Who Is Moving Your Hand?
Voluntary action, conscious control, and a revealing observation from the operating room
Consciousness & The Brain
Consciousness is a fundamental scientific question of life. Gain a deeper understanding of some of the most definitive evidence in medical science about cortical connectivity and the complexities of the living brain. Welcome!
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Latest episodes
Global Workspace Theory, AI, and the Lost Baby Test
Wide recognition of Global Workspace Theory is very welcome. But we should be careful not to confuse a useful model of consciousness with consciousness itself.
When Voluntary Control Breaks Down
Why unwanted thoughts, feelings, images, and actions raise fundamental questions about volition
Is Willpower Like a Muscle?
A conversation with Roy F. Baumeister on self-control, ego depletion, self-esteem, and free will.
When Skill Becomes Automatic
How losing conscious access to the details of an action can weaken monitoring and voluntary control
Q+A with Neurobiologist Stuart Firestein on Smell, Taste & Consciousness
Neurobiologist Stuart Firestein explains how the olfactory system detects odors, why smell is so closely tied to memory, and what it may reveal about consciousness.
Slips of Speech and Action
What a slip of the tongue reveals about intention, error, and voluntary control
Global Workspace Theory, Part II: Consciousness, Attention, and Brain Evidence
A conversation with Dr. Alea Skwara and Ilian Daskalov on the conscious and unconscious processes that shape brain function.
Consciousness Live!
Where the stream of consciousness goes over the edge. Philosopher Richard Brown interviewed me for his terrific podcast “Consciousness Live!” & we thought you’d enjoy our discussion.
When the Same Action Is Not the Same Act
A slip of the tongue reveals the hidden psychological difference between voluntary and involuntary behavior
What Makes an Action Voluntary?
William James, Global Workspace Theory, and the Unconscious Editing of Conscious Goals
Consciousness Has an Integrative Function
Some have argued that consciousness is only a side effect of the brain. But from an evolutionary point of view, adaptations are shaped by intense genetic pressures, and those pressures are causal.
Goal Frames and Slips of the Tongue
How goals may bias speech, memory, and action
Our first seminar is coming later this summer. We have 2 quick questions for you.
Help us pick a date and tell us if the ticket price works for you
The Conscious-Unconscious-Conscious Cycle
The triadic rhythm behind problem solving, memory, perception, and creative insight
#27 — Is Willpower Like a Muscle? with Roy F. Baumeister
How do we regulate impulsive emotions, resist temptation, break bad habits, and live up to our best potential, and why do we sometimes run short?
You've spoken. Here's what more than 160 of you most want to understand about consciousness.
Poll results are in, and the questions you sent us are terrific. Here's a sample...
The Regenerative Capabilities of Olfactory Neurons: Q&A with Stuart Firestein
Exploring smell, taste, and consciousness with Dr. Stuart Firestein, one of the world’s leading experts on olfaction.
Do You Remember Your Junior Year? Meet Rayna Kumar.
At 15, she had a simple goal: learn directly from people at the forefront. So she launched the Cognitive Corner podcast.
Intentions Are Expectations About Ourselves
Goal frames constrain conscious contents, often without becoming conscious contents.