April 22, 2012

Project Reason: spreading science and secular values

Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.

Project Reason

April 11, 2012

Interview with Professor Piotr J. Durka About the BCI Appliance Developed at University of Warsaw


At CeBIT 2012 University of Warsaw presented a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) system, called BCI Appliance. The device is a tablet-sized box with just one button, running entirely on Open Source software. Neurogadget.com could ask some questions via email about the BCI Appliance to the leader of the project. Welcome to an exclusive interview with Piotr J. Durka, professor of the University of Warsaw, Department of Physics.

Read the rest of the article at Brain Machine Interfacing

April 3, 2012

Build a better brain?

Artificial brains are on the rise, powered by huge investment, exponential growth in computer power, and new insights in everything from statistics to biochemistry.

In Seattle, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen pledged US$300-million last week for a series of “brain observatories” that will model the visual parts of mice brains, and allow researchers to “capture fundamental aspects of higher brain function: from perception to conscious awareness, decision-making and action.”

In Toronto, a team at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute is about to release a working model of its Virtual Brain, which aims to recreate the structure and function of grey matter, including its “plasticity,” or the capacity to reorganize after damage.

Read the rest of article here by the National Post