so let’s talk about flexible thinking flexible thing is a term people often
flexible thing is a term people often
flexible thing is a term people often use to refer to a child’s ability to
use to refer to a child’s ability to
use to refer to a child’s ability to think about things in a different way
think about things in a different way
think about things in a different way and it’s essential for true learning
and it’s essential for true learning
and it’s essential for true learning right being able to learn something in
right being able to learn something in
right being able to learn something in one context and then apply it another
one context and then apply it another
one context and then apply it another but flexible thinking becomes
but flexible thinking becomes
but flexible thinking becomes increasingly difficult as we gain
increasingly difficult as we gain
increasingly difficult as we gain expertise as we become experts it’s
expertise as we become experts it’s
expertise as we become experts it’s really hard to break our focus and
really hard to break our focus and
really hard to break our focus and challenge the conventional views in our
challenge the conventional views in our
challenge the conventional views in our work this is true in all disciplines but
work this is true in all disciplines but
work this is true in all disciplines but you should know that I am a
you should know that I am a
you should know that I am a neuroscientist so by definition my job
neuroscientist so by definition my job
neuroscientist so by definition my job is to study the function and dysfunction
is to study the function and dysfunction
is to study the function and dysfunction of the nervous system and I do all of
of the nervous system and I do all of
of the nervous system and I do all of this in mouse models of neurological
this in mouse models of neurological
this in mouse models of neurological disease so I’m really coming at this
disease so I’m really coming at this
disease so I’m really coming at this from a scientific view and in theory
from a scientific view and in theory
from a scientific view and in theory science should be the pinnacle of all
science should be the pinnacle of all
science should be the pinnacle of all flexible thinking it’s our entire job as
flexible thinking it’s our entire job as
flexible thinking it’s our entire job as scientists to gather and integrate
scientists to gather and integrate
scientists to gather and integrate information in order to innovate but I
information in order to innovate but I
information in order to innovate but I myself have had a long history of
myself have had a long history of
myself have had a long history of conventional thinking however I’ve also
conventional thinking however I’ve also
conventional thinking however I’ve also had the experience of being a flexible
had the experience of being a flexible
had the experience of being a flexible thinker and I found this much much more
thinker and I found this much much more
thinker and I found this much much more rewarding see for the past three years I
rewarding see for the past three years I
rewarding see for the past three years I studied a childhood neuromuscular
studied a childhood neuromuscular
studied a childhood neuromuscular disorder called spinal muscular atrophy
disorder called spinal muscular atrophy
disorder called spinal muscular atrophy and in that disease a special type of
and in that disease a special type of
and in that disease a special type of neuron in the spinal cord called a motor
neuron in the spinal cord called a motor
neuron in the spinal cord called a motor neuron it dies and the job of the motor
neuron it dies and the job of the motor
neuron it dies and the job of the motor neuron is to send signals out from the
neuron is to send signals out from the
neuron is to send signals out from the spinal cord to our muscles ultimately
spinal cord to our muscles ultimately
spinal cord to our muscles ultimately allowing us to move and so pretty
allowing us to move and so pretty
allowing us to move and so pretty clearly when that neuron dies those
clearly when that neuron dies those
clearly when that neuron dies those signals are no longer being sent and
signals are no longer being sent and
signals are no longer being sent and that leads to muscle weakness paralysis
that leads to muscle weakness paralysis
that leads to muscle weakness paralysis and even death in the most severe and
and even death in the most severe and
and even death in the most severe and youngest patients and this motor neuron
youngest patients and this motor neuron
youngest patients and this motor neuron to muscle circuit it’s very delicate
to muscle circuit it’s very delicate
to muscle circuit it’s very delicate very complex but understanding it is
very complex but understanding it is
very complex but understanding it is really essential for understanding
really essential for understanding
really essential for understanding what’s happening in neuromuscular
what’s happening in neuromuscular
what’s happening in neuromuscular diseases
diseases
diseases and as scientists we’re really good at
and as scientists we’re really good at
and as scientists we’re really good at looking at this circuit in parts and
looking at this circuit in parts and
looking at this circuit in parts and pieces or even really good at taking
pieces or even really good at taking
pieces or even really good at taking snapshots of it over time and dead
snapshots of it over time and dead
snapshots of it over time and dead tissue but we struggle mainly due to
tissue but we struggle mainly due to
tissue but we struggle mainly due to technical difficulties on being able to
technical difficulties on being able to
technical difficulties on being able to work with this circuit while it’s fully
work with this circuit while it’s fully
work with this circuit while it’s fully intact and alive and therein lies my
intact and alive and therein lies my
intact and alive and therein lies my problem I want to work with this circuit
problem I want to work with this circuit
problem I want to work with this circuit while it’s intact and alive but this
while it’s intact and alive but this
while it’s intact and alive but this circuit is very small it can’t be seen
circuit is very small it can’t be seen
circuit is very small it can’t be seen without a microscope and the average
without a microscope and the average
without a microscope and the average neuroscientist like myself is not going
neuroscientist like myself is not going
neuroscientist like myself is not going to be able to dissect it out keep the
to be able to dissect it out keep the
to be able to dissect it out keep the whole thing together and then also keep
whole thing together and then also keep
whole thing together and then also keep it fully functioning so I couldn’t alter
it fully functioning so I couldn’t alter
it fully functioning so I couldn’t alter the system that I had so I decided I
the system that I had so I decided I
the system that I had so I decided I needed a new system now when you think
needed a new system now when you think
needed a new system now when you think of neuroscience you probably think of
of neuroscience you probably think of
of neuroscience you probably think of the brain and maybe even the spinal cord
the brain and maybe even the spinal cord
the brain and maybe even the spinal cord but there’s nerves and neurons
but there’s nerves and neurons
but there’s nerves and neurons throughout your entire body and
throughout your entire body and
throughout your entire body and conventional thinking in neuroscience
conventional thinking in neuroscience
conventional thinking in neuroscience would say if you want to study the brain
would say if you want to study the brain
would say if you want to study the brain use the brain if you want to study
use the brain if you want to study
use the brain if you want to study spinal cord wear motor neurons you
spinal cord wear motor neurons you
spinal cord wear motor neurons you should probably use spinal cord motor
should probably use spinal cord motor
should probably use spinal cord motor neurons but this time I had to go
neurons but this time I had to go
neurons but this time I had to go outside of Convention and this time I
outside of Convention and this time I
outside of Convention and this time I use the enteric nervous system this
use the enteric nervous system this
use the enteric nervous system this beast of a nervous system in your gut to
beast of a nervous system in your gut to
beast of a nervous system in your gut to study what was happening with the spinal
study what was happening with the spinal
study what was happening with the spinal cord so what you need to know about the
cord so what you need to know about the
cord so what you need to know about the enteric nervous system is that it has a
enteric nervous system is that it has a
enteric nervous system is that it has a shit-ton of neurons a shit-ton nearly as
shit-ton of neurons a shit-ton nearly as
shit-ton of neurons a shit-ton nearly as many as your spinal cord and there
many as your spinal cord and there
many as your spinal cord and there fortunately for me most of them are
fortunately for me most of them are
fortunately for me most of them are motor neurons which is exactly what I’m
motor neurons which is exactly what I’m
motor neurons which is exactly what I’m looking for and they’re arranged in
looking for and they’re arranged in
looking for and they’re arranged in these beautiful structures called
these beautiful structures called
these beautiful structures called ganglion aided nerve plexuses they look
ganglion aided nerve plexuses they look
ganglion aided nerve plexuses they look like a fishing net and then that is cast
like a fishing net and then that is cast
like a fishing net and then that is cast out and sandwiched in between two muscle
out and sandwiched in between two muscle
out and sandwiched in between two muscle layers and just like our spinal cord
layers and just like our spinal cord
layers and just like our spinal cord motor neurons talk to our skeletal
motor neurons talk to our skeletal
motor neurons talk to our skeletal muscles the motor neurons in the gut
muscles the motor neurons in the gut
muscles the motor neurons in the gut talk to the gut muscles and they tell
talk to the gut muscles and they tell
talk to the gut muscles and they tell them to contract and relax and they
them to contract and relax and they
them to contract and relax and they ultimately say digestion and so if you
ultimately say digestion and so if you
ultimately say digestion and so if you think about it this is perfect for me
think about it this is perfect for me
think about it this is perfect for me I have the two elements I need motor
I have the two elements I need motor
I have the two elements I need motor neurons connected to muscle but it gets
neurons connected to muscle but it gets
neurons connected to muscle but it gets even better because what I haven’t told
even better because what I haven’t told
even better because what I haven’t told you is that the enteric nervous system
you is that the enteric nervous system
you is that the enteric nervous system can function largely without any input
can function largely without any input
can function largely without any input from your brain that’s right you can
from your brain that’s right you can
from your brain that’s right you can take the gut out of a mouse all the way
take the gut out of a mouse all the way
take the gut out of a mouse all the way from the esophagus to the rectum which
from the esophagus to the rectum which
from the esophagus to the rectum which is what you’re looking at here put it in
is what you’re looking at here put it in
is what you’re looking at here put it in a dish
a dish
a dish watch it wiggle around and keep it alive
watch it wiggle around and keep it alive
watch it wiggle around and keep it alive for hours and if you think about it this
for hours and if you think about it this
for hours and if you think about it this is perfect for me this is a solution to
is perfect for me this is a solution to
is perfect for me this is a solution to my problem I have motor neurons that are
my problem I have motor neurons that are
my problem I have motor neurons that are attached to muscle still and it’s alive
attached to muscle still and it’s alive
attached to muscle still and it’s alive and functioning outside the body and
and functioning outside the body and
and functioning outside the body and this is a system I can test on and this
this is a system I can test on and this
this is a system I can test on and this is a system I can work in but I gained
is a system I can work in but I gained
is a system I can work in but I gained something else from this project and it
something else from this project and it
something else from this project and it besides just creating this model to
besides just creating this model to
besides just creating this model to study the disease getting raw data from
study the disease getting raw data from
study the disease getting raw data from this model and a really cool wiggly gut
this model and a really cool wiggly gut
this model and a really cool wiggly gut video which is really cool and but that
video which is really cool and but that
video which is really cool and but that was an appreciation for flexible
was an appreciation for flexible
was an appreciation for flexible thinking so I had a problem and only
thinking so I had a problem and only
thinking so I had a problem and only flexible thinking really led me to a
flexible thinking really led me to a
flexible thinking really led me to a solution it allowed me to take something
solution it allowed me to take something
solution it allowed me to take something old
old
old so the enteric nervous system has been
so the enteric nervous system has been
so the enteric nervous system has been around for our forever and use it in a
around for our forever and use it in a
around for our forever and use it in a new way it allowed me to take what I
new way it allowed me to take what I
new way it allowed me to take what I considered trash I studied the brain and
considered trash I studied the brain and
considered trash I studied the brain and spinal cord who cared about the gut and
spinal cord who cared about the gut and
spinal cord who cared about the gut and use it as my new treasure and so you
use it as my new treasure and so you
use it as my new treasure and so you might be thinking what can flexible
might be thinking what can flexible
might be thinking what can flexible thinking how does it apply to me what
thinking how does it apply to me what
thinking how does it apply to me what can it do for me inflexible thinking the
can it do for me inflexible thinking the
can it do for me inflexible thinking the very first thing it will do is it will
very first thing it will do is it will
very first thing it will do is it will allow you to generate possibility so if
allow you to generate possibility so if
allow you to generate possibility so if we think of other examples in science
we think of other examples in science
we think of other examples in science say the scientists that are taking a
say the scientists that are taking a
say the scientists that are taking a patient’s own skin cells and
patient’s own skin cells and
patient’s own skin cells and transforming them to attack brain tumors
transforming them to attack brain tumors
transforming them to attack brain tumors or even those growing organs human
or even those growing organs human
or even those growing organs human organs outside of the body it helps for
organs outside of the body it helps for
organs outside of the body it helps for transplant one day I think we can agree
transplant one day I think we can agree
transplant one day I think we can agree that those people are really pushing
that those people are really pushing
that those people are really pushing boundaries and generating possibility in
boundaries and generating possibility in
boundaries and generating possibility in my own work Irie innovated a system we
my own work Irie innovated a system we
my own work Irie innovated a system we already had to discover a new way a new
already had to discover a new way a new
already had to discover a new way a new way of looking at neuronal function that
way of looking at neuronal function that
way of looking at neuronal function that was previously too difficult
was previously too difficult
was previously too difficult generating possibility the other thing
generating possibility the other thing
generating possibility the other thing flexible thinking will do is
flexible thinking will do is
flexible thinking will do is it will push you out of your comfort
it will push you out of your comfort
it will push you out of your comfort zone and force you to learn a lot and so
zone and force you to learn a lot and so
zone and force you to learn a lot and so again I studied the brain and spinal
again I studied the brain and spinal
again I studied the brain and spinal cord the gut was an entirely new
cord the gut was an entirely new
cord the gut was an entirely new territory very much out of my comfort
territory very much out of my comfort
territory very much out of my comfort zone and to study it I really had to
zone and to study it I really had to
zone and to study it I really had to take an interdisciplinary approach sure
take an interdisciplinary approach sure
take an interdisciplinary approach sure I used neuroscience gastroenterology but
I used neuroscience gastroenterology but
I used neuroscience gastroenterology but I had to throw in a pinch of pathology
I had to throw in a pinch of pathology
I had to throw in a pinch of pathology in a sprinkle of microbiology to be able
in a sprinkle of microbiology to be able
in a sprinkle of microbiology to be able to use a system correctly I was forced
to use a system correctly I was forced
to use a system correctly I was forced to learn a lot and I was greatly
to learn a lot and I was greatly
to learn a lot and I was greatly rewarded for that and you can think
rewarded for that and you can think
rewarded for that and you can think about funny examples in science of
about funny examples in science of
about funny examples in science of flexible thinking I mean who would have
flexible thinking I mean who would have
flexible thinking I mean who would have thought a failed cardiac function drug
thought a failed cardiac function drug
thought a failed cardiac function drug in combination with flexible thinking
in combination with flexible thinking
in combination with flexible thinking serendipity and really great marketing
serendipity and really great marketing
serendipity and really great marketing would have given us viagra and to some
would have given us viagra and to some
would have given us viagra and to some that’s a miracle drug but maybe
that’s a miracle drug but maybe
that’s a miracle drug but maybe but maybe your flexible thinking
but maybe your flexible thinking
but maybe your flexible thinking experience won’t give you the next
experience won’t give you the next
experience won’t give you the next miracle drug but what it will do is it
miracle drug but what it will do is it
miracle drug but what it will do is it will improve the perspective of your
will improve the perspective of your
will improve the perspective of your work no matter what that work is even
work no matter what that work is even
work no matter what that work is even outside of science and it will inspire
outside of science and it will inspire
outside of science and it will inspire others and so my ask of you today I
others and so my ask of you today I
others and so my ask of you today I challenge you to really challenge your
challenge you to really challenge your
challenge you to really challenge your conventional views see through them and
conventional views see through them and
conventional views see through them and be aware remain aware that oftentimes
be aware remain aware that oftentimes
be aware remain aware that oftentimes the very best ideas come from thinking
the very best ideas come from thinking
the very best ideas come from thinking flexibly thank you
flexibly thank you
flexibly thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment