Tanha with neuroscientist Michael Johnson

How does the inner mental experience of autistic people vary? What is our day to day experience that creates stress or tension? Can we skillfully reduce it?

Vynn and Francis interview philosopher and neuroscientist Michael Johnson. Michael founded the Qualia Research Institute, and wrote the book Principia Qualia about consciousness.

The conversation begins with the inner experience of autistic people. How does a denser, more connected neural network lead to more variety of experience?

Then it goes through Michael’s theory of vasocomputation in detail. This relates to the Buddhist concept of “tanha” (grasping) and how it relates to stress and tension.

Do we control the world too much, or in ways that make no sense? What is the experience of doing this, and how can we use techniques like meditation to change this?

Timestamps:

00:46 Autism and neuron connectivity
07:44 Autism and inner experience
10:03 Meditation
11:34 Vasocomputation
13:27 Free energy and active inference
17:18 Buddhist concept of Tanha (grasping)
23:10 Three unskillful active inferences
25:36 Skillful active inference
27:40 Pain and pleasure
28:37 Qualia

Show Links:

• Autism as a disorder of dimensionality - article by Michael Johnson
• Principles of Vasocomputation: A Unification of Buddhist Phenomenology, Active Inference, and Physical Reflex (Part I) - article by Michael Johnson
• Michael Johnson’s Twitter account
• Michael Johnson’s website

Contact Details:

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Theme written, performed and recorded by @MJPiercello