{"id":2620,"date":"2021-01-27T20:34:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T20:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/?p=1335822"},"modified":"2021-01-27T20:34:00","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T20:34:00","slug":"new-mit-brain-research-shows-how-ai-could-help-us-understand-consciousness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=2620","title":{"rendered":"New MIT brain research shows how AI could help us understand consciousness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A team of researchers from MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital recently published a study linking social awareness to individual neuronal activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time evidence for the \u2018theory of mind<\/a>\u2018 has been identified at this scale.<\/p>\n

Measuring large groups of neurons is the bread-and-butter of neurology. Even a simple MRI can highlight specific <\/span>regions<\/i> of the brain and give scientists an indication of what they\u2019re used for and, in many cases, what kind of thoughts are happening. But figuring out what\u2019s going on at the single-neuron level is an entirely different feat. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the paper<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here, using recordings from single cells in the human dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, we identify neurons that reliably encode information about others\u2019 beliefs across richly varying scenarios and that distinguish self- from other-belief-related representations \u2026 these findings reveal a detailed cellular process in the human dorsomedial prefrontal cortex for representing another\u2019s beliefs and identify candidate neurons that could support theory of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In other words: the researchers believe they\u2019ve observed individual brain neurons forming the patterns that cause us to consider what other people might be feeling and thinking. They\u2019re identifying empathy in action. <\/span><\/p>\n

This could have a huge impact on brain research, especially in the area of mental illness and social anxiety disorders or in the development of individualized treatments for people with autism spectrum disorder. <\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps the most interesting thing about it, however, is what we could potentially learn about consciousness from the team\u2019s work.<\/span><\/p>\n

[Read: <\/span>How this company leveraged AI to become the Netflix of Finland<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n

The researchers asked 15 patients who were slated to undergo a specific kind of brain surgery (not related to the study) to answer a few questions and undergo an simple behavioral test. Per a press release<\/a> from Massachusetts General Hospital:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Micro-electrodes inserted in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex recorded the behavior of individual neurons as patients listened to short narratives and answered questions about them. For example, participants were presented with this scenario to evaluate how they considered another\u2019s beliefs of reality: \u201cYou and Tom see a jar on the table. After Tom leaves, you move the jar to a cabinet. Where does Tom believe the jar to be?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The participants had to make inferences about another\u2019s beliefs after hearing each story. The experiment did not change the planned surgical approach or alter clinical care.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The experiment basically took a grand concept (brain activity) and dialed it in as much as possible. By adding this layer of knowledge to our collective understanding of how individual neurons communicate and work together to emerge what\u2019s ultimately a <\/span>theory of other minds<\/i> within our own consciousness, it may become possible to identify and quantify other neuronal systems in action using similar experimental techniques. <\/span><\/p>\n

It would, of course, be impossible for human scientists to come up with ways to stimulate, observe, and label 100 billion neurons \u2013 if for no other reason than the fact it would take thousands of years just to count them much less watch them respond to provocation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, we\u2019ve entered the artificial intelligence age and if there\u2019s one thing AI is good at it\u2019s doing really monotonous things, such as labeling 80 billion individual neurons, really quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not much of a stretch to imagine the Massachusetts team\u2019s methodology being automated. While it appears the current iteration requires the use of invasive sensors \u2013 hence the use of volunteers who were already slated to undergo brain surgery \u2013 it\u2019s certainly within the realm of possibility that such fine readings could be achieved with an external device one day. <\/span><\/p>\n

The ultimate goal of such a system would be to identify and map every neuron in the human brain as it operates in real time. It\u2019d be like seeing a hedge maze from a hot air balloon after an eternity lost in its twists. <\/span><\/p>\n

This would give us a god\u2019s eye view of consciousness in action and, potentially, allow us to replicate it more accurately in machines. <\/span><\/p>\n

Published January 27, 2021 \u2014 20:34 UTC <\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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