"Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain" author talk

The Google Author series puts up videos of talks by fascinating thinkers. Here is a video of a talk (via Neuronarrative, a blog by David DiSalvo) that I was fortunate enough to see in person when Alva Noe visted the Institute for Advanced Study at U of MN: he's a dynamic speaker and explains difficult concepts in extraordinarily clear fashion. The talk presents the argument of his latest book Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness. This book is aimed a popular, rather than a specialized, audience.


Here is the description posted with the video:
Alva Noe visits Google's San Francisco, CA office to discuss his book "Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness." This event took place on April 16, 2009, as part of the Authors@Google series.

"The notion that consciousness is confined to the brain, like software in a computer, has dominated science and philosophy for close to two centuries. Yet, according to this incisive review of contemporary neuroscience from Berkeley philosopher Nöe, the analogy is deeply flawed. In eight illuminating, mercifully jargon-free chapters, he defines what scientists really know about consciousness and makes a strong case that mind and awareness are processes that arise during a dynamic dance with the observers surroundings. Nöe begins with a sharp critique of scientists, such as DNA co-discoverer Francis Crick, who insist that nothing but neurons determines our daily perceptions and sense of self. He then examines studies of human and animal behavior that demonstrate an inextricable link between identity and environment. Nöe regrettably limits his treatise by ignoring considerable research from transpersonal psychology suggesting that consciousness transcends physicality altogether. Still, the resulting book is an invaluable contribution to cognitive science and the branch of self-reflective philosophy extending back to Descartes famous maxim, I think, therefore I am."

UPDATED TO ADD: Leee was kind enough to steer me to this great podcast on "neuroplasticity" in which Noé is interviewed along with Rick Hanson, a neuroscientist. The lovely hippocampus is mentioned!