Is Your Brain Lying to You? In this episode, we unravel perception vs perspective. From predictive coding, optical illusions, & AI chatbots. How much of your “reality” is just your brain’s best guess.
Entertaining as always. I enjoyed the back and forth with the team and the many book and movie references. What's real? What's not? What's just in our heads? Yikes!
Have you ever realized your brain filled in a detail that wasn’t really there: like a sound, color, or memory that changed when you looked closer?
Excellent question. I'm pretty sure this has happened. I can't think of any specific examples though...Hmm.... (Sorry, I'm literally typing out my thoughts haha). I can't remember any specifics but will have to get back to you later lol. I do remember thinking that "Secret Agent Man" was "Secret Asian Man" before LOL. As a kid, I also thought that "Macho Man" (song) was "Nacho Man". I often think about food, so I guess that's no surprise XD
On a different, but probably only tangentially related note, I remember in 2019, I met up with a friend who I hadn't seen since high school. So, it had been nearly 20 years by that time. I knew that she was tall (I remember that she was about 5'10), but she was even taller than I remembered when we ran into each other at a cafe lol (like 6 feet tall) :).
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Which movie, book, or game most perfectly captures the feeling of not knowing what’s real?
Inception! Not only are you uncertain about whether the ending of the film is real or Cobb's dream, there are characters who get literally lost in Limbo. It becomes a reality for them. With Saito, in the dream world, he lived there for decades, and it became a reality of sort for him. With Mal, as I mentioned in my other comment, she thought that Limbo was real and that reality was fake and she unalived herself (using unalived because I don't know if Substack has filters like YouTube) as a result. I'm sure there are other movies, books, games, or books, but Inception came to mind first.
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Do you think technology, AI, VR, or social media, has changed how we perceive reality or how we interpret it?
Yes, it has shaped how we perceive and interpret reality. I think that misinformation and disinformation on social media has affected how people view the world. They're fed something that confirms their biases. Often times, they're simple answers for complex, systemic problems. But, because it confirms their biases, it strengthens them. And by strengthening them, it shapes how they interpret information that comes in. Thus, this leads to a loop of a distorted reality.
Also, what I've noticed is that, at least anecdotally, social media tends to amplify differences (and topics that are discussed more on social media than offline). At least to me, it amplifies partisanship and hardline opinions - and there are some things that will be discussed more on social media than IRL. And that can cause a distorted perception, especially if one is in an echo chamber online.
I'm guessing chatbots can do the same. As you indicated, chatbots cater to what people want, their preferences. And they can also reflect the biases of the data that is used to design them. They will send outputs of disinformation and/or misinformation. This can shape one's interpretations, which then shapes someone's perceptions.
I don't know enough about VR to discuss their impact. But, there's the chance that it can change how we perceive reality or how we interpret it.
If you could experience the world through someone else’s senses for one day, whose perspective would you choose, and why?
Another excellent question. I'd be tempted to see the perspective of The Flash. What it would be like to be living life quickly and see everything else moving slowly. And I also pick the Flash because, he is well loved and respected - even by some of his foes. They'll clash (him and his Rogues Gallery) but they also have moral codes (his Rogues Gallery won't hurt women or children from what I recall) and The Flash is very caring. He's empathetic, like he was in this scene with The Trickster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIxUSK73pc
Plus, he eats a lot lol. (Because of how fast he is). I'd love to see the kinds of meals he has :). I love food XD.
I don't know lol. Probably. Michael Caine did say that he thought that the last scene was real and not a dream, but I am not certain (probably not) if Nolan has confirmed if it is real or if Cobb is still in a dream world.
Hey Joe, Georgia, Nick, and Katie! Cool basement studio :)
Great, helpful definitions, Joe 😊 Good examples, Joe, Georgia, and Katie! Librarians are cool 😊
Multiverse was Season 1. Joe from Earth 1 or 2 was there lol So were Georgia, Nick, and Mary of Earth 1 or 2.😅
I thought the dress was brown lol. Just like how Charles Barkley jokingly said "Donut" when asked if he heard Yanny or Laurel haha. I forgot about Harlem Shake lol. And haha a table shift is renovation 😅
Alice in Wonderland was surreal. So was the first Doctor Strange film. Lol The Alice in Wonderland place in London sounds wild.
Oh yeah, I forgot the brain fills in gaps. And this gets me thinking of Daredevil and how he lost perception from sight but perceives via scent, hearing, etc. And his perspectives are shaped by what he has been through.
Good point about the brain is a predictive engine. But yes, our brains are biased by our experiences. So, I agree with Georgia about how stereotyping can come from this. It can be a horrible loop. Biased perception -> Steteotypes -> Reinforcement of biased perception.
And AIs are also impacted by biases in data. The Chat GPT story you shared is...wow. wild. Critical thinking is invaluable and key.
Inception is another example of perception and perspective, right? I remember Mal's perspective being distorted by her experience in Limbo and what she perceived there (a false reality). Curious about your thoughts.
Lol good Iron Man 3 reference.
Hahaha maybe we are in a simulation =P Dun dun dun
I need to see Severance.
Bird Box too.
Your conversation about perspective changes and empathy resonates with me. I was leaning conservative when I was a teen. But I became much more progressive over the years and my views have changed a lot. I am fairly empathetic and I think that contributed to my perspective shift.
The game Nick mentioned is reminding me of my characters Jen and Naeema. They got pulled into a dream and a shapeshifter there tries to mess with their perspectives (by trying to get them to lose hope) by replaying their most painful memories and blaming them. I need to rewrite that story. I wrote it not long after I started taking my creative writing seriously.
Hahaha who is the ghost in the studio? Did you use a board to summon it? =P
I don't think I could binge horror movies. I do not get scared easily but they would probably disturb me too much and make it hard to sleep.
Lol I haven't heard of Sirens of Titan. Oops.
Yes! I agree YA is for everyone. I should try YA Romantasy :)
I'm surprised that I was never assigned Vonnegut books in school.
Yesss reading is a great way to get different perspectives. I love "City of Lies" by Ramita Navai. It is nonfiction but reads like a novel. It contains real life stories of people living in Tehran, Iran.
Reading and listening to people's stories have helped me grow & open my mind. And KQED's Perspectives podcast is wonderful. Each ep is only a few min long but you get to hear from someone sharing their reflections about different topics.
DC Punk Archive sounds cool! Katie is awesome 🙂 Cool discussion! Great episode. Take care!
Entertaining as always. I enjoyed the back and forth with the team and the many book and movie references. What's real? What's not? What's just in our heads? Yikes!
Thanks Bruce. The mind can truly plays tricks on us. 😊
Have you ever realized your brain filled in a detail that wasn’t really there: like a sound, color, or memory that changed when you looked closer?
Excellent question. I'm pretty sure this has happened. I can't think of any specific examples though...Hmm.... (Sorry, I'm literally typing out my thoughts haha). I can't remember any specifics but will have to get back to you later lol. I do remember thinking that "Secret Agent Man" was "Secret Asian Man" before LOL. As a kid, I also thought that "Macho Man" (song) was "Nacho Man". I often think about food, so I guess that's no surprise XD
On a different, but probably only tangentially related note, I remember in 2019, I met up with a friend who I hadn't seen since high school. So, it had been nearly 20 years by that time. I knew that she was tall (I remember that she was about 5'10), but she was even taller than I remembered when we ran into each other at a cafe lol (like 6 feet tall) :).
--
Which movie, book, or game most perfectly captures the feeling of not knowing what’s real?
Inception! Not only are you uncertain about whether the ending of the film is real or Cobb's dream, there are characters who get literally lost in Limbo. It becomes a reality for them. With Saito, in the dream world, he lived there for decades, and it became a reality of sort for him. With Mal, as I mentioned in my other comment, she thought that Limbo was real and that reality was fake and she unalived herself (using unalived because I don't know if Substack has filters like YouTube) as a result. I'm sure there are other movies, books, games, or books, but Inception came to mind first.
--
Do you think technology, AI, VR, or social media, has changed how we perceive reality or how we interpret it?
Yes, it has shaped how we perceive and interpret reality. I think that misinformation and disinformation on social media has affected how people view the world. They're fed something that confirms their biases. Often times, they're simple answers for complex, systemic problems. But, because it confirms their biases, it strengthens them. And by strengthening them, it shapes how they interpret information that comes in. Thus, this leads to a loop of a distorted reality.
Also, what I've noticed is that, at least anecdotally, social media tends to amplify differences (and topics that are discussed more on social media than offline). At least to me, it amplifies partisanship and hardline opinions - and there are some things that will be discussed more on social media than IRL. And that can cause a distorted perception, especially if one is in an echo chamber online.
I'm guessing chatbots can do the same. As you indicated, chatbots cater to what people want, their preferences. And they can also reflect the biases of the data that is used to design them. They will send outputs of disinformation and/or misinformation. This can shape one's interpretations, which then shapes someone's perceptions.
I don't know enough about VR to discuss their impact. But, there's the chance that it can change how we perceive reality or how we interpret it.
**EDIT: This post is a good one about the impact of social media (and how it can further polarize: https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/you-should-quit-social-media-for?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=6273&post_id=175849666&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1wvfbd&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email). It's by G. Elliot Morris.
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If you could experience the world through someone else’s senses for one day, whose perspective would you choose, and why?
Another excellent question. I'd be tempted to see the perspective of The Flash. What it would be like to be living life quickly and see everything else moving slowly. And I also pick the Flash because, he is well loved and respected - even by some of his foes. They'll clash (him and his Rogues Gallery) but they also have moral codes (his Rogues Gallery won't hurt women or children from what I recall) and The Flash is very caring. He's empathetic, like he was in this scene with The Trickster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIxUSK73pc
Plus, he eats a lot lol. (Because of how fast he is). I'd love to see the kinds of meals he has :). I love food XD.
Inception was awesome. Did the top stop spinning?🤔
I don't know lol. Probably. Michael Caine did say that he thought that the last scene was real and not a dream, but I am not certain (probably not) if Nolan has confirmed if it is real or if Cobb is still in a dream world.
I loved Inception! Great mind bending flick!
Me too!! It's one of my favorite movies :)! It's amazing :).
Hey Joe, Georgia, Nick, and Katie! Cool basement studio :)
Great, helpful definitions, Joe 😊 Good examples, Joe, Georgia, and Katie! Librarians are cool 😊
Multiverse was Season 1. Joe from Earth 1 or 2 was there lol So were Georgia, Nick, and Mary of Earth 1 or 2.😅
I thought the dress was brown lol. Just like how Charles Barkley jokingly said "Donut" when asked if he heard Yanny or Laurel haha. I forgot about Harlem Shake lol. And haha a table shift is renovation 😅
Alice in Wonderland was surreal. So was the first Doctor Strange film. Lol The Alice in Wonderland place in London sounds wild.
Oh yeah, I forgot the brain fills in gaps. And this gets me thinking of Daredevil and how he lost perception from sight but perceives via scent, hearing, etc. And his perspectives are shaped by what he has been through.
Good point about the brain is a predictive engine. But yes, our brains are biased by our experiences. So, I agree with Georgia about how stereotyping can come from this. It can be a horrible loop. Biased perception -> Steteotypes -> Reinforcement of biased perception.
And AIs are also impacted by biases in data. The Chat GPT story you shared is...wow. wild. Critical thinking is invaluable and key.
Inception is another example of perception and perspective, right? I remember Mal's perspective being distorted by her experience in Limbo and what she perceived there (a false reality). Curious about your thoughts.
Lol good Iron Man 3 reference.
Hahaha maybe we are in a simulation =P Dun dun dun
I need to see Severance.
Bird Box too.
Your conversation about perspective changes and empathy resonates with me. I was leaning conservative when I was a teen. But I became much more progressive over the years and my views have changed a lot. I am fairly empathetic and I think that contributed to my perspective shift.
The game Nick mentioned is reminding me of my characters Jen and Naeema. They got pulled into a dream and a shapeshifter there tries to mess with their perspectives (by trying to get them to lose hope) by replaying their most painful memories and blaming them. I need to rewrite that story. I wrote it not long after I started taking my creative writing seriously.
Hahaha who is the ghost in the studio? Did you use a board to summon it? =P
I don't think I could binge horror movies. I do not get scared easily but they would probably disturb me too much and make it hard to sleep.
Lol I haven't heard of Sirens of Titan. Oops.
Yes! I agree YA is for everyone. I should try YA Romantasy :)
I'm surprised that I was never assigned Vonnegut books in school.
Yesss reading is a great way to get different perspectives. I love "City of Lies" by Ramita Navai. It is nonfiction but reads like a novel. It contains real life stories of people living in Tehran, Iran.
Reading and listening to people's stories have helped me grow & open my mind. And KQED's Perspectives podcast is wonderful. Each ep is only a few min long but you get to hear from someone sharing their reflections about different topics.
DC Punk Archive sounds cool! Katie is awesome 🙂 Cool discussion! Great episode. Take care!
Alex, thanks for listening. 👏🏽 I’ll have to give the KQED podcast a listen. Thanks for sharing.
Anytime, my friend :) Sounds good. Hope you like the podcast :)
Hope you're having a nice day :].