Neuroscience is a humbling enterprise. As a wise person once said, if the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldnt. But still, we make progress, with implications for medicine, artificial intelligence, education, and philosophy. So what is the future of the study of the brain, and what is the future of the brain itself?
In November, I traveled to Madrid to join about 30 neuroscientists, entrepreneurs, and computer scientists (and a former head of NASA) in a two-day discussion about the future of the brain. (The summit was an iteration of the Future Trends Forum, organized by the nonprofit Fundacion Innovacin Bankinter. The organizers paid for everyones travel.)
The Spanish science writer Pere Estupinya and I were asked to offer commentary during the event. Below is a version of the synthesis (and provocation) I presented.
The discussion followed several themes. First, presenters highlighted ways that computer science is helping neuroscience. Alex Fornito, a cognitive neuroscientist at Monash University, in Australia, scans brains using diffusion MRI, which tracks water molecules to trace anatomical connectivity. He then uses algorithms to segment the brain into different regions, forming a network of nodes and the links between them. Using network analysis, he can identify the particular dysfunctions of ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimers disease.
Sean Hill, a neuroscientist at the University of Toronto, scans microcircuits in mouse brains and creates digital reconstructions, allowing him to model network oscillations. He also uses high-resolution scans of entire mouse brains to predict the locations of synapses across the brain. Other researchers talked about using computers to interpret signals from EEG electrodes, body sensors, and brain implants.
Several people talked about going the other way, using neuroscience to improve AI. Evena child can solve problemsa supercomputer cant while expending much less energy. Can we reverse engineer some of biologys tricks?
Fornito talked about tradeoffs between time, space, and material. Some network modules conserve space and material by placing neurons near each other, while hubs that integrate information use thick, fast connections that conserve time at the expense of space and material. Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California, impressed on us the abilities of organisms that dont even have a central nervous system. Merely maintaining homeostasis is a feat. Speaking of robots, he said that if we gave them soft bodies and made them vulnerable, they might develop feelings and self-regulation.
Rodrigo Quian, a bioengineer at the University of Leicester, discussed his discovery of Jennifer Aniston neurons, cells that respond selectively to a particular person (such as Jennifer Aniston), whether someone sees a picture, a drawing, or just a name. More broadly, he spoke of concept cells and noted that humans are flexible and efficient thinkersunlike many AI agentsbecause we can abstract from experience without being beholden to the details.
Third, many people discussed ethics. Walter Greenleaf, a neuroscientistat Stanford, asked if gene editing would diminish neurodiversity.David Bueno, a geneticist at the University of Barcelona, said we might tailor peoples educations based on their brains, but raised the possibility of inequality in cognitive enhancement. He also noted that wide monitoring of brain activity could invade privacy.
Amanda Pustilnik, a lawyer at the University of Maryland, said someones brain data might alert him when hes about to have a manic attack, but it could also go to a data broker, and hell start seeing ads for online gambling. Or it could make its way to an employer. We need a NINA, or Neuroscience Information Nondiscrimination Act, she said. Pustilnik also argued that neurotechnology should promote autonomy, rather than a deterministic identification with our brains.
Others noted neuroscientific implications for identity. Ng Wai Hoe, a neurosurgeon at the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore, asked what we should conclude about a persons criminality based on a brain scan. And Jose Carmena, an electrical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, said that some people with deep brain stimulators for Parkinsons disease or epilepsy say their sense of self is different when the stimulator is on.
A few of the questions I (and others) raised at the forum: Will neurotech and AI provide the greatest benefits to people at the top or the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy? Will learning about the brain actually have an impact on how we see ourselves orfree will? How can we reduce bias in medical data? What other principles of biology can be applied to make thinking machines smarter?
Our understanding of the brain is growing quickly, thanks in part to new tools for studying it. Perhaps the biggest revelation is how much more is left to learn.
See more here:
The Future of the Brain: Implants, Ethics, and AI - Psychology Today
- Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies (SUBNETS) - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Backing British innovation: Royal Academy of Engineering launches ... - Elite Business Magazine - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Global Fingerprint Biometrics in the VAR Market 2016 Fulcrum Biometrics, Neurotechnology, 360 Biometrics ... - Albanian Times - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Israel and Indiana: Why You're Getting an Invitation to the Holy Land ... - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- 5th Annual Big Idea Competition Nets Three Winners Colorado ... - Colorado College News - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- 3Q: US Patent Office's Ruling on CRISPR - Bioscience Technology - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- 7 reasons you must attend WIRED Health 2017 - Wired.co.uk - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Edward Boyden - Big Think - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- What Health Care Can Learn from Wal-Mart - Wall Street Journal (subscription) (blog) - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- A report released today by RBC Capital Markets about Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) ups the target price to $135.00 - Breaking Finance News - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Paralysis patients achieve fastest typing yet with new brain-computer interface - The Brown Daily Herald - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- How 'brain wearables' can address 21st century needs - IoT Tech News - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Stryker's AVAflex Vertebral Balloon System Receives FDA 510(k ... - OrthoSpineNews - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Stryker's Spine Division To Feature Novel 3D-Printed Spinal Implants at AAOS Conference - OrthoSpineNews - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Stryker's Spine division to exhibit key technologies at AAOS 2017 - Yahoo Finance - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Stryker Corporation named one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For for seventh consecutive year - Yahoo Finance - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- How to ensure future brain technologies will help and not harm society - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog) - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Preview: MedX Future of Healthcare conference - The Mancunion - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Stryker's Spine division to exhibit key technologies at AAOS 2017 - OrthoSpineNews - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Elon Musk Wants to Merge Man and MachineHere's What He'll ... - Observer - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Synchron Inc. Secures $10 Million in Series A Financing Round - PR Newswire (press release) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- How Neurotechnology Is Helping The San Francisco Giants Train Better - PSFK (subscription) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Positive Media Coverage Very Likely to Affect Stryker (SYK) Share Price - Chaffey Breeze - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Shoosmiths advises PD Neurotechnology on 1.34m investment - Scottish Legal News - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Shoosmiths advises PD Neurotechnology on 1.34m (EUR) investment - Shoosmiths legal updates (press release) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Comparing Accuray (ARAY) & Stryker (SYK) - The Cerbat Gem - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Welch Capital Partners Increased By $3.59 Million Its Eqt (EQT) Position, Stryker (SYK) Sellers Decreased By 3.59 ... - UtahHerald.com - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Head to Head Analysis: Accuray (ARAY) and Stryker Corporation (SYK) - Sports Perspectives - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Announces MegaMatcher Accelerator Extreme ... - findBIOMETRICS - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Comparing Stryker Corporation (SYK) & Accuray (ARAY) - Markets Daily - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Releases MegaMatcher Accelerator Extreme, the Fastest Biometric Engine in the World - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Neurotech panel shares successes from first year - Cornell Chronicle - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Researchers Win Kaggle Competition with Deep Neural Network Solution for The Nature ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Wins Fisheries-Focused Computer Vision Competition - findBIOMETRICS - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Helping or Hacking? Engineers, Ethicists Must Work Together on Brain-Computer Interface Technology - Government Technology - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Accuray (ARAY) versus Stryker Corporation (SYK) Head-To-Head Review - The Cerbat Gem - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- The Funded: Justin Kan's latest startup gets backing from more than 100 investors - Silicon Valley Business Journal - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- New SentiVeillance Server from Neurotechnology Adds Face Recognition and Analytics to Video Management Systems - PR Newswire (press release) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Announces SentiVeillance Server Facial Recognition Solution - findBIOMETRICS - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- SentiVeillance Server - Face Recognition and Analytics to Video Management Systems - Officer.com (press release) (registration) (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Announces MegaMatcher 10 - findBIOMETRICS - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Neurotechnology adds face recognition, tracking to video surveillance systems; researchers win competition - Biometric Update - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Neurotechnology makes a number of updates to the MegaMatcher product line - Biometric Update - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Neurotechnology Develops 3D Printing Method with Non-Contact Ultrasonic Manipulation Technology - 3DPrint.com - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Mind-blowing ultrasonic 'printer' uses lasers and high-frequency sound to assemble electronics - Digital Trends - June 29th, 2017 [June 29th, 2017]
- HIRREM Neurotechnology Better Than Placebo for Insomnia - Sleep Review - July 10th, 2017 [July 10th, 2017]
- DARPA invests further in neurotechnology - SD Times - SDTimes.com - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Infinitely Flexible 3D Printing with Ultrasonic Manipulation? - ENGINEERING.com - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- Insider Activity Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) - Highlight Press - July 16th, 2017 [July 16th, 2017]
- Comparing Uroplasty (UPI) and Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) - The Cerbat Gem - July 17th, 2017 [July 17th, 2017]
- Biomimetic Underwater Robot Program - July 17th, 2017 [July 17th, 2017]
- Preserving the Right to Cognitive Liberty - Scientific American - July 18th, 2017 [July 18th, 2017]
- BRAIN center gathers to ponder future, direction - Arizona State University - July 20th, 2017 [July 20th, 2017]
- Stryker Expands Its Interventional Spine Segment - Market Realist - July 22nd, 2017 [July 22nd, 2017]
- Trivascular Technologies (TRIV) & Stryker Corporation (SYK) Critical Review - Stock Observer - July 26th, 2017 [July 26th, 2017]
- Arshya Vahabzadeh: Innovating at the Intersection of Brain ... - HuffPost - July 27th, 2017 [July 27th, 2017]
- fMRI and EEG May Be Able to Reveal Consciousness in Comatose Patients - Physical Therapy Products - July 29th, 2017 [July 29th, 2017]
- Stryker reports 6.1% Q2 growth, installs 26 Mako systems: 7 things to know - Becker's Orthopedic & Spine - July 29th, 2017 [July 29th, 2017]
- Tufts Hosts Engineering Conference - Tufts Now - July 29th, 2017 [July 29th, 2017]
- Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) and Uroplasty (UPI) Financial Survey - Stock Observer - July 29th, 2017 [July 29th, 2017]
- Elon Musk speaks of being 'bipolar' on Twitter - Mashable - July 31st, 2017 [July 31st, 2017]
- Team Neurotechnology Innovations Translator - July 31st, 2017 [July 31st, 2017]
- Elon Musk opens up about the highs and lows of his life on Twitter - Firstpost - August 1st, 2017 [August 1st, 2017]
- Train your brain at Ky learning centre - Shepparton News - August 2nd, 2017 [August 2nd, 2017]
- Stryker Exceeded Analysts' Sales Estimates in 2Q17 - Market Realist - August 2nd, 2017 [August 2nd, 2017]
- $2.6 million to build versatile genetic toolkit for studying animal ... - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom - August 3rd, 2017 [August 3rd, 2017]
- National Science Foundation $9M grant will fund neurotech research hub at Cornell - The Ithaca Voice - August 3rd, 2017 [August 3rd, 2017]
- NSF awards Cornell $9M grant for neurotech research hub - The Central New York Business Journal - August 4th, 2017 [August 4th, 2017]
- NSF issues awards to advance a national research infrastructure for neuroscience - National Science Foundation (press release) - August 4th, 2017 [August 4th, 2017]
- $9M Grant Will Create Neurotech Research Hub - Lansing Star - August 4th, 2017 [August 4th, 2017]
- NSF backs photonics-enabled neuroscience networks - Optics.org - August 9th, 2017 [August 9th, 2017]
- Washington University awarded $2.6 million for neurotechnology research - St. Louis Business Journal - August 9th, 2017 [August 9th, 2017]
- fMRI, EEG may detect consciousness in TBI patients - Medical Physics Web (subscription) - August 10th, 2017 [August 10th, 2017]
- Financial Analysis: Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) vs. Uroplasty (UPI) - The Cerbat Gem - August 12th, 2017 [August 12th, 2017]
- In the Future, Humans Will Use Brain to Brain Communication and Download Their Memories If Elon Musk Has His Way - Newsweek - August 13th, 2017 [August 13th, 2017]
- How Elon Musk Plans to Turn Humans Into Robots - Yahoo News - August 14th, 2017 [August 14th, 2017]
- Critical Comparison: Stryker Corporation (SYK) versus Glaukos Corporation (GKOS) - TrueBlueTribune - August 21st, 2017 [August 21st, 2017]
- Early career scientists named Mong Fellows in Cornell Neurotech - Cornell Chronicle - August 21st, 2017 [August 21st, 2017]
- Could this back-pain device end need for opioids? - The Columbus Dispatch - August 21st, 2017 [August 21st, 2017]
- New technologies to diagnose and treat neurological diseases - Medical Xpress - August 22nd, 2017 [August 22nd, 2017]