the brain – The Lab

Ep 244: Bits and brains and bots

By thelabwithbradbarton | December 12, 2019

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Bits and brains and bots

If we could look closely at every last cell in your brain, and learn enough to simulate them on a computer, would a detailed enough simulation of your brain think? Today, we talk about artificial neural networks—an AI method that is very loosely based on how biological brains work. A bit of history, a bit of confusion, and a bit about how our latest batch of digital organisms might use one.
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Ep 228: A few final bits of brain business

By thelabwithbradbarton | July 25, 2019

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A few final bits of brain business

We’ve been talking about the brain for over nine months now. It’s time to play with some other subjects. Join us as we wrap up our look at the various bits and pieces of the brain, and consider what we’ll dive into next. We reserve the right to return to the brain and/or the mind at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all.
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Ep 227: Will you remember this episode?

By thelabwithbradbarton | July 18, 2019

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Will you remember this episode?

Your hippocampus, brain cells, molecules mind and memory. From your entire brain and all your senses, to specific areas of your brain, to braincells, to synapses, to a little dance of molecules to form the memory, and even your DNA to help make the memories last, remembering isn’t simple.
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Ep 226: How your brain feels

By thelabwithbradbarton | July 11, 2019

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How your brain feels

We’re not talking about your brain’s squishy texture; we’re talking about emotion. Join us as we investigate the link between what your brain is doing and how you’re feeling.
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Ep 225: The front of the front of the front of your brain

By thelabwithbradbarton | June 27, 2019

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The front of the front of the front of your brain

Located at the very front of your brain, your prefrontal cortex is vital for things like your memory, morality, sense of time, and personality. Phil and I talk about, but do not understand, your prefrontal cortex.
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Ep 224: Third eyes, pineal glands, and your thalamus

By thelabwithbradbarton | June 20, 2019

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Third eyes, pineal glands, and your thalamus

Phil and I get back to the brain and brain bits, by talking about bits of your brain. Today is the diencephalon, with extra attention paid to your thalamus, a part of your brain that passes information around to just about every other part of your brain.
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Ep 221: Your brain smells

By thelabwithbradbarton | May 23, 2019

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Your brain smells

From finding good food, to recognizing familiar people and places, to choosing a good person to make babies with, today we talk about your surprisingly useful sense of smell.
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Ep 220: Wagging tongues over taste

By thelabwithbradbarton | May 16, 2019

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Wagging tongues over taste

Researching this episode made me so hungry! Today, phil and I talk about your tongue, a berry that makes sour things sweet, mice in mid yum, and your brain and the sense of taste.
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Ep 219: Balance

By thelabwithbradbarton | May 9, 2019

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Balance

You hardly notice it unless something goes wrong, but your sense of balance relies on most of your other senses to work, and uses all sorts of interesting bits of your interesting brain. Along with sleeping birds, bionic men, and beer bottles, Phil and I talk about your sense of balance.
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Ep 218: Touching on touch

By thelabwithbradbarton | May 2, 2019

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Touching on touch

Throughout your body, you have nerves. These send signals about the world through your spinal cord, and into your brain. More than just what you feel, your sense of touch includes temperature, pressure, the position of your body, and a bit about what your internal organs are up to today. We continue our look at your senses and your brain with an episode that touches on touch.
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