

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

5 snips
Aug 15, 2024 • 1h 28min
BI 191 Damian Kelty-Stephen: Fractal Turbulent Cascading Intelligence
Damian Kelty-Stephen, an experimental psychologist at SUNY New Paltz, explores the boundaries of ecological psychology and neuroscience. He challenges the conventional computer metaphor of the brain and discusses fractal behaviors linking brain and body. The conversation delves into cascade dynamics and turbulence as key elements of intelligence. Damian advocates for a richer understanding of cognition through multifractal frameworks, emphasizing the complexity of self-organization in both natural and artificial systems.

6 snips
Jul 31, 2024 • 1h 41min
BI 190 Luis Favela: The Ecological Brain
Luis Favela, an Associate Professor at Indiana University Bloomington and expert in cognitive science and philosophy, dives into the complexities of the mind and environment. He introduces his NeuroEcological Nexus Theory, advocating for a fusion between ecological psychology and neuroscience. The discussion spans historical rifts, the conceptualization of intelligence, and the philosophical implications of perception. Favela also questions traditional views on AI, emphasizing the role of embodied cognition. His insights promise a refreshing perspective on brain-body-environment interactions.

10 snips
Jun 29, 2024 • 1h 27min
BI 189 Joshua Vogelstein: Connectomes and Prospective Learning
Joshua Vogelstein discusses the world's largest connectome, focusing on a fruit fly's brain. He explains the concept of prospective learning in AI compared to retrospective learning, highlighting its potential. The podcast covers audio/video sync issues, data cleaning challenges, and the importance of anatomy in understanding brain function.

May 27, 2024 • 1h 28min
BI 188 Jolande Fooken: Coordinating Action and Perception
Jolande Fooken, a post-postdoctoral researcher, discusses hand-eye coordination and naturalistic tasks. Topics include various eye movements, levels of expertise, Yarbus' work, experimental paradigms for the brain, evolving views about the brain, and the intersection of coordination, robots, and AI.

Apr 20, 2024 • 1h 4min
BI 187: COSYNE 2024 Neuro-AI Panel
Neuroscientists and AI experts discuss the relationship between neuroscience and AI at the COSYNE conference. They explore historical influences, evolving research approaches, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration for progress. Topics include the shift in priorities from neuroscience to AI, the intersection of neuroscience and AI, and predictions for the future of neuro-AI in 2044.

19 snips
Mar 25, 2024 • 1h 44min
BI 186 Mazviita Chirimuuta: The Brain Abstracted
Philosopher Mazviita Chirimuuta discusses simplification in neuroscience, highlighting the use of models, math, and analogies to understand the complex brain. She explores the intersection of neuroscience and philosophy, delves into simplification strategies in science, and emphasizes the interplay of technology and scientific understanding. The discussion touches on the challenges of interpreting scientific results, the limitations of reductionism, and the importance of maintaining a critical mindset in scientific pursuits.

Mar 6, 2024 • 1h 45min
BI 185 Eric Yttri: Orchestrating Behavior
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As some of you know, I recently got back into the research world, and in particular I work in Eric Yttris' lab at Carnegie Mellon University.
Eric's lab studies the relationship between various kinds of behaviors and the neural activity in a few areas known to be involved in enacting and shaping those behaviors, namely the motor cortex and basal ganglia. And study that, he uses tools like optogentics, neuronal recordings, and stimulations, while mice perform certain tasks, or, in my case, while they freely behave wandering around an enclosed space.
We talk about how Eric got here, how and why the motor cortex and basal ganglia are still mysteries despite lots of theories and experimental work, Eric's work on trying to solve those mysteries using both trained tasks and more naturalistic behavior. We talk about the valid question, "What is a behavior?", and lots more.
Yttri Lab
Twitter: @YttriLab
Related papers
Opponent and bidirectional control of movement velocity in the basal ganglia.
B-SOiD, an open-source unsupervised algorithm for identification and fast prediction of behaviors.
0:00 - Intro
2:36 - Eric's background
14:47 - Different animal models
17:59 - ANNs as models for animal brains
24:34 - Main question
25:43 - How circuits produce appropriate behaviors
26:10 - Cerebellum
27:49 - What do motor cortex and basal ganglia do?
49:12 - Neuroethology
1:06:09 - What is a behavior?
1:11:18 - Categorize behavior (B-SOiD)
1:22:01 - Real behavior vs. ANNs
1:33:09 - Best era in neuroscience

14 snips
Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 31min
BI 184 Peter Stratton: Synthesize Neural Principles
The podcast discusses synthesizing neural principles for better AI, focusing on a 'sideways-in' approach for computational brains. It explores integrating diverse brain operations, the challenges in achieving general-purpose AI, advancements in robotics inspired by biological principles, and the complexities of spiking neural networks for artificial general intelligence.

4 snips
Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 29min
BI 183 Dan Goodman: Neural Reckoning
Dan Goodman, co-founder of Neuromatch and creator of the Brian spiking neural network simulator, discusses the importance of spikes in intelligent systems and the curious choice of modern neural networks to disregard spiking. They delve into the intricacies of spiking neural networks, the transition from math to neuroscience, the creation of complex tasks for neural networks, and the challenges in training them. They also explore the impact of advanced technology on human intelligence.

27 snips
Jan 19, 2024 • 1h 26min
BI 182: John Krakauer Returns… Again
Neuroscientist and author John Krakauer returns to discuss brain reorganization, plasticity, motor problems after strokes, and artificial general intelligence. They explore the misconception of brain reorganization, the challenges in studying behavioral outcomes after a stroke, and the need to critically analyze scientific papers and challenge established ideas.