Miasto Masa Maszyna Mózg

Włodzisław DuchWłodzisław Duch

How to reach How to reach full human potential: full human potential: take care of the braintake care of the brain

How to reach How to reach full human potential: full human potential: take care of the braintake care of the brain

How to reach How to reach full human potentialfull human potential??

How to reach How to reach full human potentialfull human potential??

Waste of talentWaste of talent

More than 200 million children under 5 More than 200 million children under 5 years fail to reach their potential in years fail to reach their potential in cognitive development because of cognitive development because of poverty, poor health and nutrition, poverty, poor health and nutrition, and lack of early stimulation.and lack of early stimulation.

International Child DevelopmentInternational Child Development Steering Steering Group, Group, The LancetThe Lancet, , 20072007

Specific developmental disorders Specific developmental disorders of speech and language … of speech and language …

scholastic skills … scholastic skills … learning … learning …

Dyslexia: ~10% in USA, UKDyslexia: ~10% in USA, UK

In developed countries … In developed countries …

Brain is the most complex organ, frequently not functioning well,almost never realizing its full

potential.

We all use 100% of the brainbut only 1% at each moment!

Nano

Info

Cognitive

Bio

Genetic control?Genetic control?

Genes may limit development … but genetic manipulation is dangerous.

Early development is critical for the brain. We already influence it strongly.

Discovery of childhoodDiscovery of childhood

Diego Velázquez, Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas (1656)Las Meninas (1656)

Brain engineeringBrain engineering

Brain improvement is the ultimate engineering problem!

But be careful!

Challenge: prevent abnormalities, boost normal development.

General principle: growing up is specializing

= narrowing potential possibilities. How to keep more possibilities open?

la-ra phonetic contrastla-ra phonetic contrast

Discrimination of non-native phonemes is perfect in 6-8 month group but specialization is seen already in 10-12 month (P. Kuhl et al, Dev. Sci. 9, F13–F21).

Your mother can teach you how to hear, but only in her own language!

Passive learning from TV has no influence on hearing phonetic contrasts (P. Kuhl).

We want to specialize!

Bad start …Bad start …

Potential reading problems can be identified (~80%) using event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded at birth, and possible interventions undertaken up to 9 years earlier than it is usually done – just give infants a chance!

Interactive toys and i-cribs

cameras speakers

touch sensors

Improve hearing speech, develop perfect musical ear,

curiosity, drives for exploration, abstract thinking, working memory

and other cognitive and perceptual functions.

Monitor and interact in the crib and using inexpensive cognitive toys!

What can we do?What can we do?

PerCog devicesPerCog devices

Goals: early diagnosis, enhance perceptual discrimination, improve categorical perception, increase working memory span.

Imagine …Imagine …New generation of children New generation of children may grow up to be more: may grow up to be more:

musical, intelligent, bright … musical, intelligent, bright …

•learn any language without accentlearn any language without accent•be free of speech and hearing problemsbe free of speech and hearing problems•see and hear things we can hardly noticesee and hear things we can hardly notice

Is this possible? Only research can tell. Is this possible? Only research can tell.

Project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the Regional Operational Programme for Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013.

Project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the Regional Operational Programme for Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013.

Neurocognitive LaboratoryNeurocognitive Laboratory

Can’t wait to see it! Can’t wait to see it!

Miasto Masa Maszyna Mózg

Thank you

How to reach How to reach full human potential: full human potential: take care of the braintake care of the brain

Włodzisław DuchWłodzisław Duch

Department of Informatics, Department of Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ToruńToruń, Poland, Poland

School of Comp. EngineeringSchool of Comp. Engineering, , Nanyang Nanyang Technological University, SingapTechnological University, Singapurur

Google: Google: W. W. DuchDuch

TEDx PoznanTEDx Poznan, , 1818.0.022.20.201122