the mind.      Listen to Episode 58

Show Notes and Links:

• Alva Noe (University of California, Berkeley)


• Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness by Alva Noé

Important scientists mentioned in the interview:

• Paul Bach-y-Rita: pioneering studies in sensory substitution using tactile stimuli to substitute for vision


• Held and Hein: experiments with cats showing that development of normal vision requires motor-sensory feedback

References:

• Brain Mechanisms in Sensory Substitution by Paul Bach-y-Rita, 1972.


• Bach-y-Rita, P "Tactile-Vision Substitution: past and future", International Journal of  Neuroscience 19, nos. 1-4,  29-36, 1983.


• Held, R and Hein, "Movement-produced stimulation in the development of visually guided behavior." Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology. 56(5), 872-876, 1963.


• Held, R.  "Plasticity in sensory-motor systems." Scientific American. 213(5) 84-91, 1965.

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• Special thanks to Diane Jacobs, Jenine John and Lori Wolfson for transcribing all the episodes of the Brain Science Podcast.


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Listen to Episode 58

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Comments

[Claudia Costa]

Hello,

I was recentley introduced to the Brain Science Podcast and I'm amazed by the quality of interviews and book analysis. Very happy for Ms. Ava Noe perspective on brain as integrated to the whole body function. As mentioned , understandingit seems more echological, really. I appreciate the different point of views brought by your very interesting guests. Congratulations on your very good work, from Brasil.
Claudia Costa

[clint]

Thank you again Ginger for a great interview.
With this service you provide one of the most thought provoking venues for my favorite subject.

Having just finished "Action in Perception" I was excited to be able to hear directly from Associate Professor Noë on his interesting perspective.
The interview very skillfully condenses his ideas and makes a good case for his views.

Having a roboticists vantage point I found myself agreeing with much Mr.Noë has to say.
The book "Action in Perception" compliments Rolf Pfeifer's book "How the Body Shapes the Way We Think" and I believe this perspective will be of great assistance for all of us working toward the creation of human form robots.

Perhaps Associate Professor Noë's work could be used to explain the extreme reactions found with extended sensory deprivation experiments.If in fact ones environment is integrally linked to the mind then with extended sensory deprivation one could be in effect loosing an irreplaceable component of ones mind.

Thanks Again.

Clint Askin.

[Emil H]

After listening to Brain Science Podcast #57 I ordered Alva Noës book. It might be one of the most important books in my bookshelf, I must say.

Loved the interview. I'll surely continue referring to this site whenever I'll get the chance :) Keep up the great (!) work!

[brain]

I am thrilled to have discovered your podcasting website. What a tremendous resource of compelling interviews - I look forward to listening to many more during my work day. I definitely agree with Dr Noe's perspective on the brain. I see it as the computer hardware and mind as the software imputed that ultimately creates consciousness of the individual. The brain's neuroplasticity and natural ability to change is no more restricted than a computer is restricted to load a new program to run. Another great book I recently started is - The Brain That Changes itself.