consciousness
The other moral in Frankenstein and how to apply it to human brains and reanimated pigs
Some neurology experiments — such as growing miniature human brains and reanimating the brains of dead pigs — are getting weird. It's time to discuss ethics.
Epiphenomenalism: one of the most disturbing ideas in philosophy
Do our thoughts have any meaning whatsoever?
Can quantum physics explain consciousness?
A theoretical physicist returns to Penrose and Hameroff's theory of "quantum consciousness."
Consciousness: The ‘ghost in the machine’, or nothing special?
Science has not yet reached a consensus on the nature of consciousness.
Brain-controlled chess is here
The most mental game in existence no longer requires fingers.
Do animals see the world the way we do?
We can't ask them, so scientists have devised an experiment.
Dyson spheres: The key to resurrection and immortality?
Creating an afterlife—or a simulation of one—would take vast amounts of energy. Some scientists think the best way to capture that energy is by building megastructures around stars.
Pigs proven intelligent enough to play video games
They did really well considering joysticks are not designed for oral use.
BDSM therapy: Are there therapeutic and relational benefits to being submissive?
In-depth research suggests BDSM practitioners can experience altered states of consciousness that can be therapeutic.
What is the ‘self’? The 3 layers of your identity.
Answering the question of who you are is not an easy task. Let's unpack what culture, philosophy, and neuroscience have to say.
▸
12 min
—
with
Control group outperforms mediums in psychic test
Some volunteers performed above chance. They weren't the psychics.
Mind uploading: Can we become immortal?
Is the quest to upload human consciousness and ditch our meat puppets the future—or is it fool's gold?
▸
14 min
—
with
Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
There is a lot we don't know about psychedelics, but what we do know makes them extremely important.
▸
20 min
—
with
Scientists urge UN to add ‘neuro-rights’ to Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Neuroscientists and ethicists wants to ensure that neurotechnologies remain benevolent.
New bed, no sleep? First night blues
Heard about the phenomenon of FNE, or 'first night effect'?
1 in 5 vegetative patients is conscious. This neuroscientist finds them.
This week, Big Think is partnering with Freethink to bring you amazing stories of the people and technologies that are shaping our future.
▸
5 min
—
with
Crows are self-aware just like us, says new study
Crows have their own version of the human cerebral cortex.
Ever wonder how LSD works? An answer has been discovered.
UNC School of Medicine researchers identified the amino acid responsible for the trip.
Depression and suicidal ideation reduced after psychedelic usage
Another study confirms the positive effects of psychedelics on mental health.
How meditation can change your life and mind
Reaching beyond the stereotypes of meditation and embracing the science of mindfulness.
▸
20 min
—
with
Does conscious AI deserve rights?
If machines develop consciousness, or if we manage to give it to them, the human-robot dynamic will forever be different.
▸
16 min
—
with
Psychology’s five major perspectives explained
Why do you feel the way you feel, think the way you think and behave the way you do? Here are 5 possible explanations.
Why is everyone so selfish? Science explains
The coronavirus pandemic has brought out the perception of selfishness among many.
Is AI a species-level threat to humanity?
Some of the world's top minds weigh in on one of the most divisive questions in tech.
▸
17 min
—
with
Man unable to ‘see’ numbers after suffering rare brain disease
He can't identify the numbers 2 through 9. But strangely, he can still see ones and zeros.
Free self-hypnosis therapy in your home? Just ask Alexa
Reveri Health has launched a new stress-relief self-hypnosis program through Amazon Alexa to help combat the anxiety of COVID-19.
How does hypnosis really impact the brain?
A groundbreaking Stanford University study explains the areas of the brain that are impacted by hypnosis.
Yoga may ease symptoms of depression, according to new research
According to the analysis, the more yoga sessions a person did each week, the less they struggled with depressive symptoms.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Updated for the 21st century
Rather than trekking up a mountain, a more accurate metaphor for human development involves navigating the waters of a choppy sea.
▸
6 min
—
with
New hypothesis argues the universe simulates itself into existence
A physics paper proposes neither you nor the world around you are real.