The Future of Human Health

This series features 7 short (10-20 minute) talks inspired by the eponymous
TED Talks filmed at Stanford. 

Learn about the frontiers of human health from seven of Stanford's most
innovative faculty members. Inspired by a format used at the TED Conference,
each speaker delivers a highly engaging talk in just 10-20 minutes about his
or her research. Learn about Stanford's newest and most exciting discoveries
in neuroscience, bioengineering, brain imaging, psychology, and more.  

1. Building a Circuit-Diagram for the Brain
Jennifer Raymond (Stanford University) is building a "wiring diagram" for the
brain. By bridging the gap between individual synapses and whole-brain
learning & memory, Raymond's research offers new insights and strategies for
medical rehabilitation and K-12 education. 

2. Giving Sight to the Blind
Professor Brian Wandell tells the inspirational story of Mike May, the
world-record holder for blind downhill skiing. Wandell leads a
multidisciplinary team of Stanford researchers who are working together to
treat the many dimensions of blindness: retinal imaging, neural connections,
and social psychology. 

3. Brain-Computer Interfaces
Krishna Shenoy is creating "brain-computer interfaces" that will enable
paralyzed patients to control prosthetic arms and computer cursors. In this
short talk, Shenoy describes how his team of Stanford researchers has built a
system that achieves typing at 15 words-per-minute, just by "thinking about
it". 

4. Controlling the Brain with Light
Karl Deisseroth is pioneering bold new treatments for depression and other
psychiatric diseases. By sending pulses of light into the brain, Deisseroth
can control neural activity with remarkable precision. In this short talk,
Deisseroth gives an thoughtful and awe-inspiring overview of his Stanford
University lab's groundbreaking research in "optogenetics". 

5. Googling the Brain on a Chip
Kwabena Boahen is using the human brain as the blueprint for designing
radically more powerful and energy-efficient computers. In this short demo,
Boahen describes how his Brains in Silicon lab at Stanford University has
created computer chips with "synapses" and "neurons" -- and how these chips
might revolutionize computing. 

6. Visualizing Desire
Stanford University's Brian Knutson is unraveling the mysteries of human
desire with state-of-the-art medical imaging. Knutson's research sheds new
light on how individuals make complex financial decisions, and offers new
ways for alleviating schizophrenia. 

7. Deafness: Emerging Strategies for a Cure
Stefan Heller is trying to create inexpensive ear drops that can cure
deafness. In this short talk, Heller describes how his team of researchers at
Stanford University is transplanting stem cells into the ear to "regenerate"
damaged hearing cells. 

Videos and links can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=32BC95C9D7E5959C

TED Conference
http://www.ted.com