
David Eagleman
A captivating tour of the brain’s mysteries, showing how neuroscience explains who we are and what we might become.
David Eagleman is not only a neuroscientist but also a bestselling fiction author and TV presenter.
Section 1
8 Sections
Let’s begin our journey into the story of you—a tale not written in ink, but in the living, breathing, ever-changing canvas of your brain. Imagine your mind as a lush, intricate forest, not static but alive, evolving with every breeze of experience and every ray of new learning.
In your earliest years, your neurons connect at a dizzying pace—millions of new synapses every second, forming a jungle of possibilities. By age two, you have more connections than you’ll ever need—over a hundred trillion, double that of adults. But this abundance is just the beginning. As you grow, your brain prunes away the unused paths, like a sculptor carving away marble to reveal the statue within.
This process doesn’t stop with childhood. Even as an adult, your brain remains plastic, capable of remarkable change. Consider those who spend years mastering a skill: the brains of seasoned violinists or London cab drivers actually change shape, reflecting their dedication.
Yet, this adaptability comes with vulnerability. Deprived of nurturing and stimulation, as seen in the tragic stories of neglected orphans, the brain’s growth is stunted, sometimes irreversibly. But there is hope—when placed in loving, stimulating environments, even damaged brains can recover, especially in the youngest years.
As you listen, remember: your identity is not a fixed destination. It’s a journey, a dance of neurons, a story rewritten with every new day. Let’s move deeper into how memory—fragile, shifting, yet central—threads this ever-changing self together.
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David Eagleman

John J. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist and research consultant. He is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine and director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University. His work bridges brain science with practical applications in education and business.