Best Yousif Podcasts (2026)

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On modeling metabolic networks in the brain – with Polina Shichkova - #35 1:31:38

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19d ago1:31:38

1:31:38

Neurons need particular sodium and potassium concentration gradients across their membranes to function. These gradients are set up by so-called ion pumps which require energy stored in ATP molecules to run. ATP is the common energy currency in the brain and is produced from nutrients delivered by the blood by a complicated set of chemical reaction…

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On balanced neural networks - with Nicolas Brunel - #34 1:38:59

2M ago1:38:59

1:38:59

An important discovery that has come out of computational neuroscience, is that cortical neurons in vivo appear to receive so-called balanced inputs. In the balanced state the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs to a neuron are about equal, and action potentials occur when a fluctuation temporarily makes the excitation dominate. The theory, f…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3 special - Pádraig Ó Tuama 50:05

2M ago50:05

50:05

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet with interests in language, violence, power, and religion. He has published poetry, essays, a memoir and works of theology. He led Corrymeela from 2014-2019. He currently lives in the USA, in New York City, where he presents Poetry Unbound, is poet-in-residence with Columbia University’s Conflict and Cooperation Centre, an…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Compilation 4 46:14

2M ago46:14

46:14

In this last of four special compilation episodes of The Corrymeela Podcast, we revisit interviews with guests who shared their insights on conflict and reconciliation. Featured in this episode are Duncan Morrow, Dong Jin Kim, Christine Bell, Juliane Okot Bitek, Peter Coleman, and Marina Cantacuzino, who bring us their thoughts on peace processes, …

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Compilation 3 47:09

3M ago47:09

47:09

In this third of four special compilation episodes, we return to previous guests who spoke with us about language, storytelling, and the past. Included in this episode are Sarah Perry, Sef Townsend, John Paul Lederach, Richard Holloway, and Nóirín Ní Riain. As always, you can download a full transcript and discussion questions here.…

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On computational neurotechnology for the clinic - with Anthony Burkitt, Nada Yousif & Esra Neufeld - #33 1:00:36

3M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

How can computational neuroscience contribute to developing neurotechnology to help people with brain disorders and disabilities? This was the topic of a panel debate I hosted at the 34th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting in Florence in July this year. Electric or magnetic recording and/or stimulation are key clinical tools for helping pati…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Compilation 2 55:20

3M ago55:20

55:20

We revisit interviews with guests who spoke with us about place, movement, migration, identity, and belonging. Included in this compilation are clips from Johnston McMaster, Anthony Reddie, Lia Shimada, and Yousif M. Qasmiyeh, who offered insights from the fields of history, theology, and the arts, as well as sharing personal stories of identity an…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Compilation 1 51:02

3M ago51:02

51:02

We return to interviews from earlier seasons to hear guests' insights on the pasts, presents, and futures of Britain and Ireland. Featured in this episode are Mary McAleese, Claire Mitchell, Gail McConnell, and Ebun Joseph. As always, you can download a full transcript and discussion questions here.By The Corrymeela Podcast

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On IIT and adversarial testing of consciousness theories - with Christof Koch - #32 2:17:36

3M ago2:17:36

2:17:36

In an adversarial collaboration researchers with opposing theories jointly investigate a disputed topic by designing and implementing a study in a mutually agreed unbiased way. Results from adversarial testing of two well-known theories for consciousness, Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) and Integrated Information Theory (IIT), were presente…

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On how to cure brain diseases - with Nicole Rust - #31 2:13:18

4M ago2:13:18

2:13:18

A promise of basic neuroscience research is that the new insights will lead to new cures for brain diseases. But has that happened so far? Today's guest, an accomplished professor of neuroscience, decided to investigate. Her book "Elusive cures: why neuroscience hasn't solved brain disorders - and how we can change that" came out this summer. Here …

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On co-dependent excitatory and inhibitory plasticity - with Tim Vogels - #30 1:30:54

5M ago1:30:54

1:30:54

Synaptic plasticity underlies several key brain functions including learning, information filtering and homeostatic regulation of overall neural activity. While several mathematical rules have been developed for plasticity both at excitatory and inhibitory synapses, it has been difficult to make such rules co-exist in network models. Recently the g…

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On the philosophy of simplification in computational neuroscience - with Mazviita Chirimuuta and Terrence Sejnowski - #29 1:24:14

6M ago1:24:14

1:24:14

Computational neuroscientists rely on simplification when they make their models. But what is the right level of simplification? When should we, for example, use a biophysically detailed model and when a simplified abstract model when modelling neural dynamics? What are the problems of simplifying too much, or too little? This was the topic of the …

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On whole-cell modeling of bacteria - with Markus Covert - #28 2:04:23

7M ago2:04:23

2:04:23

A future computational neuroscience project could be to model not only the signal processing properties of neurons, but also all processes that keep a neuron alive for, say, a 100-year life span. In 2012 the group of the guest published the first such whole-cell model for a very simple bacterium (M. genitalia). In 2020 a model of the larger E. coli…

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On construction and clinical use of multipurpose neuron models - with Etay Hay - #27 1:13:21

8M ago1:13:21

1:13:21

Numerous neuron models have been made, but most of them are "single-purpose" in that they are made to address a single scientific question. In contrast, multipurpose neuron models are made to be used to address many scientific questions. In 2011, the guest published a multipurpose rodent pyramidal-cell model which has been actively used by the comm…

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On the population code in visual cortex - with Kenneth Harris - #26 1:24:49

9M ago1:24:49

1:24:49

With modern electrical and optical measurement techniques, we can now measure neural activity in hundreds or thousands of neurons simultaneously. This allows for the investigation of population codes, that is, of how groups of neurons together encode information. In 2019 today's guest published a seminal paper with collaborators at UCL in London wh…

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On growing synthetic dendrites – with Hermann Cuntz - #25 1:34:34

10M ago1:34:34

1:34:34

The observed variety of dendritic structures in the brains is striking. Why are they so different, and what determine the branching patterns? Following the dictum "if you understand it, you can build it", the lab of the guest builds dendritic structures in a computer and explore the underlying principles. Two key principles seem to be to minimize (…

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On neuroscience foundation models - with Andreas Tolias - #24 1:31:43

11M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

The term "foundation model" refers to machine learning models that are trained on vast datasets and can be applied to a wide range of situations. The large language model GPT-4 is an example. The group of the guest has recently presented a foundation model for optophysiological responses in mouse visual cortex trained on recordings from 135.000 neu…

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On human whole-brain models - with Viktor Jirsa - #23 1:55:21

12M ago1:55:21

1:55:21

A holy grail of the multiscale approach for physical brain modelling is to link the different scales from molecules, via cells and local neural networks, up to whole-brain models. The goal of the Virtual Brain Twin project, lead by today's guest, is to use personalized human whole-brain models to aid clinicians in treating brain ailments. The podca…

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On 40 years with the Hopfield network model - with Wulfram Gerstner - #22 1:27:49

1y ago1:27:49

1:27:49

In 1982 John Hopfield published the paper "Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational abilities" describing a simple network model functioning as an associative and content-addressable memory. The paper started a new subfield in computational neuroscience and led to the influx of numerous theoretical scientists, in …

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On models for short-term memory - with Pawel Herman - #21 1:47:42

1y ago1:47:42

1:47:42

The leading theory for learning and memorization in the brain is that learning is provided by synaptic learning rules and memories stored in synaptic weights between neurons. But this is for long-term memory. What about short-term, or working, memory where objects are kept in memory for only a few seconds? The traditional theory held that here the …

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On neuro-AI on the boat - part 2 of 2 - with Cristina Savin, Tim Vogels, Mikkel Lepperød, Paul Middlebrooks - #20 1:21:03

1y ago1:21:03

1:21:03

In September Paul Middlebrooks, the producer of the podcast BrainInspired, and I were both on a neuro-AI workshop on a coast liner cruising the Norwegian fjords. We decided to make two joint podcasts with some of the participants where we discuss the role of AI in neuroscience. In this second part we discuss the topic with Cristina Savin and Tim Vo…

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On neuro-AI on the boat - part 1 of 2 - with Ken Harris, Andreas Tolias, Mikkel Lepperød, Paul Middlebrooks - #19 1:19:26

1y ago1:19:26

1:19:26

In September Paul Middlebrooks, the producer of the podcast BrainInspired, and I were both on a neuro-AI workshop on a coast liner cruising the Norwegian fjords. We decided to make two joint podcasts with some of the participants where we discuss the role of AI in neuroscience. In this first part we talk with Mikkel Lepperod, the main organizer abo…

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On electric brain signals - solo episode - #18 1:48:22

1+ y ago1:48:22

1:48:22

Most of what we have learned about the functioning of the living brain has come from extracellular electrical recordings, like the measurement of spikes, LFP, ECoG and EEG signals. And most analysis of these recordings has been statistical, looking for correlations between the recorded signals and what the animal/human is doing or being exposed to.…

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On dendritic function - with Yiota Poirazi - #17 1:27:39

1+ y ago1:27:39

1:27:39

The most prominent visual characteristic of neurons is their dendrites. Even more than 100 years after their first observation by Cajal, their function is not fully understood. Biophysical modeling based on cable theory is a key research tool for exploring putative functions, and today's guest is one the leading researchers in this field. We talk a…

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On consciousness - with Christof Koch - #16 2:04:59

1+ y ago2:04:59

2:04:59

The greatest mystery of all is why a group of atoms, like the ones constituting me, can feel anything. The mind-brain problem has puzzled philosophers for millennia. Thanks to pioneers like Christof Koch, consciousness studies have recently become a legitimate field of scientific inquiry. In this vintage episode, recorded in February 2021, we discu…

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On the simulation tool NEURON - with Michael Hines - #15 1:26:35

1+ y ago1:26:35

1:26:35

Computational neuroscientists use many software tools, and NEURON has become the leading tool for biophysical modeling of neurons and neural network. Today's guest has been the leading developer of NEURON since the infancy almost 50 years ago. We talk about how the tool got started and the development up until today's modern version of the software…

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On the molecular memory code - with Sam Gershman - #14 1:20:44

1+ y ago1:20:44

1:20:44

The idea that memories are stored in molecules was popular in the middle of the 20th century. However, since the discovery of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the 1970s, the dominant view has been that our memories are stored in synapses, that is, in the connections between neurons. Today, there are signs that the interest in molecular memory is ret…

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On quantum biology - with Johnjoe McFadden - #13 1:17:20

1+ y ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Is quantum physics important in determining how living systems, including brains, work? Today's guest is a professor of molecular genetics at the University of Surrey in England and explores this question in the book "Life at the edge: The coming of age of quantum biology". In this "vintage" episode, recorded in late 2019, we talk about how quantum…

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On modeling of signaling pathways inside the neuron - with Avrama Blackwell - #12 1:31:40

1+ y ago1:31:40

1:31:40

Most computational neuroscientists investigate electric dynamics in neurons or neural networks, but there is also computations going on inside neurons. Here the key dynamical variables are concentrations of numerous different molecules, and the signaling is typically done in cascades of chemical reactions, called signaling pathways. Today's guest i…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 6. Sef Townsend 47:07

1+ y ago47:07

47:07

Sef Townsend is a storyteller and musician. He’s collected stories and songs from his travels all around the globe, and has worked with refugees, people in exile and those in asylum detention. Sef’s work has included peace and reconciliation projects, and sharing his stories with audiences in schools, museums, churches, mosques and synagogues aroun…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 5. Dr. Yousif M. Qasmiyeh 52:19

1+ y ago52:19

52:19

Yousif M. Qasmiyeh is a poet and scholar whose work has appeared in publications including Modern Poetry in Translation, Critical Quarterly, Cambridge Literary Review, New England Review, and Poetry London. His collection Writing the Camp (Broken Sleep Books, 2021), was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation and was shortlisted for the 2022 Royal Soc…

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On synaptic learning rules for spiking neurons - with Friedemann Zenke - #11 1:30:44

1+ y ago1:30:44

1:30:44

Today's AI is largely based on supervised learning of neural networks using the backpropagation-of-error synaptic learning rule. This learning rule relies on differentiation of continuous activation functions and is thus not directly applicable to spiking neurons. Today's guest has developed the algorithm SuperSpike to address the problem. He has a…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 4. Rev. Dr. Rachel Mann 44:43

1+ y ago44:43

44:43

Rachel Mann is a poet, theologian, broadcaster, and Anglican priest, who, since 2023, has served as Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton. She has published two collections of poetry: her first, A Kingdom of Love (Carcanet, 2019) was highly commended in the Forward Prizes for Poetry. The areas covered by her work include theology, cultural history, and …

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3. Dr. Dong Jin Kim 49:17

1+ y ago49:17

49:17

Dong Jin Kim is a writer and academic whose research interests are in the areas of peacebuilding, humanitarian and development cooperation, theology, and comparative studies of peace processes. He has collaborated with various humanitarian, development, and peace and reconciliation organisations, including Okedongmu Children in Korea, Korean Sharin…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 2. Jan Carson 48:06

1+ y ago48:06

48:06

Jan Carson is a writer and community arts facilitator based in Belfast. She has written three novels, two collections of short stories, and two flash fiction anthologies; her work has also appeared in a number of journals and on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Her second novel, The Fire Starters (Transworld, 2019), won the EU Prize for Literature and was shortl…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 3, Episode 1. Prof. John Paul Lederach 56:54

1+ y ago56:54

56:54

Prof. John Paul Lederach is a conflict transformation practitioner, writer, and academic. He has worked with communities all over the world, in countries including Somalia, Nicaragua, and Nepal. John Paul is the author of more than twenty books including The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace (Oxford University Press, 2005), When…

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On large-scale modeling of mouse primary visual cortex - with Anton Arkhipov - #10 2:02:08

2y ago2:02:08

2:02:08

Over the last ten years or so, the MindScope project at the Allen Institute in Seattle has pursued an industrylab-like approach to study the mouse visual cortex in unprecedented detail using electrophysiology, optophysiology, optical imaging and electron microscopy. Together with collaborators at Allen, today's guest has worked to integrate of thes…

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On origins of computational neuroscience and AI as scientific fields - with Terrence Sejnowski (vintage) - #9 1:55:27

2y ago1:55:27

1:55:27

Today's guest is a pioneer both in the fields of computational neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) and has had a front seat during their development. His many contributions include, for example, the invention of the Boltzmann machine with Ackley and Hinton in the mid 1980s. In this "vintage" episode recorded in late 2019 he describes the …

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On reverse engineering of the roundworm C.elegans - with Konrad Kording - #8 1:34:14

2y ago1:34:14

1:34:14

Today's guest has argued that the present dominant way of doing systems neuroscience in mammals (large-scale electric or optical recordings of neural activity combined with data analysis) will be inadequate for understanding how their brain works. Instead, he proposes to focus on the simple roundworm C.elegans with only 302 neurons and try to rever…

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On topological data analysis and Hopfield-like network models - with Carina Curto - #7 2:14:41

2y ago2:14:41

2:14:41

Over the last decade topological analysis has been established as a new tool for analysis of spiking data. Today's guest has been a pioneer in adapting this mathematical technique for use in our field and explains concepts and example applications. We also also talk about so-called threshold-linear network model, a generalization of Hopfield networ…

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Exploring Identity: You Don't Look Mexican with Erica Abduelal 31:01

2y ago31:01

31:01

In this episode of The Meshed Life podcast, host Waleed Yousif engages in a captivating conversation with the dynamic Erica Abduelal, creator of the podcast "You Don't Look Mexican." Erica opens up about her personal journey growing up Mexican and the challenges she faced in navigating her identity as a mother, professional, and individual. The dis…

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Age Is Nothing But a Number 21:22

2y ago21:22

21:22

Join host Waleed Yousif and his youngest daughter, Sofia, in a captivating episode of the "Meshed Life" podcast. Delve into the extraordinary life of 8-year-old Sofia as she not only shares her entrepreneurial pursuits but also offers a glimpse into her creative endeavors and the challenges she navigates in her young world. In this heartwarming con…

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On central pattern generators in the spinal cord - with Henrik Lindén - #6 1:26:33

2y ago1:26:33

1:26:33

Not all interesting network activity occurs in cortex. Networks in the spinal cord, the long thin tubular structure extending downwards from the neck, is responsible for setting up rhythmic motor activity needed for moving around. How do these so-called central pattern generators work? Today's guest has, together with colleagues in Copenhagen, deve…

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Game Changer ADU's With Nico Zapata - What You Need to Know to Unlock Hidden Wealth In Your Home 36:56

2y ago36:56

36:56

On this episode of the Meshed Life Podcast we explore innovative living solutions! Host Waleed Yousif delves into the world of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) with guest Architect Nico Zapata, owner of Nizaworks. Join us as we uncover the extensive benefits and hurdles surrounding ADUs, shedding light on the intricacies of obtaining approvals. We u…

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On how vision works - with Li Zhaoping - #5 1:21:57

2y ago1:21:57

1:21:57

We know a lot about of how neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mammals respond to visual stimuli. But how does the vast information contained in the spiking of millions of neurons in V1 give rise to our visual percepts? The guest's theory is that V1 acts as a "saliency detector" directing the gaze to the most important object in the visual…

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Relentless Grit - Part II: Humberto Lopes’ Journey in Real Estate, Business and Life 46:47

2y ago46:47

46:47

Host Waleed Yousif delves deeper into Humberto Lopes' journey in Part 2 of the interview, focusing on his views on family and the evolving landscape of real estate. From his roots in Brooklyn as one of seven siblings born to immigrant parents, Humberto shares the story of his transformation from a young handyman to a significant figure in construct…

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Relentless Grit - Part I: Humberto Lopes’ Journey in Real Estate, Business and Life 1:04:01

2y ago1:04:01

1:04:01

In this episode of MeshedLife, host Waleed Yousif sits down with Humberto Lopes, a pillar in the world of real estate and business. As a Brooklyn native, Humberto shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings as a young handyman, one of 7 children, born to immigrant parents to becoming a pivotal figure in the construction, real estate, and d…

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On multi-area cortex models - with Sacha van Albada - #4 1:32:51

2y ago1:32:51

1:32:51

A key goal of computational neuroscience is to build mathematical models linking single-neuron activity to systems-level activity. The guest has taken some bold steps in this direction by developing and exploring a multi-area model for the macaque visual cortex, and later also a model for the human cortex, using millions of simplified spiking neuro…

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The Corrymeela Podcast, Season 2, Episode 12. Dr. Peter Coleman 55:27

2y ago55:27

55:27

Dr. Peter Coleman is a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, and a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution, intractable conflict, and sustaining peace. He directs the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution and is co-executive director of Columbia University’s Advanced Consorti…

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On the neural code - with Arvind Kumar - #3 1:25:46

2y ago1:25:46

1:25:46

It is widely thought that spikes (action potentials) are the main carrier of information in the brain. But what is the neural code, that is, what aspects of the spike trains carry the information? The detailed temporal structure or maybe only the average firing rate? And is there information in the correlation between spike trains in populations of…