this is my little boy Louie he’s six weeks old this is very first tedxtalk
weeks old this is very first tedxtalk
weeks old this is very first tedxtalk and i’m wondering i think like whole
and i’m wondering i think like whole
and i’m wondering i think like whole parents what is he thinking what is he
parents what is he thinking what is he
parents what is he thinking what is he feeling maybe a little bit more because
feeling maybe a little bit more because
feeling maybe a little bit more because I’m a neurologist and a consciousness
I’m a neurologist and a consciousness
I’m a neurologist and a consciousness researcher and that question really
researcher and that question really
researcher and that question really fascinates me what can we say about
fascinates me what can we say about
fascinates me what can we say about little Louie’s consciousness it’s
little Louie’s consciousness it’s
little Louie’s consciousness it’s actually a very difficult question that
actually a very difficult question that
actually a very difficult question that historically was the field of religion
historically was the field of religion
historically was the field of religion and philosophy so we would look back at
and philosophy so we would look back at
and philosophy so we would look back at the old Christian scholars they would
the old Christian scholars they would
the old Christian scholars they would consider that consciousness would
consider that consciousness would
consider that consciousness would suddenly appear right at the moment of
suddenly appear right at the moment of
suddenly appear right at the moment of conception as you can see here and his
conception as you can see here and his
conception as you can see here and his wonderful painting the moment the spirit
wonderful painting the moment the spirit
wonderful painting the moment the spirit the soul enters the human body another
the soul enters the human body another
the soul enters the human body another quite popular view actually all the way
quite popular view actually all the way
quite popular view actually all the way up to the Middle Ages was the ancient
up to the Middle Ages was the ancient
up to the Middle Ages was the ancient Greek philosophers view Aristotle who
Greek philosophers view Aristotle who
Greek philosophers view Aristotle who proposed that after conception the
proposed that after conception the
proposed that after conception the menstrual blood somehow organized itself
menstrual blood somehow organized itself
menstrual blood somehow organized itself into a human being and that would be
into a human being and that would be
into a human being and that would be conscious exactly 45 days after
conscious exactly 45 days after
conscious exactly 45 days after conception that is 45 days for boys for
conception that is 45 days for boys for
conception that is 45 days for boys for girls for some obscure reason he thought
girls for some obscure reason he thought
girls for some obscure reason he thought it would take much longer actually twice
it would take much longer actually twice
it would take much longer actually twice as long so that would be 90 days as a
as long so that would be 90 days as a
as long so that would be 90 days as a scientist I propose we now leave
scientist I propose we now leave
scientist I propose we now leave religion philosophy aside and try to
religion philosophy aside and try to
religion philosophy aside and try to confront our thoughts with actual
confront our thoughts with actual
confront our thoughts with actual observations so here we leave the Dark
observations so here we leave the Dark
observations so here we leave the Dark Ages coming to the Enlightenment
Ages coming to the Enlightenment
Ages coming to the Enlightenment Leonardo da Vinci was the first to
Leonardo da Vinci was the first to
Leonardo da Vinci was the first to actually make up servation these
actually make up servation these
actually make up servation these wonderful drawings of the human fetus
wonderful drawings of the human fetus
wonderful drawings of the human fetus you can see here in the uterus but still
you can see here in the uterus but still
you can see here in the uterus but still it was very limited to say meaningful
it was very limited to say meaningful
it was very limited to say meaningful thing
thing
thing about anything going on in defeatist
about anything going on in defeatist
about anything going on in defeatist mind and even now with all these
mind and even now with all these
mind and even now with all these wonderful technologies ultrasound
wonderful technologies ultrasound
wonderful technologies ultrasound permits us to see how the baby grows
permits us to see how the baby grows
permits us to see how the baby grows inside the womb but still what can we
inside the womb but still what can we
inside the womb but still what can we say about the mind well we’re fortunate
say about the mind well we’re fortunate
say about the mind well we’re fortunate at the University of liège to be part
at the University of liège to be part
at the University of liège to be part of this European Network were with
of this European Network were with
of this European Network were with colleagues at the University of Tubingen
colleagues at the University of Tubingen
colleagues at the University of Tubingen they have a wonderful machine and you
they have a wonderful machine and you
they have a wonderful machine and you see my wife and essa and it’s quite
see my wife and essa and it’s quite
see my wife and essa and it’s quite strange possesses position where her
strange possesses position where her
strange possesses position where her belly is inside this detector of
belly is inside this detector of
belly is inside this detector of magnetic waves because when a new fetus
magnetic waves because when a new fetus
magnetic waves because when a new fetus has a change in electrical brain
has a change in electrical brain
has a change in electrical brain activity this creates very small changes
activity this creates very small changes
activity this creates very small changes in magnetic fields him they can actually
in magnetic fields him they can actually
in magnetic fields him they can actually capture that and then see how the brain
capture that and then see how the brain
capture that and then see how the brain reacts to sounds and the results are
reacts to sounds and the results are
reacts to sounds and the results are here Louie’s brain showed clear
here Louie’s brain showed clear
here Louie’s brain showed clear reactions to different sounds actually
reactions to different sounds actually
reactions to different sounds actually he could pick up when it was a new sound
he could pick up when it was a new sound
he could pick up when it was a new sound you see here this red arrow showing the
you see here this red arrow showing the
you see here this red arrow showing the wave of brain activity that was observed
wave of brain activity that was observed
wave of brain activity that was observed when he said eh this is new he might
when he said eh this is new he might
when he said eh this is new he might even be the first human fetus to show
even be the first human fetus to show
even be the first human fetus to show that there could be some working memory
that there could be some working memory
that there could be some working memory going on already during pregnancy and
going on already during pregnancy and
going on already during pregnancy and this was done in the third term so I
this was done in the third term so I
this was done in the third term so I think this is wonderful and really also
think this is wonderful and really also
think this is wonderful and really also has major ethical and clinical
has major ethical and clinical
has major ethical and clinical consequences because when we see here
consequences because when we see here
consequences because when we see here the first picture of little Louie and
the first picture of little Louie and
the first picture of little Louie and there’s no sound and you can imagine he
there’s no sound and you can imagine he
there’s no sound and you can imagine he was crying and I remember when the nurse
was crying and I remember when the nurse
was crying and I remember when the nurse was taking a little blood sample and he
was taking a little blood sample and he
was taking a little blood sample and he cried and she said well you know don’t
cried and she said well you know don’t
cried and she said well you know don’t cry I know it doesn’t hurt you I was
cry I know it doesn’t hurt you I was
cry I know it doesn’t hurt you I was thinking well do you what can we say
thinking well do you what can we say
thinking well do you what can we say about pain perception in newborns well
about pain perception in newborns well
about pain perception in newborns well historically not so
historically not so
historically not so when I was at university and of the
when I was at university and of the
when I was at university and of the atheist in textbooks it was written
atheist in textbooks it was written
atheist in textbooks it was written babies newborns are unconscious they’re
babies newborns are unconscious they’re
babies newborns are unconscious they’re just a bunch of reflexes they can’t feel
just a bunch of reflexes they can’t feel
just a bunch of reflexes they can’t feel pain so even surgery was performed
pain so even surgery was performed
pain so even surgery was performed without giving painkillers that luckily
without giving painkillers that luckily
without giving painkillers that luckily has changed and now scientific studies
has changed and now scientific studies
has changed and now scientific studies have clearly shown that babies newborns
have clearly shown that babies newborns
have clearly shown that babies newborns can have emotions can have pain and so
can have emotions can have pain and so
can have emotions can have pain and so we treat them as should be but still
we treat them as should be but still
we treat them as should be but still many questions remain I mean look at
many questions remain I mean look at
many questions remain I mean look at these wonderful eyes maybe a bit
these wonderful eyes maybe a bit
these wonderful eyes maybe a bit subjective here but to me it’s really a
subjective here but to me it’s really a
subjective here but to me it’s really a challenge to know what’s going on behind
challenge to know what’s going on behind
challenge to know what’s going on behind in that beautiful brain that beautiful
in that beautiful brain that beautiful
in that beautiful brain that beautiful mind and again scientific studies now
mind and again scientific studies now
mind and again scientific studies now offer us a glimpse of what it might be
offer us a glimpse of what it might be
offer us a glimpse of what it might be to see as a newborn
to see as a newborn
to see as a newborn this is an app you can actually download
this is an app you can actually download
this is an app you can actually download for free and you see here what little
for free and you see here what little
for free and you see here what little Louie might have seen just after birth I
Louie might have seen just after birth I
Louie might have seen just after birth I don’t know if you can guess what son
don’t know if you can guess what son
don’t know if you can guess what son here let me help you a bit and you see
here let me help you a bit and you see
here let me help you a bit and you see that vision of course in the brain of a
that vision of course in the brain of a
that vision of course in the brain of a newborn that’s an immature brain it’s
newborn that’s an immature brain it’s
newborn that’s an immature brain it’s learning progressively to make sense of
learning progressively to make sense of
learning progressively to make sense of the world initially will be very blurry
the world initially will be very blurry
the world initially will be very blurry and then progressively emerges this
and then progressively emerges this
and then progressively emerges this perception adding color and all the
perception adding color and all the
perception adding color and all the richness of our wonderful visual worlds
richness of our wonderful visual worlds
richness of our wonderful visual worlds now again thanks to a European network
now again thanks to a European network
now again thanks to a European network called the human brain project where
called the human brain project where
called the human brain project where it’s all about understanding
it’s all about understanding
it’s all about understanding consciousness and actually trying to
consciousness and actually trying to
consciousness and actually trying to model consciousness and computers now
model consciousness and computers now
model consciousness and computers now the brain is in the computer the mind
the brain is in the computer the mind
the brain is in the computer the mind isn’t just the software program but I
isn’t just the software program but I
isn’t just the software program but I think it’s wonderful with all the
think it’s wonderful with all the
think it’s wonderful with all the different colleagues throughout Europe
different colleagues throughout Europe
different colleagues throughout Europe to try and understand the emergence of
to try and understand the emergence of
to try and understand the emergence of the mind and how of course at my
the mind and how of course at my
the mind and how of course at my university in yesh we mainly study
university in yesh we mainly study
university in yesh we mainly study adults but again thanks to
adults but again thanks to
adults but again thanks to collaboration with our friends in Israel
collaboration with our friends in Israel
collaboration with our friends in Israel we have now tools to monitor what’s
we have now tools to monitor what’s
we have now tools to monitor what’s going on you see these two electrodes on
going on you see these two electrodes on
going on you see these two electrodes on littlewey who again was a guinea pig and
littlewey who again was a guinea pig and
littlewey who again was a guinea pig and we can see how that little brain changes
we can see how that little brain changes
we can see how that little brain changes depending how it interacts with the
depending how it interacts with the
depending how it interacts with the environment you see the colors you see
environment you see the colors you see
environment you see the colors you see time evolving every minute in the
time evolving every minute in the
time evolving every minute in the beginning was like cool all blue colors
beginning was like cool all blue colors
beginning was like cool all blue colors low activity then something happens you
low activity then something happens you
low activity then something happens you see the upper row is what we think his
see the upper row is what we think his
see the upper row is what we think his stress level becomes all red very active
stress level becomes all red very active
stress level becomes all red very active then you see is being breastfed and
then you see is being breastfed and
then you see is being breastfed and enjoying things and we can try to read
enjoying things and we can try to read
enjoying things and we can try to read that out in these brain electrical
that out in these brain electrical
that out in these brain electrical recordings and you can actually see this
recordings and you can actually see this
recordings and you can actually see this on your smartphone so that the image
on your smartphone so that the image
on your smartphone so that the image there is just a screen capture of my
there is just a screen capture of my
there is just a screen capture of my smartphone permitting to try and bridge
smartphone permitting to try and bridge
smartphone permitting to try and bridge into his wonderful mind and wonderful it
into his wonderful mind and wonderful it
into his wonderful mind and wonderful it truly is because you should know that
truly is because you should know that
truly is because you should know that right now he has a number of brain cells
right now he has a number of brain cells
right now he has a number of brain cells neurons similar to yours and mine
neurons similar to yours and mine
neurons similar to yours and mine billions of them but it’s really
billions of them but it’s really
billions of them but it’s really intriguing is that he’s making a lot of
intriguing is that he’s making a lot of
intriguing is that he’s making a lot of new connections these cells are bridging
new connections these cells are bridging
new connections these cells are bridging to other cells really very very fast we
to other cells really very very fast we
to other cells really very very fast we think it’s about 4,000 new connections
think it’s about 4,000 new connections
think it’s about 4,000 new connections each and every second at his age and
each and every second at his age and
each and every second at his age and this is just the beginning because he
this is just the beginning because he
this is just the beginning because he will continue up to a million nearly a
will continue up to a million nearly a
will continue up to a million nearly a million new brain connections every
million new brain connections every
million new brain connections every second and that I think is just
second and that I think is just
second and that I think is just wonderful and a challenge for us to
wonderful and a challenge for us to
wonderful and a challenge for us to understand the developing human mind
understand the developing human mind
understand the developing human mind where maybe the historical error was to
where maybe the historical error was to
where maybe the historical error was to consider consciousness as all or nothing
consider consciousness as all or nothing
consider consciousness as all or nothing it doesn’t suddenly start it’s not black
it doesn’t suddenly start it’s not black
it doesn’t suddenly start it’s not black or white but rather 50 shades of grey it
or white but rather 50 shades of grey it
or white but rather 50 shades of grey it progressively emerges and then again we
progressively emerges and then again we
progressively emerges and then again we can’t reduce the complexity of
can’t reduce the complexity of
can’t reduce the complexity of consciousness to just one dimension one
consciousness to just one dimension one
consciousness to just one dimension one thing
thing
thing it has many many aspects maybe we could
it has many many aspects maybe we could
it has many many aspects maybe we could compare it to a growing diamond
compare it to a growing diamond
compare it to a growing diamond with more and more aspects to it that
with more and more aspects to it that
with more and more aspects to it that reflect all the colors of the rainbow
reflect all the colors of the rainbow
reflect all the colors of the rainbow and the challenge for a scientist is to
and the challenge for a scientist is to
and the challenge for a scientist is to truly understand and explain the wonder
truly understand and explain the wonder
truly understand and explain the wonder of it all thank
of it all thank
of it all thank [Applause]
”
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