at the intersection of neuroscience and AI
Circadian rhythm disruption -> too much GABA -> learning problem
by Bayle2 Nov 2008 at 2:40 am
Norman F. Ruby, Calvin E. Hwang, Colin Wessells, Fabian Fernandez, Pei Zhang, Robert Sapolsky, and H. Craig Heller. Hippocampal-dependent learning requires a functional circadian systemPNAS 2008 105:15593-15598; published ahead of print October 1, 2008, doi:10.1073/pnas.0808259105
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2008/october8/hamster-100808.html:
The hamsters were first exposed to two ho
... read more
NSF/EFRI neuro grants
by Neville7 Oct 2008 at 7:57 am
NSF:ENG:EFRI:Home Page
NSF’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) office funded 4 very futuristic neuroengineering grants.
Deep learning in mammalian cortex Studying neural networks in vitro with an innovative patch clamp array Determining how the brain controls the hand for robotics In vitro power grid simulation using real neuronsDisclaimer: I was involved with the secon
... read more
Adaptive binning in the retina
by Neville6 Oct 2008 at 5:00 pm
The Circadian Clock in the Retina Controls Rod-Cone Coupling (Christophe Ribelayga, Yu Cao, and Stuart C. Mangel)
An amazing paper from Neuron demonstrating adaptive (circadian clock-governed) binning in the retina, based on dopamine modulation of gap junction (electrical) synapses between retinal photodetectors. During the day, abundant dopamine release weakens gap junctions coupling rods and
... read more
Log or Linear? Distinct Intuitions of the Number Scale
by Bayle30 Sep 2008 at 8:25 pm
Stanislas Dehaene, Véronique Izard, Elizabeth Spelke, and Pierre Pica. Log or linear? Distinct intuitions of the number scale in Western and Amazonian indigene cultures. Science, 320(5880):1217–1220, May 2008.
The Mundurucu are an indigenous culture whose language does not contain exact words for numbers above 5. Dehaene, Izard, Spelke, and Pica basically gave subjects an empty horizontal l
... read more
New Yorker article on number sense
by Bayle30 Sep 2008 at 8:06 pm
From March. Actually, the topic of the article is Dehaene, but it talks about some studies too. Excerpts after the break, interspersed with hyperlinks to citations that I looked up.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/03/080303fa_fact_holt?currentPage=all
…Mr. N, had sustained a brain hemorrhage that left him with an enormous lesion in the rear half of his left hemisphere. He suffere
... read more
Psychophysics experiment is bad news for deer
by Neville23 Sep 2008 at 10:17 pm
Findings: Tapping Into What a Deer Sees, and Doesn’t
Not being a hunter, I’m not sure how much I support this, but I must admit this is at least a very interesting application of psychophysics data. Using deer as subjects in a standard battery of visual psychophysics tests, researchers have engineered a new material/pattern (”Gore Optifade”) that is superior to standard camo f
... read more
Neuroscience of voting
by Neville22 Sep 2008 at 11:07 pm
As the first presidential debate nears, there’s a lot of excitement (and worry) regarding the election. Today, Salon had an interesting piece on voter behavior and irrational attachment to ideologies and candidates. Recounting a recent psychology paper’s punchline:
The article’s conclusion should be posted as a caveat under every political speech of those seeking office. And
... read more
Neuroengineering mosquito repellents
by Neville18 Aug 2008 at 10:57 pm
There has been a few articles recently in the NYT about the neural mechanisms used by mosquito repellents. What a wonderful idea: Do some ephys recordings to find which neurons are sensitive to DEET (the current standard for mosquito repellents, which I can attest both doesn’t work very well and eats holes in synthetic clothing) and then build targeted compounds for those receptors/neurons/p
... read more
An apology
by Neville18 Aug 2008 at 10:31 pm
It has just been brought to my attention that for the last few months (!) neurodudes has had some serious problems with allowing users to comment, ie. commenting was completely closed. I am very sorry for that. The problem should be fixed and now commenting should again be easy for anyone to use. As always, feel free to contact us at contactus^neurodudes^com (replacing ^ as appropriate) if you hav
... read more
Google TechTalk on personal genomics
by Neville4 Jul 2008 at 11:29 am
Personal genomics is just starting and this talk gives a preview of what one of the first companies is doing to bring this to market, though the field is starting to heat up with some competition.
Surprising facts from the video:
23andme co-founder Anne Wojcicki is married to Google co-founder Sergei Brin Data portability is already available. According to the video, users can download the raw da ... read more