Neuroscientist Ainārs Stepens on why the brain misleads us and where the line of normal lies
In the "From the Other Side" interview series, neuroscientist Ainārs Stepens discusses errors of the human brain, their origins, and the line between ordinary thinking mistakes and neurological disorders. The conversation also touches on cockroaches and challenges for artificial intelligence.
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The Apollo.lv portal has spoken with neuroscientist Ainārs Stepens in its "From the Other Side" conversation series. The topic is how the human brain works and the mistakes it regularly makes.
The introduction describes the brain as the most complex biological system known to us. Even so, it can mislead us. It distorts memories, exaggerates threats, makes people believe falsehoods and pushes them toward decisions that go against their own interests.
Questions about evolution and the norm
The conversation looks for answers to several questions. The first is why evolution has not produced more rational brains. The second is where normal thinking errors end and a neurological disorder begins.
Cockroaches and artificial intelligence
The headline itself points to an unusual topic: why cockroaches are, in the interviewee's words, our "brothers". The talk also covers what is considered the main enemy of artificial intelligence. The introductory text of the source gives no answers to these questions, so their content is not retold here.
The full conversation with Ainārs Stepens can be read on Apollo.lv.
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