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
38 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.
4 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.
31 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.
15 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.
14 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 25min
BI 220 Michael Breakspear and Mac Shine: Dynamic Systems from Neurons to Brains
Michael Breakspear is a Professor of Systems Neuroscience in Australia, and Mac Shine runs the Shine Lab at the University of Sydney. They explore the dynamic systems from neurons to entire brains. The duo discusses how scaling from single neurons to networks impacts cognitive functions. They delve into the complexities of cerebellar neurons, emphasizing innovative technologies like deep learning and optogenetics. Their conversation highlights the interplay between arousal and performance through the Yerkes-Dodson law, revealing fascinating insights into neural dynamics and collaboration in neuroscience.
4 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 47min
BI 219 Xaq Pitkow: Principles and Constraints of Cognition
Xaq Pitkow, director of the Lab for the Algorithmic Brain at Carnegie Mellon University, dives into the principles of cognition and their applications. He shares insights on 'inverse rational control,' illustrating how organisms tackle tasks using strategies that often diverge from optimal solutions. The conversation covers the role of probabilistic graph networks in brain computations and introduces a new ecological neuroscience project with collaborative efforts. Xaq emphasizes the intersection of neuroscience and AI, advocating for a diverse range of models to understand cognitive processes.
20 snips
Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 47min
BI 218 Chris Rozell: Brain Stimulation and AI for Mental Disorders
Chris Rozell leads the Structured Information for Precision Neuroengineering Lab at Georgia Tech and is the inaugural director of the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society. He discusses groundbreaking methods using deep brain stimulation and AI to treat treatment-resistant depression. Chris highlights how neural signals can predict treatment effectiveness and the importance of personalized care in mental health. Their conversation delves into the evolving techniques in neuromodulation and the necessity of interdisciplinary research to enhance future therapies.
16 snips
Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 49min
BI 217 Jennifer Prendki: Consciousness, Life, AI, and Quantum Physics
In this engaging conversation, Jennifer Prendki, a former particle physicist and AI expert, discusses the crucial link between consciousness and artificial intelligence. She argues that to advance AI meaningfully, we must draw inspiration from biology and consciousness. The chat delves into ethical data governance, the challenges of cybersecurity, and the idea of ‘super alignment’ in AI systems. Jennifer also explores the intriguing concept of quantum consciousness and its philosophical implications, pushing the boundaries of how we think about AI and our future.
15 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 34min
BI 216 Woodrow Shew and Keith Hengen: The Nature of Brain Criticality
In this engaging discussion, Woodrow Shew, a professor at the University of Arkansas, and Keith Hengen, an associate professor at Washington University, dive into the fascinating world of brain criticality. They explore how criticality influences brain function, learning, and adaptability, shedding light on its potential as a homeostatic goal for neural activity. The duo also discusses their collaborative research, challenges of measuring brain activity, and intriguing connections between brain dynamics and behaviors in both humans and simple organisms like E. coli.
8 snips
Jul 2, 2025 • 1h 52min
BI 215 Xiao-Jing Wang: Theoretical Neuroscience Comes of Age
Xiao-Jing Wang, a Distinguished Global Professor of Neuroscience at NYU, dives into the fascinating world of theoretical neuroscience. He discusses the integration of technology and behavioral psychology in understanding cognitive functions like working memory. The conversation covers the role of the prefrontal cortex in mental health, innovative research methods for studying neural activity, and the parallels between neural networks and AI. Wang even sheds light on the significance of neuronal structures and the intricacies of cognition in decision-making and psychiatric disorders.
