45. Augmenting the Mind with Rajesh P.N. Rao

“Where in the brain do I think Philosophy?”-VP

“So thinking is interesting…you’re using your brain as a simulator”-RR

This week, we discuss augmentation, artificial intelligence and architecture of the mind with Rajesh P.N. Rao. Rajesh is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington where he also directs the Neural Systems Laboratory.

Timestamp Outline

3:06 Interface tools, “The world works by swiping…”-RR
4:11 Building an interface for the brain 
4:32 Computer assisted “telepathy”
6:00 Augmentation of human function at the Center for Neuro-technology 
7:10 Aimee Mullins, body augmentation and prosthetics  
11:50 How do we interface with the brain?
14:00 Machine Learning and brain interface 
15:28 Mapping the brain 
17:00 The speed of synapses
19:05 “Where in the brain do I think philosophy?”-VP
19:45 The brain as a simulator 
23:10 “What do you think about this whole new interest in psilocybin, mind altering, dark drugs that make the brain see and feel like it is there in other consciousnesses?”-VP
24:30 The yogis
25:55 The Matrix (1999 film by The Wachowskis) Paradox 
28:03 “Where is consciousness!?”-VP
28:57 Rajesh’s time at The Salk Institute 
32:15 London Taxi drivers study
32:33 “Where are the more emotional systems?”-VP
37:20 Early learning and development and language 
40:00 Kitten, visual learning experiment
43:10 Baysein theory of the brain See also, Bayesian Brain: Probabilistic Approaches to Neural Coding