Neurotech: BCI & WBE Q&A with Randal Koene, Carbon Copies

PresentersRandal Koene, Carbon Copies Randal has had a dream of unraveling the blueprint of the human brain.  He studied physics in Amsterdam, mastered in AI, and did a computational neuroscience PhD.  He taught about the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus at Boston University as a postdoc.  Randal currently lives in San Francisco where he spearheads a nonprofit dedicated to advancing whole brain emulation…. Read More  Q&A Takeaways: Our experience of the universe is completely dependent on the brainThe ethics of whole brain emulation and the process of getting there are important to considerOne may wonder what the development of BCI or whole brain emulation looks like under a Chinese ethical frameworkWhole brain emulation represents a paradigm shift, similar to the evolutionary leap of having brains to begin withWhole brain emulation is near-term in a historical contextIn the near term, understanding the basic brain circuitry is going to be extremely interesting even though it doesn’t quite qualify as neurotechIts difficult to define what is invasive.  For instance, MRI fields likely affect the brain if done for long durations.Brain computer interfaces probably need direct neuronal contact to be practicalThe hippocampal brain prosthetic shows promise even though it is currently quite primitiveNeuropharmacology, neurofeedback, brain training, diagnostics, brain computer interface, and neuroprosthetics are very close to development.High resolution recording of neural activity is lagging in terms of progressOur ability to physically render neuron connections and organization is progressing extremely fastWe need to understand the constraints the brain enforces upon itself which make its functions predictable, similar to how a computer is made up of analog components but has overarching rules that allow for absolute predictable behaviorOften the extremes of technology are overhyped, either destruction or salvation, but the middling ground is a more likely realityThe hippocampus, cerebellum, retina, and auditory cortex are currently being explored for brain prostheticsThe Virtual Brain Project, headed by Randal, seeks to create an emulated brain so that it becomes possible to develop better methods of measurement and manipulation