Makeshift Minds

Compared to those in the rest of the animal kingdom, the human brain is supreme. But is our brain the result of ‘perfect’ evolution or could we have adapted better to the world we live in? In what way are our minds limited and what can we do to boost our brain power?

Quiz experts in our discussion groups and pick up some tips on how to boost your brain’s potential.

Gary Marcus, author and psychologist, will be exploring issues raised in his new book, Kluge. Gary argues that the brain is a clumsy construction that somehow works.

How are our memories formed and recalled? Chat with Hugo Spiers, a psychologist who has measured how brain activity changes under different circumstances.

What can history can tell us about the human brain? Quiz archaeologist Dietrich Stout about how our minds and our behaviour have evolved.

Finally, if our minds are imperfect, is there anything we can do about it? Bill Lucas is an expert on techniques that claim to boost the power of the mind – come and find out how they work.

Speakers

Gary Marcus, New York University
Hugo Spiers, University College London
Dietrich Stout, University College London
Bill Lucas, Centre for Realworld Learning, University of Winchester

Event organised by:
The Science Museum