The Turbulent Brain: Rhythms and Waves

Explore the complex wave dynamics of the brain in this 56-minute lecture by Professor Alain Goriely, recorded at Barnard's Inn Hall for Gresham College. Discover how the seemingly quiet brain is actually filled with electrical activity as neurons communicate through synchronization and oscillations at different frequencies. Learn about the history of brain wave research beginning with Hans Berger, then delve into the science at multiple scales: from individual neurons and the Hodgkin-Huxley model at the micro level, to wave propagation and the Wilson-Cowan model at the meso level, to network dynamics, BOLD imaging, and the functional connectome at the macro level. The lecture concludes with insights from information theory, explaining how these various waves—electrical, chemical, and mechanical—influence brain function and cognitive processes. Professor Goriely, Director of the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and Fellow of the Royal Society, provides a comprehensive journey through the turbulent rhythms and waves that underpin our brain's operations.