This monologue podcast, "Inner Cosmos," hosted by neuroscientist David Eagleman, explores the fascinating topic of visual illusions and how they reveal the inner workings of the brain. The podcast begins by introducing the concept of internal models in the brain and how they shape our perception of reality, using the example of ambiguous images that only become clear with context. Eagleman then delves into the concept of "perceiving the present," explaining how the brain compensates for delays in processing sensory information by making predictions about the future. He uses the example of catching a baseball to illustrate this predictive mechanism. Finally, the podcast connects these concepts to the Herring illusion, demonstrating how the brain's predictive mechanisms can lead to misinterpretations of visual stimuli.
