The Blue Brain Project is an ambitious effort to model a brain, neuron by neuron, in order to understand its systems and functions in new ways and to build the facility to model brains across species. “I believe we will understand the brain before we finish building it,” says the project’s director, Henry Markram. First video release of a ten year documentary series by director Noah Hutton, following the project as it develops. Gorgeous imagery and an inspiring subject. See also: Blue Brain Neocortical Column Visualization, and the short lecture Simulated Brain by Dr. Markram. Hat tip: The Beautiful Brain.
Keynote speaker Hank Greely gives a basic talk about neuroscience and the law for an audience of lawyers/law students. Topics include predicting (behaviour and illnesses), mind reading and lie detection, responsibility and consciousness, treatment, and cognitive enhancement. Q&A follows. Greely blogged about it as well; sounds like it was a great symposium and it’s a pity the other videos aren’t online too.
An ambient video featuring relaxing beach wave sounds with gorgeous and thoughtful close images of water in motion. It’s designed as a “meditation room” with continuous streaming video to provide background for your relaxation routines or as a soothing balm in itself. Loveliness. Lime.com offers many videos including beginner’s yoga instruction by the excellent Rodney Yee to start a practice at home without expensive classes, and other healthy living and behavioural health subjects.
[Image of the Banff Springs Hotel by Steph & Adam.]
Neuro Talk: Tap In, The Experts Weigh In
Short (1 to 2 min. each) interview clips in modules on major topics including brain scans, religion, neurolaw, cosmetic psychopharmacology, meditation, coma, and more from attendees at a neuroethics conference in Banff, Alberta. Non-resizable and unsharable custom video player, but great content.
Producer: Discovery Channel
Featuring: Sandra Blakeslee, Arthur Caplan, Judy Illes, Jen McCormack, Peter McKnight, Christy Nicholson, Tony Phillips, Eric Racine, Sam Weiss
The Epigenetic Link between Child Abuse and Suicide Risk
Portion of a talk focussing on a study that looked at the epigenetics of people with histories of child abuse who died by suicide, and found increased methylation in some areas. Slides not available, but a fascinating talk on a hot topic.
The psychologist who pioneered research into false memories discusses their issues in law, psychotherapy, problems with misinformation and more. Great talk.
Cognitive Developmental Robotics: An Approach to Understand Ourselves and to Design Robots Like Us
Designing robots with the minds of infants, using human cognitive development modelling and biomimetics. Cute baby robot (CB2) video clips included. From the University of Washington’s Computer Science and Engineering Colloquia series (vodcast RSS).