In this bonus episode of People I Mostly Admire, host Steve Levitt sits down with neuroscientist David Eagleman to delve into his fascinating concept of "live-wired" brains. They explore the brain's remarkable plasticity and its unique ability to adapt. Eagleman shares insights from his research on sensory substitution, particularly echolocation, and discusses the innovative work of his company, Neosensory, which creates devices that convert sound into tactile sensations for those who are deaf. Their conversation also covers intriguing topics like the nature of dreams, the promise of Neuralink and nanorobotics, the current limitations of brain-scanning technology, and the surprisingly prevalent experience of synesthesia. Together, they ponder the implications of these advancements for education and our understanding of consciousness.
