One of the largest mysteries of science is that humans have conscious awareness of their complex subjective experiences – or what we call “qualia” – such as being aware of what it’s like to delight in the color of a flower, melt into the comfort of a bed, or to feel sharp pain. Why and how qualia could emerge from physical matter and be a part of the human experience is unknown, and this is called the ‘hard problem’ of consciousness. Related to qualia is the mystery of why humans feel like they have free will, or the ability to intentionally choose and execute actions.
The ‘easy’ problem of consciousness is mapping these mind states to brain states, such as identifying which brain regions are active during a certain experience, such as smelling a flower. Despite advances in classical physics and neuroscience, many aspects of the mind-brain relationship, such as qualia, remain unresolved. New theories of mind are required to address this perennial mystery.
In a new paper, we propose that some aspects of mind are quantum and can play an active role in the physical world, explaining some of the unexplainable.
The journal Nature published a groundbreaking new study by world-renowned Stanford neuroscientist Sergiu Pasca involving the transfer of human brain organoids into the brains of rats. Insoo Hyun, Director of the Center for Life Sciences and Public Learning at the Museum of Science, speaks candidly with Dr. Pasca about his research. Why did he do it? How might this uncover the mysteries of psychiatric disorders? And the Big Question we are all wondering about – can these rats ever develop “human-like” consciousness? Together they demystify the science.
00:33 Dr. Sergiu Pasca’s Romanian roots. 00:55 Why is Dr. Pasca’s work important for Psychiatry? 04:14 Dr. Pasca’s work with human brain organoids. 06:14 Challenges with using animal brains when trying to unlock mysteries of human psychiatric disorders. 07:13 Reason for Dr. Pasca’s latest research transplanting human brain organoids into rat brains. 08:47 How the human brain organoid transplantation into a rat brain is accomplished. 10:19 What Dr. Pasca learned from his experiment and its importance. 12:02 Brain cells’ amazing ability to take over and organize themselves in appropriate environments. 13:03 Will animals with human brain organoids in their brain develop human-like consciousness? 17:30 Will manipulating human neurons in a rat change the behavior of the rat? 19:43 Application of rat experiment findings for human patients. 22:07 The ethics and regulation of using animals in scientific research. 25:25 Why context matters in research of transplanting human brain organoids into rat brains and the challenge of people backfilling science they might not understand with mythology and science fiction. 32:28 Dr. Pasca’s inspiration to work so hard to unlock the mysteries of psychiatric disorders.
“The Big Question” is a production of the Museum of Science, Boston.
Among the world’s largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages millions of people each year to the wonders of science and technology through interactive exhibitions, digital programs, giant screen productions, and preK – 8 EiE® STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center. Established in 1,830, the Museum is home to such iconic experiences as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. Around the world, the Museum is known for digital experiences such as Mission: Mars launching in 2022 on Roblox, and traveling exhibitions such as the Science Behind Pixar.
Instructor: Nancy Kanwisher View the complete course: https://ocw.mit.edu/9-13S19 YouTube Playlist: This course surveys the core perceptual and cognitive abilities of the human mind and explores how they are implemented in the brain… NOTE: * Lecture 3. Master Class: Human Brain Dissection (in-class dissection—video not recorded) * NOTE: Lecture 12: Brain-Machine Interface with Guest Lecturer Michael Cohen is unavailable * Lecture 14: New Methods Applied to Number (student breakout groups—video not recorded) * Lecture 17: MEG Decoding and RSA (video not recorded) * Lecture 19: Language II (class canceled—video not recorded) * Lecture 22: Experimental Design (student breakout groups—video not recorded) * Lecture 23: Deep Networks (2021) (video will be added soon) License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA More information at https://ocw.mit.edu/terms More courses at https://ocw.mit.edu Support OCW at http://ow.ly/a1If50zVRlQ We encourage constructive comments and discussion on OCW’s YouTube and other social media channels. Personal attacks, hate speech, trolling, and inappropriate comments are not allowed and may be removed. More details at https://ocw.mit.edu/comments.
Brain function is important for a good quality of life. Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt (PQQ) has been proven to improve brain function and cognition in older adults (above 45 years). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of PQQ on cognitive function in adults aged between 20 and 65 years. PQQ (20 mg per day) was administered for 12 weeks to the participants. After 12 weeks, the participants showed improvements in composite memory and verbal memory. A further age-stratified analysis was performed. In younger adults (aged 20–40 years), PQQ improved cognitive function (cognitive flexibility, processing speed, and execution speed) after 8 weeks. Only older adults (aged 41–65 years) showed improvements in complex and verbal memory after 12 weeks. In the logistic regression analysis that included the results of all cognitive tests, the changes due to PQQ intake were observed at 8 and 12 weeks in the young and old groups, respectively.
Neurosity’s headset uses electroencephalogram technology, or EEG, to measure brain activity by placing small metal electrodes on a person’s scalp. If the electrodes detect decreased electrical activity in the brain, the Crown plays music and sounds, or pulses vibrations, hoping those actions will help the user focus.
But some developers, it seems, have taken Neurosity’s tech a step further, turning the Crown into a more traditional brain computer interface that can allow users to control a computer using only their mind.
One owner of the gadget claimed they’ve used it to drive a Tesla, moving the electric car short distances by doing some mental math, which signals to the device that the person wearing it is exerting a lot of cognitive effort.
Grimes got a new brain gadget for her 35th birthday.
“Getting a non invasive brain computer interface for my birthday (!!!!?),” she tweeted Friday. “Yeah it’s a good time to be alive.”
Neurosity CEO AJ Keller confirmed that the singer, named Claire Boucher, had asked for one of the company’s headsets, known as the Crown, in a custom white color.
I used to listen to classical music more. I’m going to start again. I was searching for an article that said music helps heal brain injury but I can only find ones where it’s playing instruments that does that. But the Mozart effect is healthy and relaxing.
Just another example of how much you gain by listening.
Using music to heal the brain. If you have a TBI or know someone with one like myself, music is very therapeutic. Get some nice earbuds or over the way headphones. Wired is best or get some with long battery life. I find I feel peace and relief when I listen to certain types of music.
Why neurologic music therapy should be part of standard rehabilitation care.
More magnesium in our daily diet leads to better brain health as we age, according to scientists from the Neuroimaging and Brain Lab at The Australian National University (ANU).
The researchers say increased intake of magnesium-rich foods such as spinach and nuts could also help reduce the risk of dementia, which is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the seventh biggest killer globally.
The study of more than 6,000 cognitively healthy participants in the United Kingdom aged 40 to 73 found people who consume more than 550 milligrams of magnesium each day have a brain age that is approximately one year younger by the time they reach 55 compared with someone with a normal magnesium intake of about 350 milligrams a day.
Having both diabetes and tooth loss contributes to worse cognitive function and faster cognitive decline in older adults, according to a new study published in a special issue of the Journal of Dental Research focused on aging and oral health.
“Our findings underscore the importance of dental care and diabetes management for older adults in reducing the devastating personal and societal costs of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias,” said Bei Wu, vice dean for research at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and co-director of the NYU Aging Incubator, as well as the study’s lead author.
Diabetes is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Several of the hallmarks of diabetes —high blood sugar, insulin resistance, inflammation, and related heart disease—are thought to contribute to changes in the brain.
