I started my lab two years ago at the Neuroscience Institute at NYU and what a
Neuroscience Institute at NYU and what a
Neuroscience Institute at NYU and what a fantastic voyage it has been these last
fantastic voyage it has been these last
fantastic voyage it has been these last two years and these are the shining
two years and these are the shining
two years and these are the shining stars who light up our lab and where did
stars who light up our lab and where did
stars who light up our lab and where did this journey begin
this journey begin
this journey begin I grew up in Calcutta India and this is
I grew up in Calcutta India and this is
I grew up in Calcutta India and this is the house I grew up in eight by one by
the house I grew up in eight by one by
the house I grew up in eight by one by one Loudoun Street it’s etched in my
one Loudoun Street it’s etched in my
one Loudoun Street it’s etched in my memory for life and every time I go back
memory for life and every time I go back
memory for life and every time I go back there
there
there these memories come streaming in
these memories come streaming in
these memories come streaming in memories of my father reading his
memories of my father reading his
memories of my father reading his morning paper on the verandah my father
morning paper on the verandah my father
morning paper on the verandah my father who’d once done the first kidney
who’d once done the first kidney
who’d once done the first kidney transplant in Calcutta and now has a
transplant in Calcutta and now has a
transplant in Calcutta and now has a hard time remembering what he ate for
hard time remembering what he ate for
hard time remembering what he ate for breakfast memories of our first kiss on
breakfast memories of our first kiss on
breakfast memories of our first kiss on that verandah and the nurse later our
that verandah and the nurse later our
that verandah and the nurse later our wedding celebrations there and more
wedding celebrations there and more
wedding celebrations there and more recently memories of our son Ari’s rice
recently memories of our son Ari’s rice
recently memories of our son Ari’s rice eating ceremony re
eating ceremony re
eating ceremony re he is almost 2 and it’s fascinating to
he is almost 2 and it’s fascinating to
he is almost 2 and it’s fascinating to see him learn at the speed of light he’s
see him learn at the speed of light he’s
see him learn at the speed of light he’s making all these associations between
making all these associations between
making all these associations between people places objects events you know
people places objects events you know
people places objects events you know he’s forming his episodic memories and
he’s forming his episodic memories and
he’s forming his episodic memories and that’s what I’m interested in as a
that’s what I’m interested in as a
that’s what I’m interested in as a neuroscientist I want to know how these
neuroscientist I want to know how these
neuroscientist I want to know how these episodic memories are formed from our
episodic memories are formed from our
episodic memories are formed from our sensory experiences as we navigate this
sensory experiences as we navigate this
sensory experiences as we navigate this world were exposed to all these sensory
world were exposed to all these sensory
world were exposed to all these sensory stimuli would we see what we hear what
stimuli would we see what we hear what
stimuli would we see what we hear what we smell what we taste what we touch has
we smell what we taste what we touch has
we smell what we taste what we touch has to be combined in time and space into
to be combined in time and space into
to be combined in time and space into one coherent memory and so deep-seated
one coherent memory and so deep-seated
one coherent memory and so deep-seated as this memory it can also almost last
as this memory it can also almost last
as this memory it can also almost last us a lifetime right and these are
us a lifetime right and these are
us a lifetime right and these are coherent memories because
coherent memories because
coherent memories because even the hint of that sensory experience
even the hint of that sensory experience
even the hint of that sensory experience can conjure instantaneous recall and so
can conjure instantaneous recall and so
can conjure instantaneous recall and so powerful is that memory it can help us
powerful is that memory it can help us
powerful is that memory it can help us change our behavior adapt our future
change our behavior adapt our future
change our behavior adapt our future actions based on the situation
so we asked other neuroscientists why
so we asked other neuroscientists why are they in the brain business because
are they in the brain business because
are they in the brain business because I’m interested in my own brain this is
I’m interested in my own brain this is
I’m interested in my own brain this is probably the most exciting thing to know
probably the most exciting thing to know
probably the most exciting thing to know about ourselves
about ourselves
about ourselves fascinating I started out in philosophy
fascinating I started out in philosophy
fascinating I started out in philosophy and psychology and I realized that
and psychology and I realized that
and psychology and I realized that neuroscience really rests at this
neuroscience really rests at this
neuroscience really rests at this interesting juncture potentially
interesting juncture potentially
interesting juncture potentially everything is at least a little bit
everything is at least a little bit
everything is at least a little bit related to neuroscience the lens in
related to neuroscience the lens in
related to neuroscience the lens in which we understand the world like why
which we understand the world like why
which we understand the world like why we feel what we feel like to do what we
we feel what we feel like to do what we
we feel what we feel like to do what we do how memories change current
do how memories change current
do how memories change current experiences and future actions in order
experiences and future actions in order
experiences and future actions in order to find treatments for such diseases
to find treatments for such diseases
to find treatments for such diseases Alzheimer’s
personality brain filters differently
personality brain filters differently the same upcoming input interprets it
the same upcoming input interprets it
the same upcoming input interprets it differently oh we do not cystic organ
differently oh we do not cystic organ
differently oh we do not cystic organ wants to extend insanity I think the
wants to extend insanity I think the
wants to extend insanity I think the stigma that exists against mental health
stigma that exists against mental health
stigma that exists against mental health are there because because they believe
are there because because they believe
are there because because they believe this is what makes us fundamentally the
this is what makes us fundamentally the
this is what makes us fundamentally the neuro system have a subject of natural
neuro system have a subject of natural
neuro system have a subject of natural laws and I would like to understand this
laws and I would like to understand this
laws and I would like to understand this well one day because it’s the most
well one day because it’s the most
well one day because it’s the most important organ the brain is one of the
important organ the brain is one of the
important organ the brain is one of the most complicated things that were made
most complicated things that were made
most complicated things that were made by evolution and bold dreams that’s what
by evolution and bold dreams that’s what
by evolution and bold dreams that’s what we have but you know only 10% of those
we have but you know only 10% of those
we have but you know only 10% of those students and postdocs who dedicate
students and postdocs who dedicate
students and postdocs who dedicate almost more than a decade to studying
almost more than a decade to studying
almost more than a decade to studying neuroscience will make their way into
neuroscience will make their way into
neuroscience will make their way into the faculty level in academia academia
the faculty level in academia academia
the faculty level in academia academia an environment that promotes freedom of
an environment that promotes freedom of
an environment that promotes freedom of thought promotes collaboration it pushes
thought promotes collaboration it pushes
thought promotes collaboration it pushes us to take risks challenge existing
us to take risks challenge existing
us to take risks challenge existing paradigms and passionate as they may be
paradigms and passionate as they may be
paradigms and passionate as they may be not all our dreams will be supported we
not all our dreams will be supported we
not all our dreams will be supported we rely on your taxpayer funding to support
rely on your taxpayer funding to support
rely on your taxpayer funding to support our research and we’d like to solve
our research and we’d like to solve
our research and we’d like to solve problems the diseases of the mind but
problems the diseases of the mind but
problems the diseases of the mind but we’re very far from it it troubles me
we’re very far from it it troubles me
we’re very far from it it troubles me even as a neuroscientist I can’t help
even as a neuroscientist I can’t help
even as a neuroscientist I can’t help alleviate the suffering of my daddy’s
alleviate the suffering of my daddy’s
alleviate the suffering of my daddy’s dementia symptoms I can’t explain to my
dementia symptoms I can’t explain to my
dementia symptoms I can’t explain to my mom who’s given up her dreams who’s his
mom who’s given up her dreams who’s his
mom who’s given up her dreams who’s his primary caregiver
primary caregiver
primary caregiver why is he
why is he
why is he these memory losses a brilliant
these memory losses a brilliant
these memory losses a brilliant professor and physician that we know you
professor and physician that we know you
professor and physician that we know you know if I bring in figures of
know if I bring in figures of
know if I bring in figures of Alzheimer’s disease they’re very grave
Alzheimer’s disease they’re very grave
Alzheimer’s disease they’re very grave and I know Nasreen has a personal
and I know Nasreen has a personal
and I know Nasreen has a personal connection with Alzheimer’s here five
connection with Alzheimer’s here five
connection with Alzheimer’s here five million people in the US suffer from
million people in the US suffer from
million people in the US suffer from Alzheimer’s today now that’s only going
Alzheimer’s today now that’s only going
Alzheimer’s today now that’s only going to increase the 13 million in 2050
to increase the 13 million in 2050
to increase the 13 million in 2050 700,000 people died last year of
700,000 people died last year of
700,000 people died last year of Alzheimer’s and it’s going to cost us
Alzheimer’s and it’s going to cost us
Alzheimer’s and it’s going to cost us more than half a trillion dollars to
more than half a trillion dollars to
more than half a trillion dollars to support the health care of these
support the health care of these
support the health care of these patients so the National Institutes of
patients so the National Institutes of
patients so the National Institutes of Health brought up this goal that by 2025
Health brought up this goal that by 2025
Health brought up this goal that by 2025 maybe we can dream of curing or
maybe we can dream of curing or
maybe we can dream of curing or preventing understanding Alzheimer’s we
preventing understanding Alzheimer’s we
preventing understanding Alzheimer’s we need to raise 300 million dollars for it
what happens in Alzheimer’s neurons die
what happens in Alzheimer’s neurons die we lose our memories neurons are the
we lose our memories neurons are the
we lose our memories neurons are the building blocks of the brain they
building blocks of the brain they
building blocks of the brain they connect with each other to form circles
connect with each other to form circles
connect with each other to form circles [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so he just said wow bother he’s fast
so he just said wow bother he’s fast
so he just said wow bother he’s fast asleep over there at the back and there
asleep over there at the back and there
asleep over there at the back and there are two kinds of neurons primarily in
are two kinds of neurons primarily in
are two kinds of neurons primarily in the brain although they’re actually
the brain although they’re actually
the brain although they’re actually hundreds of kinds with two very
hundreds of kinds with two very
hundreds of kinds with two very important kinds and they talk to each
important kinds and they talk to each
important kinds and they talk to each other through electrical signals and
other through electrical signals and
other through electrical signals and chemical signals so you can think of
chemical signals so you can think of
chemical signals so you can think of neurons that cause excitation as being
neurons that cause excitation as being
neurons that cause excitation as being like the go signal they’ll allow
like the go signal they’ll allow
like the go signal they’ll allow information to propagate forward then
information to propagate forward then
information to propagate forward then you also need a stop signal and these
you also need a stop signal and these
you also need a stop signal and these are the inhibitory neurons and they’ll
are the inhibitory neurons and they’ll
are the inhibitory neurons and they’ll block excitation from falling through an
block excitation from falling through an
block excitation from falling through an excitation and inhibition coexist in
excitation and inhibition coexist in
excitation and inhibition coexist in harmony creating a balance they create
harmony creating a balance they create
harmony creating a balance they create an order in the brain right imagine if
an order in the brain right imagine if
an order in the brain right imagine if you didn’t have any stop signals utter
you didn’t have any stop signals utter
you didn’t have any stop signals utter chaos
chaos
chaos crash crash crash
crash crash crash
crash crash crash crash so we did an experiment in the lab
crash so we did an experiment in the lab
crash so we did an experiment in the lab we imaged brain activity when an
we imaged brain activity when an
we imaged brain activity when an ambition was intact you can see the
ambition was intact you can see the
ambition was intact you can see the order the symmetry the synchrony of the
order the symmetry the synchrony of the
order the symmetry the synchrony of the neurons firing back and forth then we
neurons firing back and forth then we
neurons firing back and forth then we said what happens if we take away
said what happens if we take away
said what happens if we take away inhibition let’s block inhibition with a
inhibition let’s block inhibition with a
inhibition let’s block inhibition with a drug and that’s what starts happening
drug and that’s what starts happening
drug and that’s what starts happening look at the other chaos and can you
look at the other chaos and can you
look at the other chaos and can you imagine that is what happens when a
imagine that is what happens when a
imagine that is what happens when a patient of epilepsy suffers a seizure
patient of epilepsy suffers a seizure
patient of epilepsy suffers a seizure and you can only imagine what happens to
and you can only imagine what happens to
and you can only imagine what happens to the memories that are stored in that
the memories that are stored in that
the memories that are stored in that region of the brain see you know when I
region of the brain see you know when I
region of the brain see you know when I was a kid and I used to go to school I
was a kid and I used to go to school I
was a kid and I used to go to school I say walk to school I was pretty you know
say walk to school I was pretty you know
say walk to school I was pretty you know we lived pretty close to my school and
we lived pretty close to my school and
we lived pretty close to my school and then the mornings I would take this
then the mornings I would take this
then the mornings I would take this particular route I walked down rat
particular route I walked down rat
particular route I walked down rat Loudon Street because there was this
Loudon Street because there was this
Loudon Street because there was this really nice bakery and that the whiff of
really nice bakery and that the whiff of
really nice bakery and that the whiff of baked goods
baked goods
baked goods it was enticing I’d pick up a treat on
it was enticing I’d pick up a treat on
it was enticing I’d pick up a treat on my way burn the way back I would take on
my way burn the way back I would take on
my way burn the way back I would take on slightly longer route to catch a glimpse
slightly longer route to catch a glimpse
slightly longer route to catch a glimpse of the fountains in winter park kick off
of the fountains in winter park kick off
of the fountains in winter park kick off you know this is just an example of how
you know this is just an example of how
you know this is just an example of how my behavior was being shaped by
my behavior was being shaped by
my behavior was being shaped by motivation and sometimes they’d also be
motivation and sometimes they’d also be
motivation and sometimes they’d also be shaped by punishment so we asked how do
shaped by punishment so we asked how do
shaped by punishment so we asked how do we study this right
we study this right
we study this right and how does space-time context merge
and how does space-time context merge
and how does space-time context merge together as one experience and shape our
together as one experience and shape our
together as one experience and shape our memories so there is this area of the
memories so there is this area of the
memories so there is this area of the brain the hippocampus
brain the hippocampus
brain the hippocampus it looks like the seahorse and that’s
it looks like the seahorse and that’s
it looks like the seahorse and that’s why it’s called the hippocampus and
why it’s called the hippocampus and
why it’s called the hippocampus and creak so if you look at it I’ll trace it
creak so if you look at it I’ll trace it
creak so if you look at it I’ll trace it out it looks like this right like a
out it looks like this right like a
out it looks like this right like a seahorse and it receives all these
seahorse and it receives all these
seahorse and it receives all these sensory inputs from the multi sensory
sensory inputs from the multi sensory
sensory inputs from the multi sensory cortex next to it takes that processes
cortex next to it takes that processes
cortex next to it takes that processes it stores it at MIT as memories that’s
it stores it at MIT as memories that’s
it stores it at MIT as memories that’s my rendition of the hippocampus here and
my rendition of the hippocampus here and
my rendition of the hippocampus here and other than the seahorse and enchantix
other than the seahorse and enchantix
other than the seahorse and enchantix sea creature is also the jellyfish that
sea creature is also the jellyfish that
sea creature is also the jellyfish that neuroscience owes a lot to
neuroscience owes a lot to
neuroscience owes a lot to the jellyfish helped us see inside the
the jellyfish helped us see inside the
the jellyfish helped us see inside the brain so we can take fluorescent
brain so we can take fluorescent
brain so we can take fluorescent proteins from the jellyfish I put it in
proteins from the jellyfish I put it in
proteins from the jellyfish I put it in the brains of mammals and then see
the brains of mammals and then see
the brains of mammals and then see neurons light up and we were able to use
neurons light up and we were able to use
neurons light up and we were able to use this to trace the connections between
this to trace the connections between
this to trace the connections between this multi sensory cortex and
this multi sensory cortex and
this multi sensory cortex and hippocampus you can see in green those
hippocampus you can see in green those
hippocampus you can see in green those processes in neurons talking from the
processes in neurons talking from the
processes in neurons talking from the multi sensory cortex to the hippocampus
multi sensory cortex to the hippocampus
multi sensory cortex to the hippocampus you can even put different colors and
you can even put different colors and
you can even put different colors and different neurons and you can record
different neurons and you can record
different neurons and you can record from them talk to them with electrical
from them talk to them with electrical
from them talk to them with electrical recordings and this helped us map a new
recordings and this helped us map a new
recordings and this helped us map a new circuit this was a new circuit which
circuit this was a new circuit which
circuit this was a new circuit which made the multi sensory cortex inhibit
made the multi sensory cortex inhibit
made the multi sensory cortex inhibit the hippocampus and we asked can it
the hippocampus and we asked can it
the hippocampus and we asked can it filter information this way so we
filter information this way so we
filter information this way so we decided to image the activity of those
decided to image the activity of those
decided to image the activity of those inputs from the multi sensory cortex to
inputs from the multi sensory cortex to
inputs from the multi sensory cortex to the hippocampus during rewards remember
the hippocampus during rewards remember
the hippocampus during rewards remember the width of baked goods so here we
the width of baked goods so here we
the width of baked goods so here we imaged when water rewards were given and
imaged when water rewards were given and
imaged when water rewards were given and you can see every time the water is
you can see every time the water is
you can see every time the water is given those neurons light up in red
given those neurons light up in red
given those neurons light up in red you’ll see the neurons pop up do you see
you’ll see the neurons pop up do you see
you’ll see the neurons pop up do you see it
not when race running not when there’s
not when race running not when there’s looking out of turn only when the water
looking out of turn only when the water
looking out of turn only when the water or what comes also happens when so we
or what comes also happens when so we
or what comes also happens when so we asked what happens when we silence the
asked what happens when we silence the
asked what happens when we silence the circuit massive having a really
circuit massive having a really
circuit massive having a really unpleasant experience word sensing
unpleasant experience word sensing
unpleasant experience word sensing danger a fire a fire truck in action
danger a fire a fire truck in action
danger a fire a fire truck in action what would be your response run run as
what would be your response run run as
what would be your response run run as fast as you can but put that fire truck
fast as you can but put that fire truck
fast as you can but put that fire truck in a very different context for example
in a very different context for example
in a very different context for example Ari’s fire truck in the woods
Ari’s fire truck in the woods
Ari’s fire truck in the woods it shouldn’t conjure the same emotions
it shouldn’t conjure the same emotions
it shouldn’t conjure the same emotions right your brain would output two very
right your brain would output two very
right your brain would output two very different outputs for these two images
different outputs for these two images
different outputs for these two images right it’s a picture
right it’s a picture
right it’s a picture Empire State Building I took on my way
Empire State Building I took on my way
Empire State Building I took on my way home and c4 it’s a partial view but you
home and c4 it’s a partial view but you
home and c4 it’s a partial view but you can still see that it’s the Empire State
can still see that it’s the Empire State
can still see that it’s the Empire State Building this is one I took from the
Building this is one I took from the
Building this is one I took from the Washington Square so far away almost
Washington Square so far away almost
Washington Square so far away almost hidden is the Empire State Building
hidden is the Empire State Building
hidden is the Empire State Building these are two different images but your
these are two different images but your
these are two different images but your brain is telling you it’s the same thing
brain is telling you it’s the same thing
brain is telling you it’s the same thing let’s complete the pattern let’s
let’s complete the pattern let’s
let’s complete the pattern let’s generalize it and call it only Empire
generalize it and call it only Empire
generalize it and call it only Empire State Building
State Building
State Building it’s a pattern separation pattern
it’s a pattern separation pattern
it’s a pattern separation pattern completion well so in neuroscience nerd
completion well so in neuroscience nerd
completion well so in neuroscience nerd zones what happens is if you have input
zones what happens is if you have input
zones what happens is if you have input so let’s look at that input pattern
so let’s look at that input pattern
so let’s look at that input pattern that’s not a crossword puzzle that’s the
that’s not a crossword puzzle that’s the
that’s not a crossword puzzle that’s the input pattern for say the Empire State
input pattern for say the Empire State
input pattern for say the Empire State Building and that’s the neuron output so
Building and that’s the neuron output so
Building and that’s the neuron output so neurons have a fire when you see the
neurons have a fire when you see the
neurons have a fire when you see the Empire State Building you see the other
Empire State Building you see the other
Empire State Building you see the other angle from Washington Square and you see
angle from Washington Square and you see
angle from Washington Square and you see the input pattern is different but
the input pattern is different but
the input pattern is different but there’s still some similarity right
there’s still some similarity right
there’s still some similarity right there are two of those neurons are
there are two of those neurons are
there are two of those neurons are exactly the same so the brain will say
exactly the same so the brain will say
exactly the same so the brain will say I’m going to produce the same output now
I’m going to produce the same output now
I’m going to produce the same output now let’s think of fire truck and action
let’s think of fire truck and action
let’s think of fire truck and action producing this output and toy fire truck
producing this output and toy fire truck
producing this output and toy fire truck very different input so it should render
very different input so it should render
very different input so it should render a very
a very
a very an output we silenced that circuit and
an output we silenced that circuit and
an output we silenced that circuit and this context and aversive context and a
this context and aversive context and a
this context and aversive context and a safe context produced the behavior that
safe context produced the behavior that
safe context produced the behavior that would be only for this fear context so
would be only for this fear context so
would be only for this fear context so they over generalized their fear they
they over generalized their fear they
they over generalized their fear they couldn’t discriminate between aversive
couldn’t discriminate between aversive
couldn’t discriminate between aversive or safe environments that’s exactly what
or safe environments that’s exactly what
or safe environments that’s exactly what happens in PTSD a loud pop in New York
happens in PTSD a loud pop in New York
happens in PTSD a loud pop in New York is not the same as a loud bang in Iraq
is not the same as a loud bang in Iraq
is not the same as a loud bang in Iraq but in patients of PTSD it conjures the
but in patients of PTSD it conjures the
but in patients of PTSD it conjures the same emotional response the same
same emotional response the same
same emotional response the same physical and emotional suffering dr.
physical and emotional suffering dr.
physical and emotional suffering dr. Duval in the fantastic void the
Duval in the fantastic void the
Duval in the fantastic void the science-fiction movie said all the sun’s
science-fiction movie said all the sun’s
science-fiction movie said all the sun’s that light the corridors of the universe
that light the corridors of the universe
that light the corridors of the universe shine dim before the blazing of a single
shine dim before the blazing of a single
shine dim before the blazing of a single thought and the next few years in the
thought and the next few years in the
thought and the next few years in the past celeb we are dreaming of imaging
past celeb we are dreaming of imaging
past celeb we are dreaming of imaging activity of the brain to see the blazing
activity of the brain to see the blazing
activity of the brain to see the blazing of a single thought
”
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