Science on Screen®
THEATER OF THOUGHT
Wednesday, April 9th at 7:30 PM
with post film discussion and Q&A with Dr. Alexei Koulakov, Professor of Neuroscience at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Join us for an
entertaining and illuminating evening exploring neuroscience and the human
brain, featuring a conversation with Dr.
Alexei Koulakov, Professor of
Neuroscience at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and a screening of Werner Herzog’s fascinating 2022 documentary Theater of Thought.
In a world where
technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, Theater of Thought explores
the cutting-edge frontier of neuroscience and neurotechnology. Directed by
Werner Herzog, this documentary dives into the complexities of the human brain
and the emerging possibilities of brain-computer interfaces. Through interviews
with scientists, innovators, and philosophers, the film examines the ethical
and philosophical implications of mind manipulation. As neurotechnology
evolves, it raises crucial questions: What does it mean to be human when our
thoughts can be accessed by machines? And how far should we push the boundaries
of mind control? (2022, 108 mins)
Alexei Koulakov and colleagues are trying to
determine the mathematical rules by which the brain assembles itself, with
particular focus on the formation of sensory circuits such as those involved in
visual perception and olfaction. The visual system of the mouse was chosen for
study in part because its components, in neuroanatomical terms, are well
understood. What is not known is how projections are generated that lead from
the eye through the thalamus and into the visual cortex, how an individual’s
experience influences the configuration of the network, and what parameters for
the process are set by genetic factors. Even less is known about the assembly
of the neural net within the mouse olfactory system, which, in the end, enables
the individual to distinguish one smell from another with astonishing
specificity and to remember such distinctions over time. These are among the
challenges that engage Koulakov and his team.
