Think Again. Class 4. Electrochemical Systems Cognitive Biases

Transcription

1 Think Again Class 4 Electrochemical Systems Cognitive Biases

2 Matt Epstein

3 Think Again Class 4 Perception is a controlled hallucination Andy Clark Reality is a shared hallucination Howard Bloom

4 What Do You Hear? Track 1 Anil Seth Ted Talk - Link - 6:15 What changed? Not the sound

5 How to Use what We Learned Assume we are not satisfied with our reactions or behaviors. Example, we argue a lot with friend, spouse, or other family member. Focus is to avoid responses that exacerbate situation.

6 Example 1 Friend says something offensive that feels like a put down. You get angry and say something negative back. Argument ensues and you do not interact for several weeks. Relationship never the same again.

7 What Really Happens Brain does not have angry response. What do you actually feel? Hurt? Pained? Afraid? Anger shields pain but interferes with rational judgment. Attribution of intent is learned behavior.

8 Alternative Response Admit to pain or whatever actual feeling is. Think about why it was painful. Decide to gather more information and to think through how you want to respond. Remember other people cannot make us angry, only trigger a learned response. Attribution is a slippery slope. Example someone slams a door on us. We assume they knew we were there. We further assume they had the intent to send us a negative message.

9 Example 2 Negative consequences from our diet (or drinking or smoking or sleep habits). We know we should act differently but fail at resisting the urge. Urges are difficult or impossible to resist. Resistance is like pulling on Chinese handcuffs, it only makes them stronger. Rational mind does not feel urges. VBAR once we decide, urge becomes irrelevant.

10 Which Box Would You Choose? Reduce Brain Age by 11 Years Add 10 Years to Brain Age

11 Now Which Would You Choose? Reduce Brain Age Increase Brain Age

12 Can You Think of a Rational Reason to Put This in Your Body? Americans consumed 12.4 billion gallons of carbonated beverages in 2016 or 38.5 gallons per capita. Average consumption has dropped significantly over the last 10 years.

13 How it Works on its Own Brain processes input and prepares body to respond based on categorization of input. Past experience of identifying patterns and making predictions creates learned S1 response. Minimal awareness of input or basis of reaction. We create a narrative to fit our learned response.

14 How We Can Take Control Initial processing of perception largely beyond our control. That which has been learned can generally be unlearned or relearned. We can develop different S1 responses by practice. With practice and attention, we can teach S2 to override S1 in specific instances. Therapy such as CBT or drugs such as psilocybin can erase destructive learned responses and create healthy ones.

15 Triad of Brain Functions Architectural (Structure) Electrical (Brain Waves) Chemical (Neurotransmitters)

16 Electrochemical Transmission Electrical charge creates ions, atoms or molecules with unbalanced charges. Extra electrons pass down the axon and at the end release chemicals (neurotransmitters) that cross the synapse and bind to receptors on dendrites of other neurons. Same process continues from neuron to neuron. Myelin sheath acts as insulator to improve efficiency and speed. MS is caused by deterioration in the myelin sheath. At end of line may stimulate gland or other cells.

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19 Neurotransmitters Hundreds and many more yet to be identified Often categorized by function such as excitatory or inhibitory Or by molecular structure such as acetylcholine, biogenic amines, and amino acids Only work if we have receptors so must be naturally occurring or chemically designed to fool receptors One theory of placebo effect is that expectation causes release of natural chemical that must exist for artificial chemical to be effective Produced in gut as well as brain (enteric nervous system) 95% of Seratonin produced in the gut

20 Examples of Neurotransmitters (with rough descriptors) Glutamate most common early brain development probably learning and memory often basis for other neurotransmitters Serotonin Confidence - mood, appetite, sleep SSRI s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, maintain higher levels of serotonin Dopamine Reward and Pleasure Oxytocin Bonding, Trust, and Loyalty

21 Examples of Neurotransmitters(2) Endorphins Pain Killing self produced morphine GABA Anti-Anxiety inhibitory (most are excitatory) calmness produced from glutamate (as are many others) levels correlate with sleep quality Adrenaline Energy fight or flight Endocannabinoids Bliss self produced cannabis

22 Brain Waves Measured by Amplitude (height) and Frequency - Hertz (Hz) cycles per second Demarcations between types of waves are inexact Predominate wave function does not preclude others from occurring simultaneously

23 Most Common Brain Waves Beta low amplitude Hz aroused, engaged normal waking state Alpha higher amplitude 8-12 Hz rest and relaxation Theta higher amplitude 4-8 Hz light sleep and possibly daydreaming - creativity Delta higher amplitude Hz deep sleep

24 Other Brain Waves REM Rapid Eye Movement dreaming Moves between delta and theta Brain activity increases but voluntary motor activity inhibited (sleep paralysis) Gamma more recently discovered lowest amplitude but Hz high processing tasks bursts of insight simultaneous activity in multiple areas

25 Gamma Waves Unknown prior to digital EEG s since frequency too high to be picked up by analog EEG s (what can we now not detect that will be commonly understood in the future?) Neuroscientists believe gamma waves link information from all parts of the brain and influence the entire brain. The gamma wave originates in the thalamus and moves back of brain to front and back again 40 times per second. Associated with intense bursts of creative insight, higher states of consciousness, peak concentration, and extremely high levels of cognitive functioning. Meditation only known method of increasing Gamma Waves.

26 Brain Waves Shown by EEG

27 High Insight States Highly insightful states often created by conscious awareness in theta or delta state Tibetan monks awake during delta Shamanic Journeying (drumming, ayahuasca, etc.) awareness during theta state Hypnagogic (waking) or hypnopompic (falling asleep) limited awareness during changes between alpha or beta and theta Super Meditators and Gamma Waves - video

28 Lucid Dreaming Aware you are dreaming during dream May or may not be able to control dream Similar delta and theta activity to REM but additional gamma activity - Link Lucid dreaming, often natural in children, can be trained or self taught People use lucid dreaming for Problem Solving, Increasing Creativity, Facing Fears, Practicing New Skills, Exploring Conscious Mind, or Developing Sense of Self

29 Brain Waves and Learning Monkey experiments show learning between hippocampus (H) and prefrontal cortex (P) on pairing experiments Alpha or beta, mostly from H to P when correct Theta, mostly from P to H when incorrect Imprinting and erasing based on trial and error Link

30 Brain Wave Research Examples Increase of alpha brainwaves may reduce depression and increase creativity Link Meditation can increase theta waves in Anterior and Medial and alpha waves in posterior different than normal rest Link

31 Taking Control We can take conscious control over our brain waves. We can learn limited control over release of neurotransmitters. We can lessen or enhance extent of release. We can control how we respond to release.

32 Energy Originating in Dendrites Assumption had been that electrical energy came from cell bodies (somas) as spikes (digital) and that dendrites were passive conductors. Study showed that electrical energy also comes from dendrites themselves in analog form. (article full study) Dendrites make up 90% of neural tissue and have 100 times the volume of somas. Increases electrical energy by a factor of 10 and computational capacity by a factor of up to 100 in addition to the analog capacity.

33 Analog vs. Digital Digital measurements have finite and discrete sets of values. Analog measurements are continuous. Digital measurements are counted while analog measurements are measured. Digital measures are exact but not accurate. Analog measures are estimates with accuracy dependent on measurement tool. Computers use binary digital system off or on.

34 If a tree falls in the woods... We often assume what we cannot perceive or measure does not exist. Before this study, we could not measure energy in dendrites. They were too fragile and placing electrodes on them destroyed them. Rather than say we did not know, we assumed it did not exist. New measuring method changed our knowledge, not reality. Where else may there be independent energy sources in the brain?

35 Examples of Cognitive Biases

36 Heuristic Heuristic an approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for the immediate goals. Intuitive Heuristic Concept developed by Kahneman and Tversky applying heuristics to human thinking. It is a heuristic we apply intuitively without conscious thought. It is the tendency to, when faced with a difficult question, to answer an easier one instead, often without noticing the substitution.

37 Expected Outcome or Value Sum of the values of each possible occurrence times the probability of that occurrence Example 20% chance stock will gain $500, 40% chance stock will remain the same, 30% chance stock will lose $80, 10% chance stock will lose $200.2 x 500 = x 0 = 0.3 x -80 = x -200 = = 56 Expected Outcome gain of $56

38 Loss v. Gain Generally fear of loss creates more powerful emotional reaction in Amygdala than potential for gain Think of hunting if you miss your prey, you can try again. If you get killed trying, no more chances Fear of loss may create immediate emotional response that eliminates opportunity for rational thought. PTSD creates assumption of impending loss and need for vigilance and immediate response.

39 Kahneman Framing Example 1 based on fear of loss Scenario 1 gamble 10% to win $95 and 90% chance to lose $5 Scenario 2 pay $5 for 10% chance to win $100 and 90% chance to win nothing Expected outcome the same - $5 gain People overwhelmingly reject Scenario 1 and choose Scenario 2 Paying for something is okay, losing is not

40 Kahneman Framing Example 2 Original Scenarios 1 Given $50, keep $20 2 Given $50, lose $30 Choice of keeping what you have or gambling where expected outcome stays the same in both scenarios - $20 Much more likely to gamble in Scenario 2. We tend to keep a sure thing but to gamble when we perceive loss. Basis for Kahneman s Nobel Prize in Economics Groundbreaking work for Richard Thaler s Nobel Prize

41 Richard Thaler Nobel Prize Extension of Kahneman s work Distinction between irrational and conservation of rational energy Nudge theory opting in versus opting out organ donations pension contributions link Critical consideration is conservation of energy and capacity

42 Confirmatory Bias tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses (Scott Plous) The initial attempt to believe is an automatic operation of System 1,... construction of the best possible interpretation of the situation. Even a nonsensical statement... will evoke initial belief. (Kahneman) Unbelieving is an operation of System 2, requiring additional cognitive energy to get engaged. Why health and science studies are designed to be double blind.

43 Manifestations of Confirmatory Bias Seek out information that conforms to our beliefs watch MSNBC or Fox News Interpret information based on our belief Nunez memo shows FBI bias against Trump Exercise selective memory to support our beliefs