# #146 The Most Complicated Thing in the Universe: What is the Brain?

An episode of [Within Reason](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1458675168), 8 Mar 2026, 2 h 25 min.

Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO3109561046.mp3

Get all sides of every story and be better informed at https://ground.news/AlexOC - subscribe for 40% off unlimited access. For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: https://www.alexoconnor.com. Matthew Cobb is a British zoologist and Emeritus professor of zoology at the University of Manchester. Get his book, The Idea of the Brain: A History, Closer to Truth's Map of Consciousness: loc.closertotruth.com/map. TIMESTAMPS (0:00) The Minimal Phenomenal Experience Project (11:34) Is MPE New Age Meditation? (17:07) Collecting Reports of Pure Consciousness (25:48) Lucid Deep Sleep - Thomas’ Experience (32:19) Does Consciousness Require Complexity? (39:29) The Power of Meditation (45:32) Is Meditation Always a Positive Experience? (53:13) Is a MPE Actually an Experience? (01:11:21) Your Brain is Not Telling You the Truth (01:20:08) Analysing Minimal Conscious Experiences (01:27:26) Is Meditative Enlightenment Unethical? (01:32:37) Western Ignorance of Eastern Tradition (01:40:13) “Coming Home” (01:44:29) The Political Implications of MPE (01:52:40) Should Ketamine Be Legalised? CONNECT My Website: https://www.alexoconnor.com SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cosmicskeptic Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cosmicskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cosmicskeptic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cosmicskeptic CONTACT Business email: contact@alexoconnor.com Brand enquiries: David@modernstoa.co

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