Brain Science Podcast #15: Interview with Read Montague
Show Notes
Episode #15 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Dr. Read Montague of the Baylor School of Medicine. We discuss his recent book, Why Choose this Book? How we Make Decisions (2006).
Here are some of the questions we discussed:
What is computational neuroscience?
What is the computational theory of the mind (CTOM)?
How is the objection that the CTOM doesn’t account for meaning answered ?
What about choice and responsibility?
Is there room for free will in this model?
I also announced that because of the recent technical problems, the new discussion Forum will probably not be up and running for a few more weeks, but I hope that many of you will participate.
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Filed under: Interviews, Neuroscience, Podcast Show Notes, brain science, philosophy of mind
It’s obviously true what Montague says about true free will, that total freedom inhibits us more than it does liberate. “Tell me something” is too vague for at least my brain to easily come up with ideas; “tell me a story about a licorice vendor”, now that’s something I can start from.
I must say when I hear “computational model”, I think of unchangeable and predictable patterns or programs; I’m not sure decisions can yet be predicted, can they? Also, if we have this system, why do our decisions so often prove to be suboptimal or “bad”? (I obviously have to read this book, eh?)
Have you considered interviewing Dr. Steven Novella (http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/)? He’s a neurologist and host of the Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe (I guess you could also try to get interviewed by them). Anyway, they’re up to 20,000 listeners or so, and if he plugs your podcast (say, because he’s interviewed there), some of them will surely keep on listening to further shows.
Interesting story: I just recently attended a talk about homeopathy and the lecturer (a skeptic) made a great show about how our immediate decisions sometimes come out wrong. Armed with the memory of show #13, I spoke up and declared snap decisions to not be generally bad, but in fact helpful some of the times. I’m still not sure what seeing a bear in the woods has to do with homeopathy, though.
I am familiar with Dr. Novella’s podcast and I certainly admire his work and wish I had his large number of subscribers!
Thanks again for commenting. Hopefully, the discussion forum will be up within a couple of weeks.
I highly recommend Dr. Montague’s book to everyone interested in learning more about the computational model of the mind. I will be discussing other viewpoints in upcoming podcasts.
Hi, Ginger,
I enjoyed very much your interview of Dr. Montague. As usual, he was allowed to present the gist of his ideas concisely in response to well formulated questions. Sure makes one want to read his book. I too am very interested in knowing more about the “computational model.”
The whole area of how we make the choices we do is an extremely fascinating one. Whether our will is “free” (which I agree is not a well formed question) or not, we certainly seem to have some interesting algorithms for making choices. Just today, Barry Schwartz, another writer of a book on choices that I haven’t read, “The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less,” has an OpEd in the New York Times about the effects of offering money for learning (link is ). The field of behavioral economics (neuroeconomics) seems to be making rapid advances, thanks to advanced technologies in cognitive neuroscience.
I liked what Dr. Montague said about dichotomous thinking, which may be another of those atavistic habits we should strive to overcome when trying to achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves and reality.
Keep up the excellent work!
Leon
Ginger,
I am someone who has been fascinated with understanding what is consciousness and free will. My perspective is of one who is also struggled with depression all my adult life and who has had close personal and family relationships with people that have also had chronic mental disorders.
I use what I learn to better understand myself. But, over and above that, I find the subject of cognition and brain function very interesting. I came accross your podcast on the iTunes directory and have just begun listening. Your interview with Dr. Montague was wonderful and I was so impressed by how lucid his explanations were and the kinds of insights coming from his research. I definately will buy his book.
I also want to say that I find your podcast very illuminating and well-done. I believe I have found an excellent resource to add to my thirst to understand more about how the brain works and what about our brains makes us human. Keep up the good work.
Steve,
Thank you so much for posting your comment about the Brain Science Podcast.
I hope you will visit the new Discussion Forum, and if you are so inclined you could start a thread about depression or mental illness. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about how learning more about the brain affects how you cope with your situation.
There is a book I think you might find particularly interesting, The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force (2003)
by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Sharon Begley. Dr. Schwartz describes his work with patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but I think you might find his ideas very relevant.
I look forward to hearing what you think about episode Episode 10, which explores neuroplasticity.
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It seems that my personal experience contradicts the theories discussed in podcast #15. According to my neurologist, epilepsy destroyed my long-term memory. After my seizures were controlled in 1997, my brain was once again able to create and retain long-term memories, but none of the memories of my life prior to age 47 have returned.
In late 1997, I discovered that I had what I later decided were my declarative memories (facts, details, experiences, acquaintances) were all lost. I still understood how to read and write (I knew hundreds of vocabulary words - and the words and melodies to dozens of songs.) I also could walk, talk, read, move - all things I now consider to be implicit memories.
I was told I had had temporal lobe seizures that generalized into grand mal seizures.
I wonder if it’s possible to make generalizations about the functions of various parts of the brain.
[...] Episode 15: Interview with Read Montague about unconscious decisions [...]