The Expanding Brain Podcast

16. Choking - What Causes Failure in High Pressure Moments?

Sports history is full of generational choke-jobs: the Falcons against the Patriots during the Super Bowl; the Clippers against the Nuggets during the 2020 NBA playoffs; James Harden’s entire career. Choking isn't unique to the sports world either; test-takers, performing artists, quiz bowl players - it seems like expertise does not prevent people from faltering under high pressure. In today’s episode, Akshata and Christian explore different theories of why choking occurs and what kind of attentional failures in the brain can lead to choking. By analyzing studies that test performance under high pressure, they start to unpack how expertise and practice affect memory and performance, and moreover, what people can do to potentially avoid choking. Sources and show notes can be found at: https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=671 [https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=671] Follow The Expanding Brain Podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/brain_expanding [https://twitter.com/brain_expanding] Email us with any questions or topic ideas at expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com [expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com]. Support us on Patreon if you like what we do, want to see bonus content, or have a couple bucks to spare: https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain [https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain] Our personal twitters are: https://twitter.com/artbyakshata [https://twitter.com/artbyakshata] and https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein [https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein].

15. Are Androids People?

What about robots? AIs? How does science fiction construct these beings based on real social ideas of what it means to be a person, and how do real social systems affect the creation of these fictional beings? In today’s episode, Akshata and Christian take a break from discussing scientific studies and dive into the world of Blade Runner, its sequel Blade Runner 2049, and the book that inspired them, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Spoilers for all of the above). What starts out as a discussion about the nature of personhood in science fiction quickly evolves into a broader discussion about themes commonly found in cyberpunk media. Our hosts begin by discussing the differences between robots, artificial intelligence, and androids. They then move on to other topics, such as the influence of capitalism in cyberpunk societies, the presentation of women in Blade Runner 2049, and use and abuse of Asian aesthetics in cyberpunk. Overall, it's a riveting and wide-ranging discussion, one that this time explores connections between sci-fi and society. Sources and shownotes can be found at: https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=665 [https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=665] Follow The Expanding Brain Podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/brain_expanding [https://twitter.com/brain_expanding] Email us with any questions or topic ideas at expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com [expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com]. Support us on Patreon if you like what we do, want to see bonus content, or have a couple bucks to spare: https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain [https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain] Our personal twitters are: https://twitter.com/artbyakshata [https://twitter.com/artbyakshata] and https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein [https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein].

14. Where is the Consciousness of An Octopus?

What does it mean to have a single, unified consciousness? Is that the only way consciousness can work? In this episode, Akshata and Christian discuss a scientific paper that explores these questions through the lens of one of the most alien species on the planet: the octopus. The paper, titled “Where is it like to be an octopus,” argues that the unusual setup of the octopus nervous system could lead to a consciousness that lives not in their brain, but in their eight arms. How can we even understand what that type of disjoined conscious experience would be like? Our hosts try their best to expand their brains and understand this phenomenon in the new episode. Hope you enjoy! Sources and show notes can be found at: https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=661 [https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=661] Follow The Expanding Brain Podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/brain_expanding [https://twitter.com/brain_expanding] Email us with any questions or topic ideas at expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com [expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com]. Support us on Patreon if you like what we do, want to see bonus content, or have a couple bucks to spare: https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain [https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain] Our personal twitters are: https://twitter.com/artbyakshata [https://twitter.com/artbyakshata] and https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein [https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein].

13. Entropic Consciousness: Psychedelics and Disorder in the Brain

Akshata and Christian discuss how psychedelic drugs can help us understand consciousness by analyzing a new theory of consciousness based on entropy. Are certain forms of consciousness “lower” or “higher” entropy? And what does that mean for the subjective experience of the conscious person? What happens in the brain under psychedelics to lead to all these revelatory, hallucinogenic, and expansive effects people report -and how can we study it with entropy? Through the framework of entropic consciousness, can psychedelics be useful in treating mental illnesses? We explore all these questions and more in this truly brain-expanding episode, hope you enjoy! https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/**13-entropic-consciousness-psychedelics-and-disorder-in-the-brain**/ [https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/**13-entropic-consciousness-psychedelics-and-disorder-in-the-brain**/] Follow The Expanding Brain Podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/brain_expanding [https://twitter.com/brain_expanding] Email us with any questions or topic ideas at expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com [expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com]. Support us on Patreon if you like what we do, want to see bonus content, or have a couple bucks to spare: https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain [https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain] Our personal twitters are: https://twitter.com/artbyakshata [https://twitter.com/artbyakshata] and https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein [https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein].

12. Unleashing Mathematical Creativity - Pt. 2

Akshata, Christian, and Ryan continue their discussion of mathematical creativity in Part 2 by getting deep into the four stage Gestalt model of creativity. They rank the four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification; and discuss how accurate this model is to real life mathematical creativity. The hosts also discuss the role of social factors like stereotype threat in how creativity is valued, or undervalued, in mathematics tests and classrooms. Overall, an insightful way to round out and wrap up a discussion about a topic very close to the hosts, thanks again to Ryan for being a guest! Sources and show notes can be found at: https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=599 [https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=599] Follow The Expanding Brain Podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/brain_expanding [https://twitter.com/brain_expanding] Email us with any questions or topic ideas at expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com [expandingbrainpodcast@gmail.com]. Support us on Patreon if you like what we do, want to see bonus content, or have a couple bucks to spare: https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain [https://www.patreon.com/expandingbrain] Our personal twitters are: https://twitter.com/artbyakshata [https://twitter.com/artbyakshata] and https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein [https://twitter.com/blkWittgenstein].