Can we create new senses for humans? | David Eagleman

Summary

The transcript explores the concept of 'umwelt,' or the subjective reality experienced by different species, highlighting how human perception is limited by biology. Neuroscientist David Eagleman discusses how technology can expand our sensory experiences beyond natural limits, enabling sensory substitution and even sensory addition. He demonstrates how devices like vests can convert sound into vibrations, allowing the deaf to perceive speech, and suggests future possibilities, such as astronauts monitoring space station health through sensory input. Eagleman envisions a future where humans can customize their sensory experience, unlocking new ways to interact with the world.

Takeaways

• 🌌 Humans are limited in their perception of reality, only perceiving a small fraction of the vast cosmos around them.
• 👁 Our experience of the world is constrained by biology, with our senses only capturing a tiny portion of available information.
• 🐍 Different animals perceive reality in unique ways, such as snakes detecting infrared or bats using echolocation.
• 🧠 The brain is highly adaptable and can process sensory information from various sources, regardless of how it is received.
• 🔌 Sensory substitution technologies, like those that allow blind people to 'see' through their tongues or backs, demonstrate the brain's flexibility.
• 🔊 The vest that translates sound into vibrations on the skin shows potential for expanding sensory experiences for the deaf.
• 💡 Sensory addition could allow humans to experience new kinds of data, like real-time stock market information or the emotional state of a crowd.
• 🚀 This technology could be applied in various fields, such as allowing astronauts to feel the health of their spacecraft or pilots to feel the status of their aircraft.
• 📊 The brain's ability to handle multidimensional data could revolutionize how we interact with complex information, making it more intuitive.
• 🔄 The future may involve humans choosing their sensory experiences, enhancing and expanding their perception beyond natural limitations.

Q & A

What is the 'umwelt' and how does it relate to our perception of reality?

The 'umwelt' is a term used to describe the surrounding world as experienced by an organism. It relates to our perception of reality by highlighting that each species perceives the world differently based on their sensory capabilities. Humans, for example, perceive only a small fraction of reality due to the limitations of our sensory organs.

Why do humans only perceive a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Humans only perceive a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum because our biological receptors, specifically our eyes, are only sensitive to certain wavelengths of light, known as the visible spectrum. We are unaware of other wavelengths, such as radio waves or X-rays, because we lack the necessary biological sensors to detect them.

How do animals like snakes or honeybees perceive reality differently from humans?

Snakes and honeybees perceive reality differently because they have sensory capabilities that humans do not. Snakes can detect infrared radiation, allowing them to sense heat, while honeybees can see ultraviolet light, giving them a different visual experience of the world.

What is sensory substitution, and how has it been demonstrated?

Sensory substitution is the process of feeding information into the brain through unconventional sensory channels, allowing the brain to interpret this data in a meaningful way. It has been demonstrated with blind individuals who could 'see' objects by feeling patterns on their back or tongue, showing that the brain can adapt to different types of input.

What is the significance of the brain's ability to process different types of sensory input?

The significance of the brain's ability to process different types of sensory input is that it shows the brain's flexibility and capacity to adapt. It can interpret data from various sources and construct a coherent understanding of the environment, even when the data comes from unconventional sources, such as vibrations on the skin.

How does the vest used in the research translate sound into a sensory experience for deaf individuals?

The vest used in the research translates sound into a sensory experience by converting sound waves into patterns of vibration that can be felt on the skin. These vibrations correspond to the sounds, allowing deaf individuals to 'feel' speech and other auditory information, which their brains can then learn to interpret.

What potential does the vest technology have for sensory addition?

The vest technology has the potential for sensory addition by allowing humans to experience new kinds of data in real-time, such as stock market trends or environmental conditions, directly through their bodies. This could expand human perception and interaction with the world in unprecedented ways.

Why does the brain not care about the origin of sensory data?

The brain does not care about the origin of sensory data because it is designed to process and make sense of any electrochemical signals it receives, regardless of where they come from. This allows the brain to interpret data from various sources, whether they are natural senses or artificial inputs, and construct a coherent perception of reality.

What are the implications of the brain's 'general-purpose' computing ability?

The implications of the brain's 'general-purpose' computing ability are vast. It means that the brain can potentially adapt to new forms of sensory input, allowing for the development of technologies that can enhance or even expand our sensory experience. This could lead to new ways of interacting with the world, beyond our natural capabilities.

What are some possible future applications of sensory expansion technologies?

Possible future applications of sensory expansion technologies include allowing astronauts to feel the health of a space station, enabling people to monitor their own biological states like blood sugar levels, or providing pilots with a direct sense of their aircraft's condition. These technologies could revolutionize how we interact with and understand complex data in real-time.