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My name is Artem, I’m a computational neuroscience student and researcher. In this video we talk about cognitive maps – internal models of outside world that the brain to generate flexible behavior that is generalized across contexts.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/artemkirsanov.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtemKRSV

OUTLINE:
00:00 — Introduction.
02:08 — Edward Tolman.
03:48 — Zoo of neurons in hippocampal formation.
06:40 — Non spatial mapping.
08:21 — Graph formalism.
12:21 — Latent spaces.
17:22 — Factorized representations.
21:51 — Summary.
24:47 — Brilliant.
26:19 — Outro.

REFERENCES (in no particular order):
1. Behrens, T. E. J. et al. What Is a Cognitive Map? Organizing Knowledge for Flexible Behavior. Neuron 100490–509 (2018).
2. Constantinescu, A. O., O’Reilly, J. X. & Behrens, T. E. J. Organizing conceptual knowledge in humans with a gridlike code. Science 352, 1464–1468 (2016).
3. Aronov, D., Nevers, R. & Tank, D. W. Mapping of a non-spatial dimension by the hippocampal–entorhinal circuit. Nature 543719–722 (2017).
4. Whittington, J. C. R., McCaffary, D., Bakermans, J. J. W. & Behrens, T. E. J. How to build a cognitive map. Nat Neurosci 25, 1257–1272 (2022).
5. Whittington, J., Muller, T., Mark, S., Barry, C. & Behrens, T. Generalisation of structural knowledge in the hippocampal-entorhinal system.

CREDITS:

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Researchers at University of Tokyo, JTS PRESTO, Ludwig Maximilians Universität and Kindai University recently demonstrated the modulation of an electron source by applying laser light to a single fullerene molecule. Their study, featured in Physical Review Letters, could pave the way for the development of better performing computers and microscopic imaging devices.

“By irradiating a sharp metallic needle with , we had previously demonstrated optical control of electron emission sites on a scale of approximately 10 nm,” Hirofumi Yanagisawa, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. “The optical control was achieved using plasmonic effects, but it was technically difficult to miniaturize such an electron source using the same principle. We were seeking a way to miniaturize the electron source and we hit upon the idea of using a and its molecular orbitals.”

Yanagisawa and his colleagues set out to realize their idea experimentally using electrons emitted from molecules on a sharp metallic needle. However, they were well-aware of the difficulties they would encounter, due to unresolved difficulties associated with the use of electron emissions from molecule-covered needles.

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Advances in antiaging drug/lead discovery in animal models constitute a large body of literature on novel senotherapeutics and geroprotectives. However, with little direct evidence or mechanism of action in humans—these drugs are utilized as nutraceuticals or repurposed supplements without proper testing directions, appropriate biomarkers, or consistent in-vivo models. In this study, we take previously identified drug candidates that have significant evidence of prolonging lifespan and promoting healthy aging in model organisms, and simulate them in human metabolic interactome networks. Screening for drug-likeness, toxicity, and KEGG network correlation scores, we generated a library of 285 safe and bioavailable compounds. We interrogated this library to present computational modeling-derived estimations of a tripartite interaction map of animal geroprotective compounds in the human molecular interactome extracted from longevity, senescence, and dietary restriction-associated genes. Our findings reflect previous studies in aging-associated metabolic disorders, and predict 25 best-connected drug interactors including Resveratrol, EGCG, Metformin, Trichostatin A, Caffeic Acid and Quercetin as direct modulators of lifespan and healthspan-associated pathways. We further clustered these compounds and the functionally enriched subnetworks therewith to identify longevity-exclusive, senescence-exclusive, pseudo-omniregulators and omniregulators within the set of interactome hub genes. Additionally, serum markers for drug-interactions, and interactions with potentially geroprotective gut microbial species distinguish the current study and present a holistic depiction of optimum gut microbial alteration by candidate drugs. These findings provide a systems level model of animal life-extending therapeutics in human systems, and act as precursors for expediting the ongoing global effort to find effective antiaging pharmacological interventions.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

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Scientists have devised a way of fabricating a complex structure, previously found only in nature, to open up new ways for manipulating and controlling light.

The structure, which naturally occurs in the wing scales of some species of butterfly, can function as a photonic crystal, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Birmingham. It can be used to control light in the visible range of the spectrum, for applications for lasers, sensors, and also devices for harvesting solar energy.

Their computational study, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrates that the complex gyroid structure can be self-assembled from designer in the range of hundreds of nanometers.

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Superconductors make highly efficient electronics, but the ultralow temperatures and ultrahigh pressures required to make them work are costly and difficult to implement. Room-temperature superconductors promise to change that.

The recent announcement by researchers at the University of Rochester of a new material that is a superconductor at room temperature, albeit at high pressure, is an exciting development – if proved. If the material or one like it works reliably and can be economically mass-produced, it could revolutionize electronics.

Room-temperature superconducting materials would lead to many new possibilities for practical applications, including ultraefficient electricity grids, ultrafast and energy-efficient computer chips, and ultrapowerful magnets that can be used to levitate trains and control fusion reactors.

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In my latest interview, I answer some questions on the fascinating topic of synthetic telepathy. Recently, the concept of synthetic telepathy has gained increasing attention from both the scientific community and the general public. The ability to communicate with others using only our thoughts may sound like something straight out of science fiction, but recent advancements in neuroscience and technology have brought us closer to making this a reality.

#SyntheticTelepathy #neurotechnology #braincomputerinterface #BCI #cybernetics #brainhacking #mindcontrol #nanocybernetics

In recent years, the concept of synthetic telepathy has gained increasing attention from both the scientific community and the general public. The ability to communicate with others using only our thoughts may sound like something straight out of science fiction, but recent advancements in neuroscience and technology have brought us closer to making this a reality. Join us for an exclusive interview with futurist and evolutionary cyberneticist Alex M. Vikoulov, as he shares his expertise on the fascinating topic of synthetic telepathy. Speaking with news reporter Blanca Elena Reyes, Vikoulov will delve into the workings of this cutting-edge technology and discuss its potential applications for the future.

Blanca Elena Reyes: Are you familiar with synthetic telepathy? If you do, how does it work?

Alex Vikoulov: Synthetic telepathy, also referred to as neurotechnology, brain-computer interface (BCI), and more broadly, cybernetics, is a form of technology that enables direct communication between the brain and an external device without the need for physical intervention. This technology allows individuals to transmit their thoughts, feelings, and sensations wirelessly to another person or a machine, allowing for real-time communication and control of technology.

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Do you really want to live forever? Futurist Ray Kurzweil has predicted that humans will achieve immortality in just seven years. Genetic engineering company touts ‘Jurassic Park’-like plan to ‘de-extinct’ dodo bird Elon Musk ‘comfortable’ putting Neuralink chip into one of his kids.

Read more ❯.

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Researchers at University of Oxford have recently created a quantum memory within a trapped-ion quantum network node. Their unique memory design, introduced in a paper in Physical Review Letters, has been found to be extremely robust, meaning that it could store information for long periods of time despite ongoing network activity.

“We are building a network of quantum computers, which use trapped ions to store and process quantum information,” Peter Drmota, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. “To connect quantum processing devices, we use emitted from a single atomic ion and utilize between this ion and the photons.”

Trapped ions, charged atomic particles that are confined in space using , are a commonly used platform for realizing quantum computations. Photons (i.e., the particles of light), on the other hand, are generally used to transmit quantum information between distant nodes. Drmota and his colleagues have been exploring the possibility of combining trapped ions with photons, to create more powerful quantum technologies.

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