Huberman Lab Dr. E.J. Chichilnisky: How the Brain Works, Curing Blindness & How to Navigate a Career Path
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Mar 18, 2024 
Dr. E.J. Chichilnisky, a leading researcher at Stanford, shares his expertise on how the retina influences brain function and visual perception. He discusses groundbreaking efforts in restoring vision, using neural prostheses and the importance of retinal research. Chichilnisky reflects on his unique career journey, emphasizing the benefits of exploring diverse fields. The conversation highlights the intricate relationship between vision, health, and the ethical considerations of neuroscience, making complex topics accessible and inspiring for aspiring professionals.
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Vision's Starting Point
- Vision begins in the retina, which transforms light into electrical signals and processes them.
- The brain receives these signals from retinal nerve cells and assembles them into our visual experience.
Why Study the Retina?
- Studying the retina offers a chance to deeply understand a part of the nervous system, potentially even build or replace it.
- This is more challenging in central brain regions, making the retina a compelling starting point.
Retinal Layers and Cell Types
- The retina has three layers: photoreceptors (light detectors), processing cells, and retinal ganglion cells (messengers to the brain).
- About 20 ganglion cell types act like Photoshop filters, each sending a different representation of the visual scene to the brain.