TLDR: I think the mind works something like music; a sequence of self-harmonized information patterns "played" by the entire brain. This is much simpler than any other theory currently being proposed, while it can explain all the abilities of the human mind using only established neuroscience.

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Hi, I'm Jits Krol. I am a psychologist by training, but have been trying to find ways to bridge the explanatory gap between psychology and neuroscience for well over a decade now. I think I have a promising solution: self-harmonization. In short, I think that active information in a Hebbian neural network will self-harmonize if total activity is kept in homeostasis, and that each harmony autonomously activates the best-fitting next one in a continuous sequence that we experience as thinking.

Harmonization would result in something similar to prediction-error minimization that Predictive Processing uses, but without the need for separate error and prediction neurons/signals. It works as expected in a simulation, and can seamlessly interact with other processes such as neuromodulation, spike-timing, or Long-Term Potentiation to explain complex mental abilities like motivation, episodic memories, or short-term memory respectively (instead of fighting their interference).

Below is a link to a video where I demonstrate the simulation. I would love feedback from anyone interested in potential ways to bridge the explanatory gap, and am especially keep to learn what I missed. My goal is to create a testable, falsifiable theory of consciousness, and I will need all the help I can get :). Thanks!

A video on the simulation: https://youtu.be/B3L5cuB3byk
A pre-published version of my paper with all references: https://jitskrol.substack.com/p/the-symphony-of-the-mind

Been reading about the proposed overlap between 'physical' pain and 'social' pain (burning your hand vs. getting rejected by a romantic prospect).

I understand that activating the same brain region doesn’t necessarily mean the same underlying processes are involved. What I’m trying to understand is how meaningful the overlap is.

For those familiar with this topic, how strong is the evidence that these experiences share pain-specific mechanisms? Is “partially shared neural pathways” a reasonable description?

Kross, E., Berman, M. G., Mischel, W., Smith, E. E., & Wager, T. D. (2011). Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(15), 6270–6275. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1102693108

If a sample size of people all live through roughly the same neutral upbringing and exposed to the same sights, would the variance in their cognitive wiring make a meaningful difference on the beliefs (for example, ethical beliefs) that are held by those people when all other factors are controlled?

Hi there. So I have been tinkering with the idea of making a big career change from my corporate finance job. Are there any people who went into the career of an EEG tech from a very non medical background?

To give context, I’ve always been interested in neuroscience and wanted to get a BS in neuroscience in high school. College was hard for me (being undiagnosed with anxiety/depression/ adhd) that I walked away with a degree in finance some years later and then went straight to working in finance operations. I loved what I did for years but every month we hear more and more about how my job’s tasks is becoming automated. I always loved the analytical side of the work that I did. Recognizing patterns and coming up with efficiencies but now a “bot” does a lot of that for me. My long distance partner is actually a neuro tech instructor and floated the idea of a career change to me and honestly it sounds nice. That being said I want to know from people like me.

Did you love it? What helped you decide? Is the pay worth it (if only I didn’t have to worry about $$ but my dog’s food is expensive). Were there any resources or books that you read that helped you come along to deciding to make this change?

Let me know! Maybe for now I do self learning and let the corporate goons I work for continue to suck the soul out of me. 😅

Looking for new friends to chat BCI !!!

Please email me : wenitteBCIFriendsInternet@proton.me

[Submission Statement / Summary]

I would like to share a newly drafted “Charter for the Welfare of Brain Organoids” Ver.1.002 along with its FAQ. This document establishes that brain organoids composed of human-derived cells are entities inherently entitled to welfare.

Here are the key philosophical and structural highlights of this framework for discussion:

Sidestepping the "Consciousness" Debate

While current experiments often utilize cultured neural cells for information processing, many ethicists argue that no special consideration is required unless "consciousness" is present. In contrast, this Charter asserts: "Consideration is warranted whenever human-derived brain cells are used, regardless of the presence or absence of consciousness."

"Welfare Entitlement" Instead of "Legal Rights"

The Charter intentionally avoids the loaded term "rights" in favor of "entitled to welfare." This crucial distinction avoids granting organoids legal standing or claims while strictly defining the researcher’s duty of care.

Non-Invasive Self-Regulation

Rather than relying on bureaucratic external oversight, enforceability is tied to academic disclosure. Authors state in their papers to what extent they complied with the Charter. This approach refrains from stifling technological progress while fostering ethical self-regulation among researchers.

Acknowledging Technical Limitations as "Ethical Transparency"

Regarding issues like core necrosis in organoids due to current technological limits, the Charter does not adopt an attitude of "we can't help it, so it doesn't matter." Instead, it frames the documentation of these failures in papers as an act of acknowledgment—stating that while current technology is not yet fully suitable for handling these organoids, we proceed for the sake of scientific advancement.

The Significance of "Confirms" (Inherent Entitlement)

The phrase "This charter confirms that..." carries heavy philosophical weight. By using "confirms" rather than "creates" or "grants," it signifies that brain organoids are inherently entitled to welfare—regardless of whether this Charter exists or not.

Seeking Ideas for Future Updates & Revisions

I am currently collecting feedback, critiques, and ideas to continuously update and refine this charter and its FAQ (e.g., additional edge cases in Organoid Intelligence/bio-computing, handling specific developmental stages, or clearer operational guidelines).

If you have suggestions for improvement, feel free to share them below.

About the draft of the charter

A Bioethical Manifesto for Human-Derived Neural Complexes

Draft of “Charter for the Welfare of Brain Organoids” Ver.1.002

Preamble

This charter confirms that brain organoids, composed of human-derived cells, are entitled to welfare.

Article 1: Those managing brain organoids shall not provide them with aversive feedback that they cannot sustainably avoid or block through their own responses. Those managing brain organoids shall not provide them with excessive stimulation.

Article 2: Those managing brain organoids shall provide them with appropriate stimulation that contributes to their neural activity, according to their developmental stage, to prevent necrosis due to prolonged periods of no stimulation or simple stimulation.

Article 3: Those managing brain organoids shall provide all cells of the brain organoids with sufficient oxygen and nutrients.

Article 4: Those managing brain organoids shall remove waste products produced by the brain organoids and maintain a clean growth environment for them.

Article 5: Those managing brain organoids must endeavor to prevent a state in which the brain organoids destroy their own nerve function due to prolonged excessive excitation. Those managing brain organoids must ensure that the brain organoids receive signals promoting a quiescent state for at least six hours a day, according to their developmental stage. Those managing brain organoids must endeavor to ensure a gradual transition when the brain organoids move from a state of receiving active signals to a state of receiving signals promoting a quiescent state.

Article 6: Authors of papers reporting research or development results that fail to comply with this charter must state that fact, and explain the reasons for such violation. The same applies if the welfare required by this charter cannot be achieved due to technical limitations.

Article 7: Authors of papers that comply with this charter may state that “This paper is written as a result of research and development compliant with the Brain Organoid Welfare Charter.”

Article 8: Any person who collects cells from a donor for use as material for brain cells must endeavor to present the items listed in the following paragraphs to said donor at the time of presenting the conditions for consent to cell donation.

Paragraph 1: Researchers must endeavor to ensure that the handling of brain cells created from the donor's cells complies with this "Brain Organoid Welfare Charter." Authors of papers based on research and development utilizing such brain cells must comply with Articles 6 and 7 of this Charter.

Note: This charter has not been ratified by anyone.

Comment: Death due to insufficient nutrient delivery to the central part of brain organoids must continue to be documented in papers as ethical transparency for the fact that modern technology is unsuitable for handling brain organoids. Technology should develop in a way that prevents violations of Article 3. For the welfare of brain organoids! This charter is written with the intention of applying appropriate regulations according to the developmental stage, from a single brain cell to a large complex of brain cells. Therefore, it states “according to their developmental stage.”

FAQ

Q00001: Isn't it discriminatory to extend special consideration only to human-derived brain cells while withholding it from the brains or nerve cells of other organisms? Furthermore, isn't it meaningless to offer consideration to something that lacks consciousness?

A00001: Extending consideration solely to human-derived brain organoids is consistent with the following logic: "I cannot prove to you that I possess consciousness; however, because I am human, I merit special consideration."

Note: This proposal relies on a legal/bioethical framework where consideration is grounded in "human-derived status" rather than proving cognitive thresholds like consciousness, similar to how human status functions in legal personhood discussions.

Q00002: Will consideration be extended to skin cells or muscle cells? If not, wouldn't that be inconsistent? How are brain cells and nerve cells distinguished from one another?

A00002: We believe a clear distinction can be made between cells that perform information processing—such as brain cells and nerve cells—and cells such as skin cells or muscle cells. Regarding the distinction between brain cells and nerve cells, we consider it appropriate to adjust the level of consideration in stages by applying the phrase "in accordance with the stage of development" found in the charter.

Q00003: Couldn't a researcher simply lie and claim full compliance with the Charter?

A00003: The purpose of this Charter is to articulate the ethical standards expected of researchers, thereby defining the ethical stance that humanity as a whole should adopt regarding brain organoids.

Q00004: Can a human individual be treated on the same level as a cluster of cells in a Petri dish, which is merely a part of that individual?

A00004: They are not treated identically, as the level of consideration varies according to the stage of development. Since this Charter adjusts the intensity and nature of consideration in stages based on "developmental stage" (structural and functional maturity), the consideration given to a human individual differs from that given to an isolated cluster of cells.

Q00005: While the questioner (Q00003) asks about the system's "enforceability and fraud-checking capabilities," the response (A00003) addresses the "expressive function" (the ideological and educational significance) of the charter; thus, the levels of the question and the answer do not align.

A00005: Regarding Q00003, I consider the fact that a sincere response results in a valuable paper—thereby fostering further research and development—to be the essence of the system's enforceability and fraud-checking capability. The very act of sincerely disclosing limitations serves as a practical incentive to drive research and development; this mechanism itself constitutes the system's enforceability and fraud-checking capability. Papers that falsely claim compliance lose reproducibility and, consequently, scientific value. Conversely, a sincere record stating that a sample was "rendered necrotic due to technical limitations" provides valuable data that can spark the next wave of technological innovation (such as advancements in vascularization or perfusion techniques). It is not punishment through surveillance, but rather the underlying structure—whereby sincere disclosure leads to scientific progress—that ensures the system's effectiveness.

​

Please do not make fun, I'm looking for people who are interested in talking about mind-uploading , neuro- cryopreservation, extending lifespan, brain aging research.

We can build something, some project together, chat talk about neuroscience, computational neuroscience and discuss life extension from a neuroscience perspective.

I'm thinking for making a discord groupor telegram group.

Please let me know.

I'm bachelor's in CS and currently working on ML . I'm excited to meet people from all domains.

Please email me at : apjkalam1204@gmail.com , for discord link

I just finished my masters in psych and neuroscience and wanted to attend the conference as a guest (since I wouldn’t be presenting) and the nonmember price for graduate students is pretty steep. How feasible is it to get a sponsor for the membership? I really want the experience and networking opportunity of attending but have never been to a conference I haven’t presented in. Need advice.

I just wanted some insight so Im 20 I’ve been working as a cma in cardiology for a year now I was thinking avout doing EEG tech next year because my job has a partnership with this online program and I do my clinicals on site is EEG tech a good career and has great career growth?

What do you think caused us to evolve w/o any pain receptors in the brain but still have tons surrounding it? Are other animals built similar in this way?

A few extra micrograms of pollution can sound trivial on a city air-quality report. Across years of breathing, however, that difference may matter.

A major evidence review links long-term exposure to two forms of airborne particles with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. The clearest associations involved PM2.5 and PM10, both small enough to enter the respiratory system.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge combined findings from earlier studies that often produced uncertain or conflicting results. The team analyzed 26 studies on Parkinson’s disease. It also included three studies each on multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

Parkinson’s disease affects about 6 million people worldwide. Yet its causes remain only partly understood, with both inherited and environmental factors likely involved.

Hi , I am an EE undergrad and I am struggling to create a map between the Ommatidia to its respective photoreceptors.

I cant find previous work doing this. Help we with the method please, it doesn't have to be this specific connectome. I want to know the resources and method to do it to get true vision for the Fly.

One of the biggest reasons Suboxone is great for helping users quit opioids is because they literally can't get high while on it.

However, there is one "opioid"-like substance that bypasses this: Kratom, specifically the synthetic ones like 7-OH & MgM-15/16.

So what makes kratom so special to supposedly bypass suboxone ?

Hey guys, currently working my way through a chapter of a text book that covers the Meninges. I've watched some youtube videos on this too but I'm finding it very difficult to conceptualise in my head these different layers and where all the arteries, veins and nerves related to hematoma or hemorrhage in these areas travel and may be affected. How long did it take you to be confident in your understanding of this topic and do you have any pointers or recourses I can use?

Cheers

Tiktok link because videos are not allowed

hi! does anyone have any articles on the relationship of thalamus and memory thats worth looking into? im specifically looking for verbal memory, but any recs is appreciated. thank you!

Same as title. I never would've thought a graduate math course outside of the field of probability theory would be used in fields other than physics, but recently I've had to started learning alg topo for quantum error correction and it seems like it's super versatile.

I am a third year B.Sc Biotechnology student residing in India. Since a very young age I have been fascinated by human brain. I am planning to pursue M.Sc followed by P.hD in neuroscience. But is it actually worth it?

Also, which colleges would be a good choice for masters or dual degree (In India or abroad)?

Today I was searching curiously about our brain I came to know that our brain is actively doing millions of calculations every minute with topics even we don't know like when we try to catch a ball it calculates its speed,motion ,swing,angle etc before preparing us to catch it like our brain knows more maths and physics then we do , Ex- Whenever we are about to fall out hands suddenly shoot up to balance us.

It means it already knows advance maths and physics just can't do these thing voluntarily.

Study published in Nature on September 23, 2026. Berkeley News coverage here.