What makes us human?

From genes to machines – Idan Segev gave an overview of our unique biological features and how we may use new technologies to change ourselves.

Idan Segev, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Idan is interested in how neurons compute and dynamically adapt to our ever-changing environment. His current work is on modeling cortical circuits in detail and developing automated methods for generating models of different electrical and morphological neuron classes. The ultimate goal is to unravel how local fine variations in cortical network structure and activity underlie specific computations – and give rise to certain brain diseases or to a healthy (and “individual”) brain. He is the David & Inez Myers Professor in Computational Neuroscience, former director of the Neurobiology department and a member of the newly formed “Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences” at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Idan is also keenly interested in the connection between art and the brain.