BS 193 What does it Mean to say the Mind is Embodied?

BS 193 What does it Mean to say the Mind is Embodied?

Episode 193 of Brain Science was inspired by the book Out of the Cave: A Natural Philosophy of Mind and Knowing by Mark L Johnson and Donald M Tucker. It explores two big picture questions: What does it mean to claim that the Mind is "embodied?" and How does this change our understanding of our place in the world?

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Phenomenology with Anthony Chemero (BI 59)

Phenomenology with Anthony Chemero (BI 59)

Episode 59 of Books and Ideas is an interview with philosopher Anthony Chemero about his book Phenomenology: An Introduction. We put phenomenology into historical perspective and explore how it is making contributions to contemporary cognitive science. This episode doesn't require any prior knowledge.

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Brain Science Podcast with Evan Thompson (BSP 89)

Evan Thompson, PhDEmbodied Cognition is a movement within cognitive science that argues that the mind is inseparable from the fact that the brain is embedded in a physical body. This means that everything that the brain does, from the simplest perception to complex decision-making, relies on the interaction of the body with its environment.  Evan Thompson's book Mind in Life: Biology, Phenomenology, and the Sciences of Mind is an in depth look at what he calls the "enactive" approach to embodied cognition. The enactive approach was pioneered by Thompson's mentor Francisco Varela and it emphasizes the importance of the body's active engagement with its environment.

In a recent interview (BSP 89) I talked with Thompson about some of the key ideas in Mind in Life. Unlike most episodes of the Brain Science Podcast, this is not really a stand-alone episode. It is part of my ongoing exploration of both embodied cognition and the controverial topic of emergence. It is also intended as a follow-up to my recent interview with Terrence Deacon.

Listen to Episode 89

Click here for complete show notes and the free episode transcript.

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Art Glenberg discusses Embodied Cognition (BSP 36)

Art Glenberg, PhD Episode 36 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Arthur Glenberg, PhD about embodied cognition. Dr. Glenberg recently moved to Arizona State University after over 30 years at the University of Wisconsin's Laboratory of Embodied Cognition. His research focuses on the relationship between embodiment and language. In this interview we explore the experimental evidence for a theory of language that embraces the concept that our language abilities are actually rooted in our perceptual and motor abilities. Dr. Glenberg also explains how his work has practical implications in helping children learn how to read. Since Dr. Glenberg has had a long career as a working research scientist, this interview also provided an opportunity to explore how scientific hypotheses are formed and how experiments are designed to test these hypothesis. I think this interview will give you a fascinating look into the real world of cognitive psychology.

Listen to Dr. Glenberg's Interview (left click to listen, right click to download)

Links and References: Arthur Glenberg, PhD Other Scientists Mentioned in the Episode:
  • George Lakoff: pioneering linguist
  • James Gibson-known for his ideas about affordances
  • William Epstein-emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin
  • Joseph Campos: University of California (Berkelely)
  • Amy Needham and Amanda Woodard-experiments with velcro mits and infant cognition
  • David A Havas: graduate student and co-author with Dr. Glenberg
  • Mike Kashak: Florida State University
  • Mike Rinck: German co-author-see paper under Glenberg (more papers)
  • Vittorio Gallese, Dept of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Italy (where mirror neurons were discovered): extensive experimental with motor neurons in monkeys
  • Fritz Stack (Germany): experiments showing that facial experiments affect mood and cognition
References: Listen to Dr. Glenberg's Interview (left click to listen, right click to download)

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