I haven’t done a Radiolab Saturday in some time, but don’t worry, i will be posting more segments i find interesting in the Fall. Weekends have been packed with events and summer lounging.  I wanted to write about this particular Radiolab short though, because it is linked to the current book i am trudging happily through: Metzingers’ The Ego Tunnel. So far, it is as mind blowingly disorienting  as Jim told me. The concept that the self — the subjective point of view that humans use to interact with their environment– is a myth is not an easy understanding. But i think i am getting there, and this Radiolab, an extra morsel from their really compelling hour long show on the afterlife, starts to make me understand what it is like to develop ones ego tunnel, or sense of self.

The segment looks at how science describes what a newborn perceives when it is cooing and staring up at you. Imagine a baby’s brain with little neuronal connections and memories linked to the world outside the womb.   Take notice on what the baby, a super processing machine, feels. Here is a link to the radiolab clip, Afterbirth. Enjoy it!

Note: when i saw this title, afterbirth, on my twitter feed, i had flashbacks of working with placenta. I can’t say i am disappointed that the segment has nothing to do with that miracle organ.