10.09.2009 - Steve Potter at Emory
- Big questions
- What is thought?
- What is memory?
- What is learning?
- The brain can be divided up into two types of structures
- Classifier / attractor
- Discriminator / repeller
- Technologies
- Using MEAs to combine technology with cultured neurons
- Bursts within MEAs are considered to be attractors
- Changes observed within the MEA that appear to be a result of non-synaptic plasticity
- STDP - spike timing dependent plasticity is considered important for changing synaptic weights.
- Each neuron is considered to have a memory
- Stimulating MEAs on multiple electrodes has been shown to quiet entire culture
- Possible non-drug treatment of epilepsy (John Rolston)
- Desire to show goal directed learning (Bakkum Chao)
- For that experiment I am still suspect of the methods
- Even if things work how do you control for the possibility that you are not "teaching" the network, merely "learning" the network?
- Questions
- If you mess with the metabolism of the cells does that affect their learning?
- Have you tried "networking" the individual networks of cells?