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Lecture 14: Why our brain is not a computer and why that is a good thing

Prof. Dr. Roland Brandt (© Simone Reukauf)

Prof. Dr. Roland Brandt (Neurobiology)

Modules made up of a limited number of nerve cells, which are connected to each other via small, adjustable contact points known as synapses, act as computing units in the brain. These biological computing units differ in key aspects from their computer counterparts, the CPUs: they are strictly optimised for their task of ensuring the survival of the species in the real world; they react historically, exhibit a high degree of plasticity and can be modulated many times over. As a biological and evolutionary product, they also exhibit a high degree of variation and are susceptible to environmental and ageing processes, which gives them a certain unpredictability. At the same time, they are evolvable and error-friendly. The lecture will discuss how central aspects of the functioning of the brain and thus of ourselves and our thinking are determined by these differences and what consequences result from this.

Date: 30.10.2024, 09:00 - 09:45

Location: Lecture hall 35/E01

More about Prof. Dr. Roland Brandt and the Neurobiology group