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The brain has puzzled and inspired many generations, going from Aristotle's cooling organ to Darwin's behaviour moderator, theories have evolved. This talk presents a systems engineering and evolutionary neurobiology perspective on the brain, offering insights into human nature and how they can inspire new computing systems.
Leveraging Brain Functionality for Advanced Computing
Dr Wim J.C. Melis
(Associate Professor of Holistic Design)
Our current computers deliver certain levels artificial intelligence, but there are limitations to what these systems will be able to achieve. The obvious question then becomes: what’s next? And how do we design more efficient and intelligent systems? This talk will take you on a whistle-stop tour, starting from the problems with our existing systems. It will then consider the brain’s key functional characteristics and how this inspires the creation of new computing systems. Finally, it will showcase some results of these new approaches as well as other interesting discoveries along the road.
Investigating the Brain's Redundant Neurons and their Therapeutic Potential
Professor Saak Ovsepian
(Professor in Biosciences)
Neural activity drives our thoughts, memories, and consciousness. Little is known about the specific processes underlying these functions. Do they involve the brain as a whole or parts only? How much of our brain capacity do they use? Are there any limits to our brain power? Do we use all our neurons, or we have some neural reserve that engages during creative and psychedelic experiences? This talk revisits the Dark Matter hypothesis of the Brain, suggesting a massive neural redundancy. It discusses the origin of dormant neurons and their significance and proposes the avenues for their use in therapy.
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