The human brain is the most complicated computer in the world, but we tend to take it for granted.
By linking neuroscience and computer technologies, engineers and scientists are creating neural implants to unlock better pain management and create accessibility tools for people living with disabilities.
As we move into the most connected and information-rich age in human history, how can we ensure that we keep our focus on this kind of ‘big picture’ science so that those most vulnerable are receiving the help they need? It's a question pondered by Dr Felix Aplin, a postdoctoral fellow at the Translational Neuroscience Facility, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney.
Dr Aplin is a chief investigator on a research grant at UNSW exploring new treatments for chronic pain. He is particularly interested in using technology to repair our nervous systems.
He features in this video, the first in a new series from the UNSW Centre for Ideas, in which UNSW academics and researchers challenge us to think about how we might not just survive, but thrive in this century of uncertainty.