I’m not a dualist but the fact that there is no homunculus inside of the brain which is outputting flavors and colors does seem to indicate that our experience cannot simply be ‘the function of the brain’. That view takes our subjective experience f…

First, I would like to mention that the episode that is most relevant to to question of computers and embodiment is actually episode 25 where I interviewed Dr. Rolf Pfeifer about his book, “How the body shapes the way we Think.” In his book Dr. Pfeifer directly addresses the advantage of off-loading information onto the body, rather than maintaining a complex mental model. The example he often uses is the fact that walking involves the dynamic properties of our muscles, so that certain aspects of walking emerge from their elastic interaction with the world. His lab has created various “robots” whose ability to move arises totally from their interaction with the environment. They have no hard-wired model or algorithm for walking. In contrast, attempts to program robots to walk using complex mathematical models have been largely unsuccessful.

With regards to the question of which book I prefer between Doidge’s and Begley’s, I definitely prefer Begeley’s. (I share your discomfort with psychoanalysis.) However, I think there are certain readers who would prefer Doidge’s book. Doidge’s book may have a broader appeal among certain groups, such as those who who might be put off by the fact that Begley’s book is based on a conference of scientists held by the Dalai Lama. There is quite a bit of overlap between the two books. While I prefer the way Begley organizes the material, those who prefer a more story-oriented approach may like Doidge’s. Both books seem very popular with fans of the Brain Science Podcast.

Ginger Campbell, MD
http://brainsciencepodcast.com