Randal A. Koene

In this insightful discussion, guests Randal Koene, a computational neuroscientist, and Sven Dorkenwald, a research fellow at the Allen Institute, tackle the challenge of decoding non-trivial memories from static brain maps. They explore the feasibility of focusing on specific brain regions like the hippocampus rather than whole-brain scans. The panel debates the role of glial cells in memory and suggests using model organisms like songbirds for targeted experiments. They even speculate on timelines for achieving these ambitious breakthroughs in neuroscience.

In a fascinating discussion, neuroscientists Ken Hayworth and Randal Koene delve into mind uploading and the potential for whole brain emulation. Ken, known for his work on brain preservation, introduces innovative methods like aldehyde stabilized cryopreservation. Randal advocates for understanding both the scan-and-copy and gradual replacement approaches to achieve substrate-independent minds. They discuss the philosophical and practical implications of these technologies, emphasizing the challenges in converting brain reconstructions into functional models.