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Debugging the Human Brain

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Lecture
  • Duration: 1 hr 34 mins
  • Publication date: 24 Jan 2019

Abstract

Over a billion people suffer from a brain disorder, few of which are well-treated by existing drugs or devices.

A key problem is that the brain is a complex, densely wired circuit made out of neurons, varying in shape, biomolecular composition, and patterns of connectivity.

Pinpointing how to treat brain disorders demands better maps of the brain, as well as better understanding of brain dynamics, and the knowledge of how to correct these dynamics when they go awry.

This exciting evening talk will explore Professor Boyden's research into this field of neuroscience, linking engineering principles with a core medical problem – how do you reprogram a brain that is misfiring?

Keywords:
  • Biotechnologists
  • algorithm
  • biomolecular
  • brain
  • brain cells
  • brain disorder
  • machine learning
  • neurologist
  • neurology
  • neurons
  • optogenetics
  • synthetic neurobiology

Channels

Health care

Health care

Speaker

  • Professor Ed Boyden

    Professor Ed Boyden

    MIT McGovern Institute, Associate Professor

    Ed and his team are inventing three toolsets to help us understand how brains work, more specifically when they are working abnormally.Firstly, they will map the brain with molecular precision, inventing a novel technology platform called expansion microscopy (ExM), in which they will embed brain specimens in a swellable polymer (not unlike the active ingredient in nappies), then add water – which causes them to expand isotropically manifold, so that the finest details become visible.Secondly, they have developed a technology, optogenetics, which enables the ability to control specific cells, embedded within dense neural circuits, with light. They insert natural proteins (which convert light into electrical signals) into neurons, then use light to activate or silence specific neurons, and see how they contribute to disease states - or to their remedy.Thirdly, they are inventing molecules that fluoresce when neurons are active, to see the ongoing dynamics in states of health and disease, and understand what changes might need to be corrected.With these tools they aim to discover strategies for repairing the computations of the brain at a ‘ground truth’ level - with high efficacy, and with minimal side effects.
brain cancer diseases health care
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