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My Brain and Me
An Ayurvedic doctor once told me my mind felt older than my body. Here, a neuroscientist maps the specific ways her own mind runs clogged and fatigued — and the practical, sometimes strange, fixes she is testing to restore it.
The First Ever Virtual Tedx Has Concluded!
Some ideas are worth spreading. With that thought in mind, in 1984, Marry Marks and Richard Saul Wurman found TED Conferences LLC. Now, in 2020, TED is going through a little revolution. Can we give TEDx talks in virtual reality? It turns out that yes – we can!
Neuroscience vs Psychometrics. How To Research The Human Mind?
For the whole last decade, I was fallen in love with Neuroscience. I first found out about the concept of investigating the human brain during my undergraduate studies, and from the very start, I knew that this was what I was going to do for a living. The human brain was such a challenging and fascinating concept! And, here is what I think now.
The Virtual Brain
Neuroscience is changing very quickly in the spirit of open science. This involves not only sharing big datasets but also creating new, open-source tools that allow for testing research hypotheses derived in the clinics. One such tool is The Virtual Brain (TVB): a software developed to launch meso-scale simulations of the human brain.
The Tragedy of Commons
The year of 2009 was groundbreaking, for at least two separate reasons. Firstly, on January 3rd of 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin was mined. Secondly, on October 12th of 2009, Elinor Claire “Lin” Ostrom has became the first woman awarded with a Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons”. The clue of this work is a phenomenon known in economy as the tragedy of commons. This phenomenon occurs when a group shares a resource, but at the same time, every individual acts on their own behalf, which is often against the common interest of the community. Can we spot the tragedy of commons in academia?
The Future of Experimentalists and Data Scientists
I observe two contradictory trends in academia these days. On one hand, experimental researchers flock together into bigger and bigger consortia, in order to collaborate in large groups in order to be able to conduct complex experiments that are so labour- and knowhow- expensive, that it would not be possible to approach them in a more traditional fashion based on an individualistic achievement. On the other hand, anyone who is connected well enough and talented enough, can formulate a research question, search out for the open datasets, conduct a computational study, report the results and post them in a form of a preprint, and then spread the news through the social media.
Artists and Craftsmen
Researchers have their personal styles of working, and some of them are more like craftsmen, whereas others are more like artists. And the irony is: in order to produce a novel scientific study and publish it well, you need to be an artist, but you also need to be a craftsman – and these two qualities are rarely to be found in one and the same person.
The Mainstream
At the times I was studying at the University of Warsaw, there was no mainstream neuroscience I might have possibly experienced.
How To Produce a Highly Ranked Publication
I recently got to see what it looks like to build a serious scientific article from scratch. I usually meet papers from the other side, reverse-engineering the author’s intentions from thousands of details. This time I sit in lab meetings and watch Postdocs brainstorm how to turn a very simple thought into an influential paper. It is so interesting, and it gives me hope.
Don’t Sleep! Sightsee
After returning from the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in San Diego, I realized the importance of being selective with information. Neuroscience has grown so vast that it’s impossible to grasp everything, and I now focus on the essentials rather than trying to absorb it all. My perspective on working in the USA has shifted. While I used to fear the American work culture, I’ve become more confident and open to the idea of living and working there. I now understand that when you enjoy your work and stay active, you can handle the demands with enthusiasm. My recent experiences have brought me a newfound sense of well-being and optimism. Regular travel and daily exercise have boosted my spirits, and I’m determined to maintain this positive mindset as I continue pursuing my passions and professional goals.
Faith and Knowledge in Neuroscience
I’ve come to realize that science, particularly neuroscience, is influenced by trends, funding, and personal beliefs rather than pure knowledge. The field is diverse, with varying beliefs about brain functions and mood, leading to conflicting approaches and skepticism. Publishing in scientific journals is a challenge due to editors’ biases and the potential rejection of innovative ideas if they don’t align with prevailing beliefs. I’m currently working on a visionary paper and hope it will be well-received despite these obstacles. Observing the scientific community, I find that many scientists exhibit childlike traits and repetitive behaviors, such as rewatching favorite documentaries or using exercise balls at work. This reflects a deeper pattern of curiosity and habits that seem inherent to the scientific mindset.
My First Time at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
Attending my first Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting in New Orleans was a thrilling experience. Despite the conference’s vast scale, I felt at ease and enjoyed exploring the diverse sessions and interactions without the stress of presenting. Though I had to manage my expenses carefully, including spending hours at the Atlanta airport for compensation, the trip was financially successful. I found it rewarding to be frugal and still make a positive impact, with a small net gain from the adventure. I was pleasantly surprised by the scale of the computational neuroscience community and the engaging encounters I had during my spontaneous explorations. This experience reinforced my sense of belonging in the global neuroscience network and highlighted the importance of a supportive professional and personal circle.
Return From Summer Schools: Regaining Passion for Neuroscience
Returning from my travels, I’ve discovered a profound passion for neuroscience, driven by the excitement of exploring neural diagrams and engaging lectures. The diversity in the neuroscience community, with its blend of backgrounds and interests, makes every gathering feel like a vibrant celebration of knowledge and culture. My experiences revealed that faculty members, often perceived as perfectionists, are actually quite human, balancing their professional work with personal passions like dancing and stand-up comedy. This alignment with my own optimistic outlook on life and work has been refreshing and inspiring. Traveling through summer schools in China and Poland taught me the value of interacting with diverse, talented individuals and the importance of resilience. Despite challenges, these experiences have reinforced my commitment to reclaiming my personal values and inspired me to engage more deeply with my peers and the world around me.
Preparing for Summer Schools in Computational Neuroscience
As I prepare for a summer school tour, I’m both excited and overwhelmed by the rapid advancements in computational neuroscience. The field’s vastness and the intense competition make me sometimes long for a quieter, more focused research niche. Recent high-profile projects, like Henry Markram’s €1 billion cortical column reconstruction and the Allen Institute’s $300 million brain slicing initiative, highlight the immense funding in neuroscience. While promising, they also attract a lot of pseudo-experts, complicating the search for genuine scientific talent. Currently undecided about my specialization, I hope the upcoming summer schools will provide clarity. My goal is to align my PhD focus with my true interests and ultimately secure a position that fits my career aspirations amidst the stringent requirements of the Dutch system.
How to Adapt and Push a Research Project Forward?
In the Netherlands, scientific presentations are all about flashy visuals and high-tech gadgets, which is a shift from my previous belief that understanding and excelling in your work should come first. I’ve started conforming by considering a Mac for its design appeal and engaging in the local culture of formal attire and provocative questions. To fit in with the university culture, I’ve begun socializing during lunch breaks and balancing work with occasional relaxation at home. Despite my reluctance towards posturing, I’m adapting to this environment, finding parallels between academic life and earlier school experiences, where impressing the authority was key. Currently, I’m grappling with a challenging PhD project involving complex algorithms to analyze brain network properties. Despite setbacks and delays, including working around a colleague’s limited availability and an unpredictable supervisor, I’m pushing forward and remain optimistic about overcoming these obstacles.
Hardcore Beginnings in Grad School
Despite feeling disconnected and buried under a heavy knowledge load, I notice real progress in grasping complex subjects. I am starting to connect fields and consider cognitive science to understand my work better. Above all, I am reclaiming the resilient mindset of my early teens.
Harsh Rules of Dutch PhD Programs
Two months into my PhD in the Netherlands, I feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the program and the high expectations, particularly given the low completion rate and the challenges of theoretical research compared to experimental work. Despite the pressure, I’m discovering hidden gems at the university, like the beautiful lake and insightful lectures from renowned experts, which add a sense of wonder and opportunity to my experience. I’ve learned about the importance of scientific integrity and the strict rules at Donders, reflecting on how even prestigious achievements can be overshadowed by issues of ethics and the need for vigilance in academic integrity.
On the Size of the Human Brain
I’ve been challenged by ideas from philosophers and scientists like Simon Laughlin, who question whether further brain evolution is feasible due to energy demands, but I argue that brain efficiency and quality of thought matter more than sheer size. The notion that larger brains are better is debunked by examples like Einstein’s average-sized brain and the role of glial cells, suggesting that intelligence relies on how well the brain is utilized rather than its size. Despite concerns about energy and evolution, I remain optimistic about human progress, believing that traits enhancing offspring and evolving needs will drive improvement, even if evolution is slower than before.
The Great Sorrow: On The Rise of Pseudoscience
A spring reflection on the sorrow that shadows ambition: why more work can feel like less accomplishment, whether women are really less happy, and how wealth relates to satisfaction. Then a darker trend: fortune-tellers taking over Polish TV while genuine psychology struggles for credibility.
On Ethics in Human Research
Ethics, stemming from the Greek word ἦθος (ethos), is a branch of philosophy that explores morality and develops frameworks for deriving moral principles, whereas morality consists of specific guidelines derived from these principles. Misinterpretations of ethical principles can lead to justifying wrongful acts based on skewed moral perspectives. Ethical theories are categorized by their scope and source of moral norms. Objectivist theories propose a universal ethical system, while subjectivist theories argue that ethics vary by context. Sources of ethical norms include naturalism, antinaturalism, and emotivism, each offering a different perspective on the origins and nature of ethics. Controversial experiments, such as Watson’s “Little Albert” and Milgram’s obedience study, highlight ethical concerns including lack of consent and psychological harm. These studies underscore the need for stringent ethical guidelines to prevent harm and ensure that research practices respect participant well-being and integrity.
Impressions From the Neuronus Conference
At the 3rd Neuronus student conference, I found a far more welcoming atmosphere than at competitive physics seminars. I explore Ramachandran’s view that qualia help build a coherent perception of reality despite incomplete sensory input, and a surprise student sexology conference led me into alcohol-induced mental conditions and their impact on criminal responsibility.
On the Theory of Human Vision
Reflecting on my time in Sweden and my PhD project on human vision, I explore Interface Theory, which proposes that perception did not evolve to depict reality accurately but to guide adaptive behavior. Perception works like a user interface: it simplifies and processes information to maximize evolutionary fitness rather than precision.
On Hematopoiesis
For my bachelor’s thesis in mathematics I am modeling hematopoiesis, the body’s blood cell production. What fascinates me are diseases that work in reverse: periodic leukemia makes white blood cell counts oscillate on a regular cycle, turning a normally steady process into a dynamical one.
I’m Going to Caltech!
I’ve been accepted into the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) 2008 program at Caltech, and I’m thrilled to embark on this exciting adventure in California! My research will focus on autism and perception, specifically comparing how individuals with autism and those without perceive and interact with faces. We’ll test the hypothesis that people with autism experience increased social anxiety, leading to reduced eye contact, using an eyetracker to measure gaze patterns on human and animal eyes.
On Ethics in Psychology
I dive into the ethics of psychology, starting from the “Scale of Psychologist’s Moral and Ethical Attitudes” from our first class. My guiding principle: leave the subject in at least as good a condition as found, so temporary discomfort in an experiment is acceptable if participants are restored afterwards. Zimbardo’s and Milgram’s studies show how much the standards have changed since.