Dr. Paul Cisek is a professor of neuroscience at the University of Montreal, and focuses on understanding how the brain controls behaviour. Particularly through the lens of motor control and decision-making. His interdisciplinary approach combines neurophysiological recordings, computational modelling, and evolutionary biology to explore how the brain mediates interactions with the world. This type of knowledge makes for an incredibly interesting conversation!
Timestamps:
00:00 The Evolutionary Lens on Neuroscience
06:56 Understanding the Brain as a Control System
13:14 The Historical Context of Nervous System Development
20:30 Key Evolutionary Transitions in Brain Development
31:00 The Role of Reinforcement Learning in Evolution
45:52 Evolutionary Leaps: From Water to Land
54:41 Consciousness and Its Emergence
01:03:47 The Complexity of Brain Function and Evolution
01:24:29 Debunking Myths: Understanding Evolution's Nature
01:26:43 Engineering vs. Evolutionary Solutions
01:28:36 AI Models and Evolutionary Insights
01:35:09 The Grounding Problem in AI
01:42:52 The Role of Motion in AGI
01:54:55 Future of AI: Optimism vs. Pessimism
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Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=b33232eae67b4126
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