TED: Where does your sense of self come from? A scientific look | Anil Ananthaswamy

The video explores the concept of the self, examining how conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's affect our perception of self. It discusses the narrative self, bodily self, and sense of agency, highlighting how these are constructed and can be disrupted. The video emphasizes empathy towards those with altered selves and suggests that understanding the constructed nature of self can be liberating.

What does the speaker mean by 'altered selves'?

• A permanent change in personality

• A different, not deficient, way of being

• A temporary state of confusion

• A complete loss of identity

How does Alzheimer's disease initially affect a person's narrative self?

• By enhancing long-term memory

• By improving short-term memory

• By impairing the formation of short-term memory

• By creating new memories

What is xenomelia?

• A condition where a person feels they have extra limbs

• A condition where a person feels their limbs are too heavy

• A condition where a person feels a limb does not belong to them

• A condition where a person feels a limb is missing

What is the sense of agency?

• The feeling of being disconnected from reality

• The feeling of being in control of one's actions

• The feeling of being unable to move

• The feeling of being watched by others

What percentage of the general population is estimated to have an out-of-body experience at some point?

• 10%

• 20%

• 5%

• 1%

What do theologians and philosophers mean when they say the self is an illusion?

• The self is a construction without a constructor

• The self is a physical object

• The self is a temporary state

• The self is a permanent entity

What is the main philosophical question about the self discussed in the video?

• Who or what is doing the experiencing?

• What is the purpose of life?

• How do we achieve happiness?

• What is the nature of reality?

How should altered selves be viewed according to the speaker?

• As a deficit or lack of normal attributes

• As a permanent change

• As a different way of being

• As a temporary condition

What is the potential benefit of understanding the constructed nature of the self?

• It helps us hold on tightly to our stories

• It may lead to greater empathy

• It makes us more competitive

• It allows us to control others

What is the speaker's personal belief about the self?

• The self is a spiritual entity

• The self has no reality outside the brain and body

• The self is an eternal truth

• The self persists after the body is gone