All Podcasts / Jung & Naiv / #838 - Neurobiologe Jürgen Kornmeier über "Grenzgebiete der Psychologie"
Jung & Naiv
Jung & Naiv

#838 - Neurobiologe Jürgen Kornmeier über "Grenzgebiete der Psychologie"

July 16, 2026 • 4h 23m

Summary

⏱️ 9 min read

Overview

A comprehensive discussion with neuroscientist Jürgen Kornmeier about perception, consciousness, parapsychology, and the work of the Institute for Border Areas of Psychology and Mental Hygiene. The conversation covers topics ranging from visual perception and optical illusions to near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena, and the fundamental mysteries of consciousness that remain unsolved.

Introduction to Perception and the Institute

Jürgen Kornmeier introduces himself as a neuroscientist specializing in perception research and director of the Institute for Border Areas of Psychology and Mental Hygiene. He explains how the institute investigates extraordinary human experiences, from synchronicity to alleged paranormal phenomena. The institute takes a scientific approach to phenomena that contradict established models of reality, while also providing counseling for people troubled by unusual experiences.

  • Kornmeier is a neuroscientist with three children, running a unique private research institute
  • The institute investigates extraordinary human experiences like synchronicity and alleged paranormal phenomena
  • They provide counseling for people troubled by unusual experiences, practicing 'psychohygiene'
  • Founded by Hans Bender in 1950, the institute has a complicated Nazi-era history that has been investigated
" 75 Prozent der Bevölkerung sagt, dass sie mindestens einmal in ihrem Leben eine außergewöhnliche Erfahrung gemacht haben. "
" Wissenschaft wird von Menschen gemacht und deshalb kommt auch in der Wissenschaft all das vor, was die Psychologie der Menschen ausmacht, von Narzissmus über dieses Gefühl, jetzt habe ich die Welt verstanden. "

The Nature of Perception and Reality

Kornmeier explains how perception is fundamentally limited and constructed. Our sensory organs only capture a narrow band of information from reality - eyes see only a small spectrum of electromagnetic waves, and the brain constructs a model of reality rather than perceiving it directly. This leads to fascinating insights about optical illusions, the difference between epistemology and ontology, and how our brains actively construct what we experience as reality.

  • Our eyes only perceive a narrow spectrum of electromagnetic waves - other information exists that we cannot detect
  • Perception is a constructed model, not direct access to reality - we distinguish between epistemology (what we understand) and ontology (how reality actually is)
  • The brain requires multiple information sources to reconstruct 3D vision from 2D retinal images, including perspective, contrast, and parallax
  • Even blinking creates gaps in vision that the brain fills in with interpretation rather than actual sensory data
" Unsere Netzhaut ist zweidimensional, die Welt ist dreidimensional. Das heißt beim ersten Schritt des Sehens, wenn das Licht auf die Netzhaut fällt, da verlieren wir eine komplette Dimension. "
" Alle Sinnesorgane sind eingeschränkt. Deshalb ist die Information, die wir von der Welt haben, eingeschränkt und deshalb können wir mit unseren Sinnen die Welt nicht so sehen, wie sie wirklich ist. "

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