In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Athina Demertzi, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Liège who studies human consciousness, especially in patients with severe brain injuries. We discussed her fascinating work on disorders of consciousness like the vegetative and minimally conscious states, and how brain imaging techniques have advanced our understanding of these conditions. We also talked about some treatments people have proposed for these conditions, including...

In this episode, I talk with Stephen Coombes, Ph.D. about neural field theory, or the theory of brainwaves. Dr. Coombes is Professor of Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham. We explore the foundations of neural field theory, how it models large-scale brain activity, and its relevance to understanding states of consciousness, visual hallucinations, and working memory. Dr. Coombes shares insights from his journey from theoretical physics to...

In this episode I talk with clinical psychologist Jay Skelton, Ph.D. and software engineer Andrew Leker about Willow. Willow is a new, empathetic AI specifically designed to be a mental health tool (and not a replacement for a licensed therapist). We take a deep dive into how Willow was trained, how strict safety guardrails were put in place, how Willow is already being used in mental health clinics, its privacy, and the future of AI for mental health. This podcast came out of a partnership...

In this podcast, Grace Lindsay, Ph.D. and I discuss some of the many fascinating intersections between neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Bradley Crehan wasn't regaining consciousness after his brain injury, but then he became the first person in the world to receive an experimental treatment developed at UCLA by Martin Monti, PhD and his colleagues. You can support our research here: https://thebrainscientist.com/donate/