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Scientists see what research participants picture in their mind’s eye

Scientists have developed a new technology to decode brain activity and infer the meaning of a person's mental picture. The study used electrocorticogram to detect patterns in brain activity while patients imagined different images, revealing distinct representations for each concept. This breakthrough could lead to the development of ...

SourceOsaka University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2022

Form follows function

Professor Alexander Ecker is awarded a Starting Grant to develop machine-learning methods to describe neurons' shape and function, leveraging a large dataset from the US Brain Initiative. The research aims to uncover how a neuron's shape relates to its role in sensory information processing.

Seeing shapes

Carlos Ponce is studying the parts of the visual system that analyze shapes, using macaque monkeys as a model. He combines computational models with electrophysiology experiments to understand how neurons process visual information.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2021

Efficient coding: How the brain optimizes allocation of resources

A study published in eLife found that rats exhibit efficient coding processes for visual stimuli, similar to those observed in humans. This suggests a universal principle in vision, where the brain adapts to its environment by specializing in the recognition of informative signals, thereby conserving computational resources and energy.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2021

Artificial intelligence sheds light on how the brain processes language

A new study reveals that high-performing AI next-word prediction models resemble the function of language-processing centers in the human brain. The models' activity patterns closely match those seen in the brain during language tasks, suggesting a potential connection between AI and human language processing.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 25, 2021

Communication between neural networks

The study combines synfire communication, coherence and resonance to provide insight into how messages are exchanged between brain areas. The researchers found that oscillations play a significant role in determining whether communication can take place.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Reviews Neuroscience·DateDec 17, 2018

How experience may lead to misperception

A new study by neuroscientists at the Bernstein Center Munich found that previous experience plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions of physical quantities. The researchers developed a Bayesian model that integrates two classic theories and explains how prior knowledge affects judgment, leading to systematic estimation biases.

SourceBernstein Coordination Site (BCOS)·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateApr 23, 2015

Archivist in the sound library

Scientists at LMU Munich developed a mathematical model that accurately mimics human sound recognition, showing the brain compares stored and perceived sounds efficiently. The new library-based model predicts the flow of information from cerebrum to thalamus, enabling highly efficient real-time implementation.

A walking robot goes mountaineering

A walking robot, RunBot, has been engineered to mimic human gait and adapt to different environments, including mountainous terrain. The robot's ability to learn from trial and error allows it to adjust its gait in response to visual input, ensuring stability and balance on slopes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 12, 2007

Neuroscience contest prompts 'thinking about thinking'

A Princeton scientist created a computer model of a mouse brain that can recognize spoken words, challenging conventional views on sensory perception. The model uses sensitive timing of electrical signals to perform calculations, potentially leading to faster and more sophisticated brain functions.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 13, 2000