Decoding brain signals: decision-making, movement planning and neuroprosthetics with Prof. Alexander Gail

In this episode we talk to Prof. Alexander Gail, the head of Sensorimotor Research Group, German Primate Center and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and Professor for Sensorimotor Neuroscience and Neuroprosthetics at the University of Göttingen. The focus of this talk is on understanding the process of decision making and movement planning. You will learn what methods are used for recording neural activity in the brain and how they can be used for the development of neuroprosthetics and help patients. We also talk extensively about the use of non-human primates in neuroscientific research and their welfare.

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:11 Motivation for career and higher education
00:04:32 Research and lifestyle in CalTech
00:06:44 Changes in German academia over the years
00:08:39 Why Göttingen?
00:13:25 Being a young leader in academia, setting up a lab
00:18:16 Why is physics training beneficial in neuroscience?
00:22:06 Overview of research interests: sensory based decision-making, movement planning
00:24:05 Overview of techniques available to study brain function in humans and monkeys
00:30:16 Why are monkeys used in neuroscientific research?
00:34:28 Measuring neuronal activity in the monkeys
00:45:08 Combining experiments in the lab with the field research
00:48:13 Big data and predicting motor action based on brain signal
00:58:03 Can we study long-term planning in animals?
01:05:29 Dynamics of information processing in the networks of neurons in the context of planning actions
01:14:58 Brain computer interface (BCI) and neuroprosthetics
01:25:02 Welfare of animals in research
01:37:05 Moving from academia to industry (academia vs industry)
01:41:02 Problems in academia: reproducibility crisis
01:47:01 Advice for PhD candidates in systems neuroscience

References:
All illustrations were created with BioRender.com unless stated otherwise:
Center outreach task scheme adapted from Pesaran, B., Nelson, M.J. and Andersen, R.A. (2010) ‘A relative position code for saccades in dorsal premotor cortex’, The Journal of Neuroscience, 30(19), pp. 6527–6537. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1625-09.2010.

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay
Following footage downloaded from videvo.net:
Storage of samples in a hospital setting. Ungraded Prores file by MaartenLCF
A scientist adjusting the magnification on a microscope by Videvo
Stock footage provided by Pressmaster
Like and subscribe animation downloaded from SweetPhilMedia

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Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Sabina Nowakowska
Lennart Schneider

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