5. Stephen Coombes, PhD on neural field theory

08/30/24 • 74 min

In this episode, I talk with Stephen Coombes, Ph.D. about neural field theory, or the theory of brainwaves. Dr. Coombes is Professor of Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham. We explore the foundations of neural field theory, how it models large-scale brain activity, and its relevance to understanding states of consciousness, visual hallucinations, and working memory. Dr. Coombes shares insights from his journey from theoretical physics to neuroscience, and we discuss the future directions and challenges in this fascinating field of study.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to Neural Field Theory
(02:05) - Dr. Stephen Coombes’ Journey to Neuroscience
(10:06) - What is Neural Field Theory?
(16:22) - Why Model Average Firing Rates?
(24:00) - History and Evolution of Neural Field Theory
(32:12) - Mean Field Models vs. Neural Mass Models
(36:16) - Patterns in Neural Field Theory: Waves, Bumps, and Turing Patterns
(44:54) - Neural Field Theory as a Space-Time Model
(45:54) - Neural Field Theory and Visual Hallucinations
(50:06) - Working Memory and Neural Field Theory
(53:18) - Advances in Neural Field Theory
(59:53) - Recent Challenges and New Directions
(1:06:16) - The Future of Neural Field Theory
(1:09:34) - White Matter Plasticity and Its Role in Neuroscience
(1:12:28) - Closing Remarks and Resources

Timestamps:

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4. Jay Skelton, PhD and Andrew Leker on AI for mental health

In this episode I talk with clinical psychologist Jay Skelton, Ph.D. and software engineer Andrew Leker about Willow. Willow is a new, empathetic AI specifically designed to be a mental health tool (and not a replacement for a licensed therapist). We take a deep dive into how Willow was trained, how strict safety guardrails were put in place, how Willow is already being used in mental health clinics, its privacy, and the future of AI for mental health. This podcast came out of a partnership with Bambu AI.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) - Trigger warning for mental health discussions
(00:01:17) - My interest in Willow AI
(00:02:54) - Andrew Leker introduces himself
(00:04:05) - Jay Skelton, Ph.D. introduces himself
(00:05:32) - Willow's role in mental health
(00:06:44) - Discussing Willow's design as an empathetic and curious agent
(00:07:34) - Importance of empathic interaction in mental health support
(00:09:04) - Willow's non-judgmental approach
(00:09:24) - Shaping Willow's empathetic identity
(00:12:16) - Real conversations in Willow's training
(00:14:04) - Evidence-based practices in Willow's training
(00:16:36) - Willow does not diagnose, just assists
(00:17:54) - Safety in Willow's interactions
(00:19:00) - Technical safety features in Willow
(00:24:33) - Handling suicidal ideation cautiously and safely
(00:26:59) - Jay's comfort as a clinical psychologist with deploying Willow
(00:30:00) - Willow's deployment in mental health clinics
(00:33:24) - AI's availability and affordability
(00:36:40) - Willow providing emotional support and guidance
(00:39:53) - Willow as a mental health tool
(00:45:38) - Privacy and security in Willow
(00:51:18) - Willow's potential for improvement over time
(00:52:10) - Benefits of Willow's feedback for therapists
(00:54:43) - Future applications of AI in mental health
(00:57:32) - Empathy and theory of mind in AI development
(01:00:54) - Importance of Willow's emotional intelligence
(01:07:48) - Positive feedback from patients using Willow

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6. Athina Demertzi, PhD on the neuroscience of consciousness

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Athina Demertzi, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of
Liège who studies human consciousness, especially in patients with severe brain injuries. We discussed her fascinating work on disorders of consciousness like the vegetative and minimally conscious states, and how brain imaging techniques have advanced our understanding of these conditions. We also talked about some treatments people have proposed for these conditions, including psychedelics.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Background

(01:58) - Defining Disorders of Consciousness: Coma, Vegetative, and Minimally Conscious States

(05:13) - Using Neuroimaging to Study Consciousness in Brain-Injured Patients

(07:36) - Predicting Recovery from Disorders of Consciousness

(09:51) - Auditory and Visual Cortex Communication in Conscious Patients

(15:16) - The Role of the Default Mode Network in Consciousness

(20:14) - Phase Coherence and Communication Across the Brain

(26:34) - Functional vs. Structural Connectivity in Consciousness

(28:24) - Theories of Consciousness: Global Workspace, Integrated Information, and Active Inference

(35:44) - Body-Brain Interactions in Anesthesia and Unconscious States