A scallop. Each of the blue dots lining the shell is an eye. Source: Wikipedia. Scallops are a family of bivalves. These modest saltwater clams often end up on seafood dinner plates, but did you know that scallops have dozens of image-forming eyes? They focus light onto a multi-layered retina through a telescope-like parabolic mirror. … More The eyes of scallops
VR has become affordable and accessible to consumers. Neuroscience research can benefit from the tight control of visual and auditory stimuli and the immersion that VR can afford. I compiled a list of the opportunities that cheap, commodity VR headsets bring to human neuroscience. What can you do with VR? The graphics in this 2002 … More VR in neuroscience
There’s a lot of excitement at the intersection of neuroscience and AI right now. I had a chance to go to the MAIN2019 conference (Montreal AI and neuroscience), and saw an amazing line-up of people and interesting talks it was. This is a tour of the main ideas that caught my attention at the conference. … More AI and neuroscience – MAIN2019
The climate crisis is a defining challenge of the 21st century. If we keep on the same emissions path, we expect a sea rise of 2 meters, hundreds of millions of climate refugees, a mass extinction of over half of animal species, and decreases agricultural productivity that could leave a billion people starving by 2100. … More What can a neuroscientist do about climate change?
I just finished reading an excellent book on meta-analysis, Introduction to Meta Analysis by Borenstein et al. The book starts with the motivating example of streptokinase, a blood clot buster. Early studies showed conflicting evidence of efficacy of the drug in preventing death following a heart attack. These early studies were small, and the main outcome was often not significantly … More An introduction to meta-analysis
