86 Billion Neurons Walk Into a Bar

You have 86 billion neurons, and not one of them can see, feel, or think. Yet together they produce everything you experiece. This lecture explores emergence: how neurons give rise to cognitive processes such as thought, emotion and perception. Through fun examples, including illusions and other demonstrations where your own brain fools you in real time, we'll see the mind at work and fault. Along the way you'll get practical tips for memory, learning, and brain health, plus experiments to try at home. We'll close by comparing the human brain to animals and AI, and asking what it really means to perceive and to know. Thaddé Rolon-Mérette is a neuroscience and AI researcher and consultant with a PhD in psychology from the University of Ottawa, where he studied how humans learn. He currently conducts research at HEC Montreal, working with industry and government partners on questions of human psychology and neuroscience of human-AI interactions. His expertise spans psychology, cognition, artificial intelligence, and learning. 🍻Get a drink, connect and learn at Tipsy Scholars Agenda 6:00pm - Doors open: Grab a seat, order drinks and food and settle in. 6:55pm - Host Introduction 7:00pm - Lecture starts 7:45pm - Q&A with Audience 8:00pm - Socialize and make friends, grab drinks