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We’re back with Part II of our two-part series on Connectomics! In part one we speculated on the legal and ethical implications of emerging technologies in the connectomics field. In part two, we don our lab coats and take a deep dive into the latest research tools, from fixation protocols for the preservation of neural tissue, to multimodal imaging techniques, to the machine intelligence designed to interpret massive data sets and reconstruct the vast neural circuits that make up the connectome. Our guests are: 

Kenneth Hayworth, PhD, President and Co-Founder of the Brain Preservation Foundation, Senior Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus (JFRC)

Robert McIntyre, CEO at Nectome

Jeremy Maitin-Shepard, PhD, Software Engineer–Connectomics at Google
In this episode, Ken and Robert from part one return to the pub, and we are also joined by Jeremy Maitin-Shepard, an engineer and researcher at Google, who shares insights into some of the machine intelligence modalities being used to decode previously uncharted neural networks. Check out Jeremy’s recent paper on BioRxiv, as well as his published work at Google. If you missed part one, you can listen and explore the show notes here. Cheers!Show Notes: 0:00 | Intro1:03 | Kenneth Hayworth, PhD1:12 | Robert McKintyre, CEO, Nectome1:17 | Jeremy Maitin-Shepard, PhD1:51 | Setting the record straight 3:09 | The nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage φX1744:22 | Frozen Zoo at San Diego Zoo12:01| Glutaraldehyde and reduction techniques for immunolabeling 17:39 | SWITCH Framework19:14 | Population Responses in V1 Encode Different Figures by Response Amplitude Enhanced mirror neuron network activity and effective connectivity during live interaction among female subjects Permeabilization-free en bloc immunohistochemistry for correlative microscopy 19:57 | Synaptic Signaling in Learning and Memory Structure and function of a neocortical synapse Engineering a memory with LTD and LTP Synapse-specific representation of the identity of overlapping memory engrams 20:28 | Ultrastructure of Dendritic SpinesStructure–stability–function relationships of dendritic spines 24:25 | Reconstructing the connectome 24:32 | Connectomics Research Team at Google 24:55 | Google x HHMI: Releasing the Drosophila Hemibrain Connectome 28:38 | Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy 29:22 | Automated Serial Sections to Tape29:45 | Mapping connections in mouse neocortex30:59 | A connectome and analysis of the adult Drosophila central brain 32:14 | Expansion Microscopy34:37 | The future of connectomics 45:13 | Contribution of apical and basal dendrites to orientation encoding in mouse V1 L2/3 pyramidal neurons49:49 | Mice and rats achieve similar levels of performance in an adaptive decision-making task Want More?Follow Neurotech Pub on TwitterFollow Paradromics on Twitter, LinkedIn, and InstagramFollow Matt on LinkedIn and Twitter

Welcome back to Neurotech Pub! In this first installment of two episodes on Connectomics, host and Paradromics CEO Matt Angle kicks off a lively discussion on the rapidly accelerating research in the mapping, preservation, and reconstruction of the human connectome. We explore the ethical and legal ramifications of disruptive technology, and some of the unique challenges faced when driving innovation in emerging industries. Our guests are: 

Nita Faraheny, JD, PhD, Everett Distinguished Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke Law School, the Founding Director of Duke Science & Society, the Faculty Chair of the Duke MA in Bioethics & Science Policy, and principal investigator of SLAP Lab. 

Kenneth Hayworth, PhD, President and Co-Founder of the Brain Preservation Foundation, Senior Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus (JFRC)

Robert McIntyre, CEO at Nectome
As an exciting new development since the recording of this episode, Nita recently published a book, The Battle for Your Brain, which examines many topics in neuroethics, from Connectomics to Brain-Computer Interfaces. It is currently available on Amazon.Keep an eye out for part two in this series, which will take a deep dive into the latest technical and engineering innovations in the connectomics ecosystem. Coming soon!Please be advised that this episode contains a brief discussion of assisted suicide in a medical setting.Show Notes: 0:00 | Episode Intro 1:16 | Nita A. Farahany, JD, PhD1:21 | Kenneth Hayworth, PhD1:27 | Robert McKintyre, CEO, Nectome1:56 | Meeting of the minds 2:53 | Aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation wins final phase of brain preservation prize3:56 | The Brain Preservation Foundation4:09 | Documentary series on the Brain Preservation Foundation5:21 | Letter of Support for Aldehyde Stabilized Cryopreservation (and ‘next steps’ caveats)5:51 | Nita's 2018 Neuroethics Ted Talk 5:54 | International Neuroethics Society6:25 | Connectomics & new paths in neuroscience 8:10 | Allen Institute for Brain Science8:47 | A connectome and analysis of the adult Drosophila central brain9:33 | A visual intro to synaptic imaging in connectomics10:28 | The structure of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans 11:16 | Mouse Connectome Project at CIC14:59 | Cryonics controversy 19:00 | Death, taxes, and synapses 20:51 | Uniform Law Commission21:08 | The Uniform Determination of Death Act24:25 | Watch Altered Carbon on Netflix25:49 | Understanding the “Loss of Chance” Doctrine 37:13 | Understanding Physician-Assisted Death, or ‘Death with Dignity’ 40:21 | Euthanasia in the Netherlands46:01 | Autonomy, Dignity, and Consent to Harm, Rutgers Law Review Want More?Follow Neurotech Pub on TwitterFollow Paradromics on Twitter, LinkedIn, and InstagramFollow Matt on LinkedIn and Twitter

Welcome back to Neurotech Pub! In this episode we’re talking about sleep–why we sleep, how sleep works on a neurophysiological level, and some of the emerging sleep technologies that are about to revolutionize this essential neural activity.

Our guests are Amy Kruse, PhD, General Partner at Prime Movers Lab, Ram Gurumoorthy, PhD, Founder and CTO of Stimscience & Somnee, and Luis de Lecea, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.

This episode also features a video introduction to sleep stages by Paradromics Intern Zoe Lalji. This is essential viewing if you’re unfamiliar with the stages of sleep and want to follow along later in the episode.

Cheers!

In part II of this very special two part series in collaboration with Blackrock Neurotech, Paradromics CEO Matt Angle and Blackrock Creative Director Taryn Southern co-host a discussion with BCI research pioneers Jan Scheuermann, Ian Burkhart, and Nathan Copeland. In part two, we discuss the future of BCI, the areas in which BCI and identity intersect, and what’s next for them.

In this very special two part series in co-hosted with Blackrock Neurotech, Paradromics CEO Matt Angle and Blackrock Creative Director Taryn Southern co-host a discussion with BCI research pioneers Jan Scheuermann, Ian Burkhart, and Nathan Copeland. In part one, we discuss their personal journeys to becoming BCI pioneers, implant experiences with the Utah Array,  their time in the lab, and some of their current projects. Learn more about Jan, Ian, and Nathan below and stay tuned for part two, coming in July 2022! 

Welcome back to Neurotech Pub! This episode is part two of a two part series on optical methods for recording and stimulating neural activity. Last time we talked about optical recording methods, but in this episode we focus on optical stimulation methods.