MIT researchers found that chaotic laser light can transform into a precise, stable beam. This breakthrough enables much faster, high-resolution imaging of how drugs move into the brain.
Category: neuroscience – Page 4
World Science Festival
Does quantum mechanics actually imply that every possible outcome of every decision happens somewhere in an expansive reality? And if so, what does that mean for probability, free will, and our understanding of the universe itself?
Brian Greene sits down with David Deutsch, widely regarded as the father of quantum computing, to examine what many physicists are still reluctant to accept about their own theory. They explore why the many-worlds interpretation isn’t just a philosophical curiosity, what the wave function is really telling us about reality, and how decision theory may rescue probability in a fully deterministic multiverse. Deutsch also introduces constructor theory, his framework for rethinking the foundations of physics entirely and explains why the questions we’ve been trained not to ask might be the most important ones in all of science.
This program is part of the Rethinking Reality series, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
Participant: David Deutsch.
Moderator: Brian Greene.
#worldsciencefestival #briangreene #cosmology #astrophysics.
ABOUT WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL:
How individual consciousness works — and makes us unique
As we go through life, our brains run different processing modes. Some – the attention and sensory systems – result in very similar experiences of the world: what colour the sky is, how warm the day feels.
But there is another, deeper side to the brain which weaves together your memories, goals, beliefs and emotions into a continuous sense of self. This allows you to experience the world not as it is, but as it matters to you personally.
This unique inner world is supported by the brain’s default mode network (DMN). This links together several areas including in the prefrontal cortex (at the very front of the brain) and the parietal lobe (at the back).
You have no free will at all | Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky
Become a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and more: https://bigthink.com/membership/?utm_… How your biology and environment make your decisions for you, according to Dr. Robert Sapolsky.
Up next, Your reptilian brain, explained ► • Your reptilian brain, explained | Robert S…
Robert Sapolsky, PhD is an author, researcher, and professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. In this interview with Big Think’s Editor-in-Chief, Robert Chapman Smith, Sapolsky discusses the content of his most recent book, “Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will.”
Being held as a child, growing up in a collectivist culture, or experiencing any sort of brain trauma – among hundreds of other things – can shape your internal biases and ultimately influence the decisions you make. This, explains Sapolsky, means that free will is not – and never has been – real. Even physiological factors like hunger can discreetly influence decision making, as discovered in a study that found judges were more likely to grant parole after they had eaten.
This insight is key for interpreting human behavior, helping not only scientists but those who aim to evolve education systems, mental health research, and even policy making.
Go Deeper with Big Think:
Do We Have Free Will? with Robert Sapolsky & Neil deGrasse Tyson
Is there a quantum reason we could have free will? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore the concept of free will and predetermination with neuroscientist, biologist, and author of Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will, Robert Sapolsky.
A special thanks from our editors to Robert Sapolsky’s dog.
Could we put an end to the question of whether or not we have free will? Discover “The Hungry Judge Effect” and how little bits of biology affect our actions. We break down a physicist’s perspective of free will, The Big Bang, and chaos theory. Is it enough to just feel like we have free will? Why is it an issue to think you have free will if you don’t?
We discuss the difference between free will in big decisions versus everyday decisions. How do you turn out to be the type of person who chooses vanilla ice cream over strawberry? We explore how quantum physics and virtual particles factor into predetermination. Could quantum randomness change the actions of an atom? How can society best account for a lack of free will? Are people still responsible for their actions?
What would Chuck do if he could do anything he wanted? We also discuss the benefits of a society that acknowledges powers outside of our control and scientific advancements made. How is meritocracy impacted by free will? Plus, can you change if people believe in free will if they have no free will in believing so?
Thanks to our Patrons Pro Handyman, Brad K. Daniels, Starman, Stephen Somers, Nina Kane, Paul Applegate, and David Goldberg for supporting us this week.
MRI reveals cerebrospinal fluid shifts after mild brain injury
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have found that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microdynamic motion shows region-specific alterations after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using a specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, the team noninvasively visualized these CSF changes, which have been difficult to quantify with conventional imaging. The approach is expected to advance the understanding of the relationship between post-traumatic brain conditions and cognitive function. The study is published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
The brain contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which protects neural tissue and helps clear metabolic waste. Rather than being static, CSF exhibits continuous subtle motion, and this motion is thought to be closely linked to brain health. However, little has been known about how CSF motion is altered after a mild head injury.
The researchers employed a specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique known as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI to evaluate CSF microdynamic motion through the incoherent movement of water molecules. The results showed that, after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), CSF motion increased in some brain regions and decreased in others.
Epilepsy ‘brain blips’ can be predicted a full second early with neuron-level probes
Epilepsy is best known for seizures, but many people with the condition also experience much more frequent and subtler disruptions. These brief bursts of abnormal brain activity, called interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), can happen thousands of times a day, interfering with attention, memory, language, and sleep.
Scientists at UC San Francisco have discovered that these “brain blips” are not random events, as had been believed. Rather, they unfold in a predictable pattern that can be detected a full second before they occur — raising new possibilities to ward them off altogether.
The researchers used a high-resolution technology recently adapted for humans that can record the activity of individual neurons. They tracked more than 1,000 neurons in four patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy.