Episode 5: Who the F*!k am I? - Science of Consciousness & Self-Awareness

Science Savvy

Join me, Carmen, on Science Savvy as we dive into the mysteries of consciousness and self-awareness! In this episode, I’ll explore what it really means to be conscious, how self-awareness shapes our identity and self-esteem, and why some of these questions have puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries. From Descartes' "I think, therefore I am" to modern neuroscience and theories like the "Astonishing Hypothesis," we’ll examine how genetics, brain chemistry, and life experiences impact our sense of self.

Whether you’re curious about the science behind identity or the deeper philosophical questions about why we experience life as we do, this episode has something for you. Let’s get savvy about the brain together!

Further Reading:

1. Crick, F. (1994). The Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific Search for the Soul. Scribner.
2. Chalmers, D. J. (1995). Facing up to the problem of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2(3), 200-219.
3. Tononi, G. (2004). An information integration theory of consciousness. BMC Neuroscience, 5(42).
4. Koch, C., Massimini, M., Boly, M., & Tononi, G. (2016). Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17(5), 307-321.
5. Northoff, G., Heinzel, A., de Greck, M., Bermpohl, F., Dobrowolny, H., & Panksepp, J. (2006). Self-referential processing in our brain—A meta-analysis of imaging studies on the self. NeuroImage, 31(1), 440-457.
6. Lieberman, M. D., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2009). Pains and pleasures of social life. Science, 323(5916), 890-891.
7. Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press.