I think you are going to be a star on the Brain Science Forum once I get it going!

I appreciate all your thoughtful comments.

It is very helpful to learn about the German perspective on Freud. In the States he has been largely discredited for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is recent evidence that he may have fabricated some of his case studies.

I spent several years studying Jung but Freud always seemed to obsessed with sex for my tastes.

Karl Popper wrote very convincingly about why both Freud and Jung’s thought should be regarded as pseudo-science. I don’t know what is available in German, but I liked Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge .

Your thoughts about 9/11 were intriguing. I think we all have strange memory lapses/gaps that make us wonder about the whole process.

I look forward to exploring the area further in the future.

In Germany, I think Freud has a somewhat better standing (we’re woo-woo land, anyway. Not religiously fanatic, but homeopathy and its ilk).

But also, the “repressed memory” is a common film thrope (along with the loss of memory from an accident or something), and even if neurologists know better, I think a lot of people would still think traumatic episodes are likely to be repressed.

So, misconceptions about memory or something might actually make for a well-filled podcast.

I know that since you mentioned it in the last podcast, I have actually questioned my 9/11-memories. Where I was, what I did, etc. I’ve come to the conclusion that at the very least I’ve streamlined the story and ironed out the kinks, so that it makes for a better narrative. Now much of it I just took from other people talking about it? I don’t know. But since my memory is not all that spectacular – just happening upon it on TV, calling my friends and family and staring incredulously – I don’t see a lot of possibilities for edits. Though I’m not sure I set up a conference call with two friends of mine, or whether I just called them and hung up again. Since I’d be hard pressed to name which two stayed on the line, I’m guessing the latter.

Do you see the Zombie carrying a brain perhaps?

On the subject of repressed memories, I think I will have to emphasize more clearly on another episode that current evidence is almost the opposite Freud’s ideas. This is important because a lot of “therapy” still seems to be based on the idea that recovering “repressed” memories is the key to mental health and happiness.

great topic, definitely something for more than one podcast. Short commentary follows.

1) I think the new logo should be a zombie in a labcoat.

2) What I missed – and this might come up in another show – was how the general public’s understanding of concepts like “eidetic memory” or “repressed memories” compare to the scientific understanding.

3) Very important to note that memories are not as reliable as we think they are. Perhaps that, too, might be a separate show?

4) What I liked this time was how intuitive a lot of the findings are. I mean, when I learn something, for example for an exam (“What is this cramming that you are speaking of?” :-)), I usually try to write things down, perhaps draw a sketch or a chart, speak it aloud, try to find examples, in order to form as many connections as I can.

5) another topic might be concentration, or focusing on things. I notice that while I am listening, a certain point will occupy my mind. I then try to rephrase the point, perhaps also look for an example, so I don’t forget the gist of it, but then a few seconds have passed and I may have missed the next point. Or when I’m sitting in a lecture and the professor is talking for 90 minutes straight, my concentration sort of wafts in and out.

Have a nice weekend!