It's happening! My book, "Models of the Mind: How physics, engineering and mathematics have shaped our understanding of the brain", is coming out March 4th! More information on the book and how to get it worldwide here 👉 gracewlindsay.com/2021/02/10/mod… 
In a couple of days I'll start a countdown to publication day by sharing one fun fact/quote from each of the 12 chapters on this 👇 thread. But for now, get your tickets for this RI event where I'll be talking about the book!
https://twitter.com/sigmascience/status/1361978721419329536
T minus 12 days. Fun fact/quote countdown starting now!
From Ch 1: Spherical Cows - What mathematics has to offer
Darwin wished he knew more math: "I have deeply regretted that I did not proceed far enough at least to understand something of the great leading principles of mathematics, for men thus endowed seem to have an extra sense"
Darwin wished he knew more math: "I have deeply regretted that I did not proceed far enough at least to understand something of the great leading principles of mathematics, for men thus endowed seem to have an extra sense"
From Ch. 2: How Neurons Get Their Spike
At the end of the 18th century, Leyden jars were all the rage. Amateur scientists used these simple devices to store electric charge and give each other shocks, leading to nosebleeds and even unconsciousness!
At the end of the 18th century, Leyden jars were all the rage. Amateur scientists used these simple devices to store electric charge and give each other shocks, leading to nosebleeds and even unconsciousness!
From Ch. 3: Learning to Compute
In 1958, Frank Rosenblatt---inventor of one of the earliest forms of artificial neural networks---made some pretty outlandish claims to the NYTimes. Today, artificial neural networks are actually capable of doing some of the things he promised!
In 1958, Frank Rosenblatt---inventor of one of the earliest forms of artificial neural networks---made some pretty outlandish claims to the NYTimes. Today, artificial neural networks are actually capable of doing some of the things he promised!
From Ch. 4: Making and Maintaining Memories
Donald Hebb became famous for his theory of learning, now characterized as "neurons that fire together wire together". His mentor, famed memory researcher Karl Lashley, didn't believe in the theory & declined authorship on the work.
Donald Hebb became famous for his theory of learning, now characterized as "neurons that fire together wire together". His mentor, famed memory researcher Karl Lashley, didn't believe in the theory & declined authorship on the work.
From Ch. 5: Excitation and Inhibition
"Chaos"---the idea that in a complex system small changes can lead to large and unpredictable effects---was discovered on accident when Edward Lorenz put some slightly incorrect numbers into his weather simulation.
"Chaos"---the idea that in a complex system small changes can lead to large and unpredictable effects---was discovered on accident when Edward Lorenz put some slightly incorrect numbers into his weather simulation.
From Ch. 6: Stages of Sight
In 1959, scientists discovered that frog's eyes had "bug detectors": cells in the retina that responded to the motion of fly-like things. This finding had a big impact both on the study of biological vision and on the creation of computer vision.
In 1959, scientists discovered that frog's eyes had "bug detectors": cells in the retina that responded to the motion of fly-like things. This finding had a big impact both on the study of biological vision and on the creation of computer vision.
From Ch. 7: Cracking the Neural Code
Father of "information theory" Claude Shannon kept a homemade "ultimate machine" on his desk. This is a box that, when a switch is flipped, extends an arm to flip the switch back.
(Image credit: HNF)
Father of "information theory" Claude Shannon kept a homemade "ultimate machine" on his desk. This is a box that, when a switch is flipped, extends an arm to flip the switch back.
(Image credit: HNF)
From Ch. 8: Movement in Low Dimensions
Early neurophysiologists used their tongues to test how strong their stimulating electrodes were.
Early neurophysiologists used their tongues to test how strong their stimulating electrodes were.
From Ch. 9: From Structure to Function
Santiago Ramón y Cajal wanted to be an artist but was pressured by his father into medicine. 85 years after his death, he got the artist treatment when his famous neuron drawings became part of a touring art exhibition.
(Image: Belkin Art)
Santiago Ramón y Cajal wanted to be an artist but was pressured by his father into medicine. 85 years after his death, he got the artist treatment when his famous neuron drawings became part of a touring art exhibition.
(Image: Belkin Art)
From Ch. 10: Making Rational Decisions
"On Games of Chance" is a captivating guide to gambling written by Girolamo Cardano in the sixteenth century. It is also one of the first texts to document the basic principles of probability.
"On Games of Chance" is a captivating guide to gambling written by Girolamo Cardano in the sixteenth century. It is also one of the first texts to document the basic principles of probability.
From Ch. 11: How Rewards Guide Actions
In 1904, Ivan Pavlov won the Nobel Prize "in recognition of his work on the physiology of digestion". Roughly 20 years later he published his seminal book on conditioned reflexes in dogs.
In 1904, Ivan Pavlov won the Nobel Prize "in recognition of his work on the physiology of digestion". Roughly 20 years later he published his seminal book on conditioned reflexes in dogs.
From Ch. 12: Grand Unified Theories of the Brain
The hunt for "Grand Unified Theories" is a common theme in physics, but it's a bit trickier when applied to the brain. This quote from Murray Davis may explain the appeal of GUTs for the brain.
The hunt for "Grand Unified Theories" is a common theme in physics, but it's a bit trickier when applied to the brain. This quote from Murray Davis may explain the appeal of GUTs for the brain.
Not a chapter, but I wanted y'all to know that you're definitely getting a shout-out in the acknowledgements:
And that's it! It's publication day (at least in the UK)! Reminder on how to get the book worldwide here ---> gracewlindsay.com/2021/02/10/mod… And there is still time to sign up for the @Ri_Science event happening today: rigb.org/whats-on/event…
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