Brain Inspired
Paul Middlebrooks
Neuroscience and artificial intelligence work better together. Brain inspired is a celebration and exploration of the ideas driving our progress to understand intelligence. I interview experts about their work at the interface of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, and more: the symbiosis of these overlapping fields, how they inform each other, where they differ, what the past brought us, and what the future brings. Topics include computational neuroscience, supervised machine learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, deep learning, convolutional and recurrent neural networks, decision-making science, AI agents, backpropagation, credit assignment, neuroengineering, neuromorphics, emergence, philosophy of mind, consciousness, general AI, spiking neural networks, data science, and a lot more. The podcast is not produced for a general audience. Instead, it aims to educate, challenge, inspire, and hopefully entertain those interested in learning more about neuroscience and AI.
Episodes
Mentioned books
32 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 1h 49min
BI 230 Michael Shadlen: How Thoughts Become Conscious
Michael Shadlen, Columbia neuroscience professor known for decision-making research, offers a compact account of how thoughts shift from nonconscious to conscious. He links persistent neural activity, action-oriented interrogation, reporting and theory-of-mind, and philosophical influences. The conversation touches on neural noise, drift-diffusion dynamics, language’s role in reporting, and whether AI could share this kind of consciousness.
12 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 41min
BI 229 Tomaso Poggio: Principles of Intelligence and Learning
Tommaso Poggio, a renowned MIT professor and director of the Center for Biological and Computational Learning, dives into the principles of intelligence and learning. He compares the current stage of AI to historical breakthroughs in electricity, advocating for a theory-first approach. Poggio explores how learning can be integrated into existing models, shares insights from early machine learning developments, and discusses the significance of sparse compositionality. He also reflects on the evolving relationship between neuroscience and machine learning, emphasizing the need for theoretical foundation in both fields.
45 snips
Dec 31, 2025 • 1h 58min
BI 228 Alex Maier: Laws of Consciousness
In this enlightening discussion, Alex Maier, an associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University and head of the Maier Lab, dives deep into the neuroscience of consciousness. He shares his journey from vision research to exploring integrated information theory, emphasizing the role of mathematics in understanding perception. Alex vividly discusses structuralism and the intriguing concept of mapping subjective experiences to brain mechanisms, all while advocating for open science and collaboration in neuroscience. It's a captivating blend of science and philosophy!
25 snips
Dec 17, 2025 • 1h 15min
BI 227 Decoding Memories: Aspirational Neuroscience 2025
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.
10 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 36min
BI 226 Tatiana Engel: The High and Low Dimensional Brain
Tatiana Engel is a computational neuroscientist at Princeton, focusing on neural manifolds and brain dynamics. She unveils how latent circuits connect complex cognitive functions with neural connectivity. Discussing the International Brain Laboratory, she explains its mission to standardize data sharing, enhancing collaboration in neuroscience. Tatiana also explores the surprising finding of longer timescales in subcortical neurons compared to the cortex, revealing universal patterns across brain regions. Her insights bridge theoretical models and practical applications in understanding brain activity.
19 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 1h 44min
BI 225 Henk De Regt: Understanding in Machines and Humans
In this discussion with Henk De Regt, a Professor of Philosophy of Science, listeners explore the nature of understanding in both humans and machines. Henk emphasizes that genuine scientific understanding hinges on both theory and contextual skills. He delves into the historical neglect of understanding in favor of explanation, and tackles whether machines can possess understanding through behavior-based benchmarks. The conversation also touches on the importance of metaphors, the degrees of understanding, and how public comprehension differs from expert insight.
39 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 49min
BI 224 Dan Nicholson: Schrödinger’s What is Life? Revisited
Dan Nicholson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at George Mason University, delves into the nuances of Erwin Schrödinger's influential work, What Is Life? Revisited. They explore Schrödinger's motivations and how his physics background shaped his perspective on biology. Nicholson critiques the mechanistic view of cells, arguing genetic determinism misinterprets Schrödinger's ideas. He emphasizes the importance of a pluralistic approach to understanding biology, warning against overreliance on metaphors. Archival discoveries unveil Schrödinger's intent to clarify misconceptions about indeterminacy in biology.
6 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 39min
BI 223 Vicente Raja: Ecological Psychology Motifs in Neuroscience
Vicente Raja, a philosopher and cognitive scientist at the University of Murcia, explores ecological psychology, focusing on perception, affordances, and behavior in organisms and plants. He discusses the idea of 'motifs'—imprecise yet useful concepts that unify diverse scientific discussions. Vicente critiques traditional neuroscience's internal models, advocating for a perception-action approach instead. He also highlights innovative studies on plant behavior, demonstrating how climbing plants adjust their movements toward potential supports. This synthesis of philosophy and science offers a refreshing perspective on cognition.
33 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 28min
BI 222 Nikolay Kukushkin: Minds and Meaning from Nature’s Ideas
In this engaging discussion, Nikolay Kukushkin, an associate professor at NYU and senior scientist, delves into his book, *One Hand Clapping*, exploring the essences of nature and cognition. He shares the origins of his doodles as teaching tools that clarify complex ideas. The conversation touches on cellular memory, the evolution of brains, and the philosophical implications of AI as an extension of human thought. Kukushkin provocatively argues that meaning emerges from nature's patterns and urges a reevaluation of how we define memory and consciousness.
17 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 44min
BI 221 Ann Kennedy: Theory Beneath the Cortical Surface
Ann Kennedy, Associate Professor at Scripps Research and head of the Laboratory for Theoretical Neuroscience and Behavior, dives into the intriguing world of subcortical brain systems. She discusses how survival, threat response, and motivation are managed by these ancient circuits, even without cortical input. Ann emphasizes the importance of neural diversity for effective computation and explores how neuromodulatory signals shape behavior. Highlighting her innovative Kaggle competition, she also bridges behavioral analysis with theoretical neuroscience, connecting fundamental biology to advanced AI.
