Why are you involved? Let's find out what makes us a team :D

Eyewire General
#1

For me, it was fun and new at the beginning but, as with most things, the fun wears off if there’s not much variety.

That’s probably why I find myself looking for fun shapes in the 2D and 3D views.

I think I’m actually involved because of the feeling of being in the forefront of science, it’s fantastic.
Also the idea that there might be people from all over the world involved and being part of that team I’d like to know more about.
There’s also the scores and the competition, it’s part of it too.
And do you know what else? It gives me something useful to do for a few minutes when I want to take my mind away for a few minutes from whatever I’m doing. Stress on the word ‘useful’, not just mindlessly checking facebook.

What about you? :smiley:
#2

I do it cause it’s my job :stuck_out_tongue:


It’s my job because it’s an awesome project, with awesome people working towards an important goal.  I just love the opportunity to do useful science when it involves working on complex and interesting software!
#3

I am an eyewire addict. 


It makes me feel like I’m not wasting my time playing a game online–but actually contributing to science!!

The shapes of the neurons are mesmerizing, but it’s really the goal of mapping the whole connectome that keeps me on. It’s a personal trait to be obsessive and finish what I’ve started–completely! 
I guess you’ll be seeing me around until this goal is accomplished! :slight_smile:
#4

It’s not a waste of time for one thing!

Plus I have a love of almost all things science and science fiction, which this certainly qualifies as on both counts. If it helps for the stats or anything, I caught on to this project through TED and was immediately hooked on this idea of mapping the brain. This is a (IMHO) a landmark endeavour and I am glad to be able to participate at such an early stage. I know that this will take a lot of people a long time to complete but I am confident that it can be done and the results will be good. Given that, as tedious (and a great concentration for some OCD tendencies)  as it is, I will be here for the long haul. Thanks for letting me do something meaningful with my downtime.

Full brain map or bust!

#5

Well, its different.


I saw it on a newsletter, signed up, and found that it was rather addictive. I’ve always liked neurology (mainly from the perspective of in-silico replication of human scale intelligence), and noted that one component of knowledge missing is that of how real neural systems are wired on a macroscale, without which we cannot really answer questions such as ‘Do columns exist?’.

The main reason why I keep playing is this…

Simple repetitive procedure + clinical OCD => addiction.

:slight_smile:
#6

I signed up because I’m interested in mathematical models of vision, specifically as it relates to OCR. My hope is that EyeWire will help map out the lower-level connections so that we can finally stop messing around with different algorithms and settle on the one used in the brain. That, and I’m a Singularitarian :slight_smile: Brain mapping is one of the things that leads to the Singularity.

#7

Singularity or bust!!!  :)

It’s really fun to hear why people play. Keep those comments coming!
@backupelk regarding in silico replication of human intelligence, is there a particular project that interests you? Like Blue Brain?
#8

@hsseung


Blue brain has crossed my radar, but I should probably say that my scientific field is quantum chemistry. I haven’t looked at this area for a while as other things have interceded, but I also seem to recall that people like Eugene Izhikevich were doing some excellent work on the low level replication of certain behaviours, particularly using phase interaction systems to replicate the firing behaviours.

One thing that this kind of project could help answer once and for all is the reality or fallacy of various models of neural connective morphology such as the aforementioned columns, but also provide actual large scale maps of the microcircuits in the cortical layers.

A project that would be of particular interest that falls into the connectome category would be to compare the developmental morphological differences between early, intermediate and late layered cortical tissue. I seem to think that I have seen papers on this subject ( a few years back), but there were still questions being raised about how much of the layer structure is intrinsic (gene determined) Vs extrinsic as in being determined by exposure to information.

Hmmm… Avatar is on TV. Guess I might as well finally watch it…

#9

I play because I love brains!  Brain science is the key to us humans collectively unlocking our potential.  I strongly recommend watching Carl Sagan’s Views of the Cosmos: The Persistence of Memory (Episode 11) if you also feel that creativity and academia are one in the same.

#10

@hsseung


Actually there is a more specific general interest I have in this field, but it more directed toward answering a question that Markram’s BlueBrain will not address : What is the minimum computational system that is required to replicate the outward features of a neural system.

To some degree Izhikevich’s work in simulating firing behaviour without modelling the ion channels is aiming in a similar direction, but I am interested in what would happen if we abandon most of the subtle features such as the after-AP hyperpolarisation tail, and burst behaviour to name two. 

In short, does the major functionality of the brain arise from large scale connective structure, or does it require this as well as the more subtle features that biological neurons display. Its a shame I have little time to work on it :frowning:
#11

It makes me feel like I’m reaching inside my head and finding out things about my brain that I never thought possible… he like ice-cream! who knew that me and my brain could be such good chums

#12

Mapping the connectome of the retina of an eye is only the beginning of mapping one for the brain.  There will be scalability issues, but for now, the activity of eyewire is as addictive as soduku!

#13

@backupelk You have put your finger on a major issue. How much of the brain’s functionality is due to the properties of single neurons, and how much is due to the way in which they are organized, i.e… connected with each other. Let’s move this discussion to the Science section. I will try to answer there.


@laure bersig I’m a fan of Carl Sagan too!
#14

My background is software engineering, but I entered that profession (35 years ago) because of an interest in AI (AGI - artificial general intelligence). 


I’ve been pursuing this interest throughout my career from various angles at various times. In the last few years I’ve been focusing on brain simulation, as I currently see this as the best hope for achieving AGI. As a result, much of my effort has been in trying to understand current neuroscience and the connectome is obviously a large part of what will be required to obtain a better understanding of how the brain works.

This project will allow me to continue to participate, in some small part, in what I consider THE most important and interesting line of research today. 

Thanks for the opportunity.
#15

I saw an article in Discover magazine and became interested in helping map the brain.  I work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and am interested in how malformations in the brain cause psychiatric illness.  It is important to map the normal to learn about the abnormal.  

I like the idea that I can contribute to this highly technical task without having all the education than goes into creating this challenge.  Thanks for making me feel useful.
#16

Happy to help science, a bonus that this particular task is relaxing to me. Reminds me of playing piano as it requires concentration so I forget other things that may be worrisome. 


I am also interested in the brain because I have MS and figure any way I can help people learn about neurons is good. This is not that at all of course, but eventually the more we know about brains well, the more we know…
#17

I can’t remember how I heard about Eyewire, but I’m so glad I did. I remember seeing the Connectome (which I always see as ‘connect-to-me’ for some reason!) TED talk a long time ago and thinking how I’d love to try mapping the neurons, so I was really excited when the chance arose.

I was working in feature film visual effects, but some health issues have stopped me from working. I can’t say it’s been a terrible thing though - it’s given me a chance to start learning about science and philosophy and what better way could there be to spend your time!  It does make me regret my choices earlier in life though… if I could do it all over I would be studying neuroscience or physics!  At least these citizen science projects give me a chance to be involved and I’m really grateful.  I listen to science podcasts while I map neurons… it’s a great way to pass the day.  Best wishes to everyone from me in New Zealand :slight_smile:

#18

I find the link between physics and Neuroscience fascinating.  Not that they are anything alike on the surface, but it seems like the same people love both.  Sebastian got his start in Physics.  I did my undergrad in physics.  I’m pretty sure there are a number of professional neuroscientists who got their start in Physics.  I wonder what it is about it that appeals to the same type of people…

#19

Hi all,

Its lovely to read such diverse responses. I believe I am getting involved in this because I have faith in investigating neural ensembles of firing and connectivity. I come from a Psychology background, and hope pretty soon to enter the field of Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience. From what I’ve learned so far, many simple and complex processes are achieved from the specific inter-connectivity of neurons. After studying Barlow’s  One-cell One-percept notion (and its fall) it really did occur to me that the connectivity of various functionally segregated regions appears crucial  to achieving, say a visual percept of your grandmother, as opposed to solitary (ambiguous) neural activity.

Although neurons appear at first glance to contain powerful solitary processes (see Quiroga et al. and their Hallie Berry neurons!), in my opinion, the consensus directs us towards the importance of the connectivity between these neurons, in order to achieve the desired processes.

So I am mainly interested in two major applications of Connectomic mapping. Firstly, its (hopeful) success would in my view be revolutionary to studying cognitive processes such as Memory (as Sebastian has mentioned), and also Consciousness, Attention, Perception, Metacognition, Executive Control - all areas I’m deeply interested in. Furthermore, what with our fairly recent advancements in Neuropsychiatry/psychology, I am extremely keen in the notion of Connectopathies, and since a while back have always felt that anomalies in neural connectivity of multiple regions is vital in understanding some Psychiatric disorders.

So that’s why I am here, because I have big dreams for this project and want to help as much as possible. My growing interest in Neuroscience has also meant that I’m quite a sucker for Neuroanatomy, and so mapping the retinal connectome is fun as hell!! I learnt quite a lot about the Retina, since one of my modules last year was run by a a Visual Cognitive scientist, so It’s a complex, diverse and fun place to start too.

Lastly, I am really looking forward to interacting with this community. I’ve always wanted discuss these ideas with others from differing fields, as well as cultures! So that’s also a huge incentive for me, and I really look forward to finding you in the Science section and discussing ideas in more depth!


#20

I dont have big experience in neuroscience or physics, but ive grate amount of fascination for both. Long time fascinated by topic i read some basic books on system theory and chaos theory. I am HRM student in Sweeden and ive being reading tones of nonsensical and trivial theories that simplifies physical and mathematical theories. All at the same time development of HRM creates this understanding of contextual and nonliniar, connected individual. Born Russian i could get a good look on 1930 Vygotskys theory of “narrative” cognition. At the same time i became aware of George Kellys theory of personal constructs. Kelly created description of nontrivial and complex system for representation of world, self and others by means of structures of diadic distinctions. About the same time i could get my hands on relatively latest attempts to understand mind of a human through its language by Discourse and Conversation analysis. One way or another i saw books of Castells on shelf nearby and this way i became aware of whole nonlinear perspective on sociology and construction of the self created of “flows” and “networks”. If we jump over some steps and hours in library, open lectures of Leonard Susskind and proquest search - about six months ago term connectivism got to my attention. In the end i saw discussion between Movshon and Seung. From this point I think it is not all that surprising that i want to spend some time on this game?