DanielToker – Knowing Neurons

Measuring Consciousness in Bits

August 1, 2018August 1, 2018 DanielToker Brain, Claude Shannon, Communication, Consciousness, David Chalmers, Entropy, Giulio Tononi, Information, Information theory, Integrated Information Theory, Neuroscience, philosophy, Psychology, Research, Science, Sensory experience

Consciousness is an ambiguous concept. It can mean a lot of different things, depending on the context. For example, I can say that I am conscious of something, as in, “I am… Read more

Big Ideas Consciousness Philosophy

The emergence of a hive mind: Should we worry?

January 31, 2018February 3, 2018 DanielToker Brain, brain-to-brain communication, Consciousness, Hive Mind, Integrated Information Theory, Memory, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Tononi

he term “hive mind” refers to the apparent intelligence that emerges at the group level in some social species, particularly insects like honeybees and ants. An individual honeybee might not… Read more

Big Ideas Neuro SciFi

Cognitive Astrobiology

January 3, 2018December 29, 2017 DanielToker Astrobiology, Cognitive, Cognitive Astrobiology, Diana Reiss, ET, Evolution, Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Intelligence, Jellyfish, NASA, Psychology, SETI, Space, Spaceflight

o here’s a cool combination of fields: neuroscience and astrobiology. Let’s call it “cognitive astrobiology.”… Read more

Big Ideas Did You Know?

You’re Not as Rational as You Think: Political Philosophy and the Science of Irrationality

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 DanielToker 2004 Presidential Election, Amygdala, George W. Bush, Insula, irrationality, John Kerry, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, philosopher-kings, Plato, political philosophy, Politics, presidential election, reason

ognitive scientists have known for decades that humans are inherently irrational when it comes to making economic decisions. This may seem obvious to a good poker player, who will likely… Read more

Big Ideas Consciousness Philosophy Sensation and Perception

We Are All Brains in Vats

June 28, 2017September 24, 2017 DanielToker Brain in a Vat, Consciousness, Gilbert Harmanm, Hallucination, Illusion, Perception, Rene Descartes, The Matrix

The Matrix made all of us ask the same disturbing questions: How do I know that the world I see, hear, and touch is real? Can I prove that I’m… Read more