Thoughtforms Life

This is a ~45 min discussion with Benjamin Lyons (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-lyons-ab46717a) and David Bloomin (https://daveey.github.io/) on topics at the intersection of economics, basal cognition, and deep learning. CONNECT WITH ME: Podcast Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Twitter Blog The Levin Lab

This is the second of our series of discussions with key figures in the field of Bioelectricity. Ken Robinson has a long list of accomplishments in this field, covering the role of electric fields in guiding cell migration and more generally the function of electrogenic epithelia in embryogenesis. This is about a ~1 hour conversation in which he talks about his background, the history of the field, and his time in Lionel Jaffe's lab. The papers we talked about: http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/rep... CONNECT WITH ME: Podcast Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Twitter Blog The Levin Lab

Donald Hoffman, a cognitive scientist known for his groundbreaking work on consciousness, and Richard Watson, a futurist exploring theoretical views on reality, dive into the complexities of perception and time. They discuss the distinction between living and nonliving as a construct of perception, challenge the idea of scientific theories leading to ultimate truth, and examine how concepts of time may be illusory. Their thought-provoking conversation touches on how projections shape our understanding of causation and the potential for theories beyond space-time.

Joscha Bach, a cognitive scientist and AI researcher, joins Chris Fields, a researcher blending physics with cognition, for a fascinating discussion. They explore how error-correcting codes underpin cognition and life. The dialogue spans consciousness as a coherence maximizer and the role of memory in sense-making. They dive into the intersection of quantum theory and free energy principles, probing how organisms interpret and utilize past experiences. Their insights challenge traditional views on intelligence and propose innovative frameworks for understanding minds and perception.

In this engaging discussion, Alexander Ororbia, a computational neuroscientist, teams up with theoretical neuroscientist Karl Friston and researcher Chris Fields to explore the groundbreaking concept of Mortal Computations. They tackle how morphology influences computation and the challenges of programmability in biological systems. With fascinating examples like two-headed planaria, they delve into the uniqueness of biological systems versus machine replicability. The trio also addresses the intricacies of memory storage, inferential dynamics, and the implications of design within Markov blankets.

This is a meeting discussion, ~40 minutes, between Tom Froese (Cognitive Scientist at OIST, https://groups.oist.jp/ecsu/tom-froese) and Michael Levin, going over Tom's recent paper on Irruption theory and discussing embodied minds, agency, and models of mind-body interaction. The paper is here: https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/26/4/288 CONNECT WITH ME: Podcast Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Twitter Blog The Levin Lab

In this engaging discussion, Michael Pollan—an acclaimed author and journalist known for his work on food and consciousness—joins Michael Levin to delve into captivating ideas about memory and self. They explore the nature of engrams and the storage of information, questioning what defines the self through metamorphosis. The duo discusses how social context and psychedelics can reshape our self-models and target deeper therapeutic change. Pollan and Levin also ponder the implications of synthetic minds and the ethical considerations of creating artificial selves.

This is an ~1 hour talk by Michael Levin on the topic of engineering with agential (living) materials, given for the students and other members of the ETHZ Zurich Soft Robotics Lab led by Prof. Robert Katzschmann). CHAPTERS:(00:00) Introduction: Biorobotics & Materials(02:20) The Anatomical Compiler(04:15) Agential Materials & Competency(07:00) Biological Plasticity Examples(11:50) Navigating Anatomical Space(15:00) Beyond Molecular Medicine(17:40) Intelligence in Development(21:00) Newt Tubule Plasticity(24:00) Picasso Tadpole Experiment(27:00) Pattern Homeostasis & Setpoints(29:40) Bioelectricity as Interface(32:00) Reading Electrical Patterns(34:00) Manipulating Bioelectric Info(35:40) Bioelectric Organ Triggers(38:30) Frog Leg Regeneration(40:00) Planarian Pattern Memory(43:30) Properties of Memory(45:00) Modeling Anatomical Decisions(46:30) Head Shape Plasticity(49:00) Hacking Plant Morphogenesis(50:30) Full Stack Modeling(51:30) Cancer & Cognitive Cone(54:00) Synthetic Xenobots(57:30) Human Anthrobots(59:30) Future of Life Forms(01:03:00) Summary & Acknowledgements CONNECT WITH ME: Podcast Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Twitter Blog The Levin Lab

Explore the fascinating intersections of biology and AI, as traditional categories of species and minds are challenged. Discover how collective intelligence shapes human identity and informs our understanding of memory and development. From the unique regenerative capabilities of planaria to the creative problem-solving of evolving systems, the talk unveils a world of diverse intelligences. Plus, insights into ethical relationships with non-human minds and the potential of bioelectric patterns in medicine spark new conversations. Engage with the idea of intelligence beyond appearances!

This is the second of several interviews we will do with significant contributors to the field of developmental bioelectricity. Min Zhao's work focused on the role of ion currents and applied electric fields in cell migration and wound repair. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=G7-zWBcAAAAJ&hl=en https://health.ucdavis.edu/dermatology/faculty/zhao.html Aastha Jain: https://www.livelongerworld.com/ CONNECT WITH ME: Podcast Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Twitter Blog The Levin Lab