Iain McGilchrist: The Divided Brain

Psychiatrist McGilchist debunks myths of split brain functioning and explains how the left and right hemispheres of the brain always work together, yet still have different specializations. He posits that their strengths (and physical size) have evolved with the demands of modern life, and that although the left hemisphere may be useful for more concrete tasks, the right brain is equally valuable, ending with this quote from Albert Einstein: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant but has forgotten the gift.” A cool illustrated RSA Animate video, created with an audio clip from a longer lecture on western civilization and the divided brain available here. Hat tip: an excellent blog post by Lapidarium notes.

The Empathic Civilization

A wide-ranging talk on empathy: a description of mirror neurons, empathy and early childhood development, and the role of empathy in civilizations. A specially animated clip from a longer lecture on empathy here.

Connected Minds: Loneliness, Social Brains and the Need for Community

A recent release from the excellent RSA Vision lecture series: the leading expert in social neuroscience explains the subdiscipline.

The Brain and the Law

An overview of neuroethics and neurolaw that covers a lot of ground, from Phineas Gage to comas. Ways that the brain controls behaviour, issues of responsibility and accountability in the legal system, decision making, recidivism and rehabilitation, predicting violence, the hype and reality of fMRI lie detectors and the implicit association test (IAT), and more. Mentions a clinical trial that’s testing neurofeedback for controlling cravings. Fast-paced and accessible talk, via @lawneuro and @hoteit, from the @RSAevents Vision lectures.