Nature & Nurture #86: Dr. Michael Levin - Animal Regeneration, Learning, & Memory

Dr. Michael Levin is a developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University, where he is the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor and director of the Allen Discovery Center and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology.

In this episode we talk about Mike’s research, which ranges from studying the molecular biology of cancer, to the bioelectrics of limb regeneration, to memory and higher-order cognition. Mike describes the overall theme of his research as understanding the embodied nature of cognition in organic and synthetic systems, and the philosophical implications of this worldview. We discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from the neurobiology of planarian flatworms, to the future of regenerative medicine, to philosophical questions about the definitions of life, consciousness, and artificial intelligence.

0:02:05Exploring the concept of mind embodied in different architectures0:03:26Understanding morphogenesis as a collective intelligence of cells0:04:47Shift in problem space and intelligence from single cells to multicellular structures0:06:42The intentionality of animals and the continuum of agency0:09:27Choosing the appropriate model system for research0:11:11Dr. Levin's background and evolution of his research0:17:10Interest in the intersection of engineering and biology0:19:59Studying the bioelectric communication in cellular networks0:22:56Computational models of morphogenesis and cognitive aspects of development0:25:19The complexity of intelligence and the binary distinction of living0:27:25The continuum of life and the challenges of defining it0:29:49The ability to learn and memory in planaria0:37:00The challenges of defining individual identity and memory0:39:23The unique regenerative abilities of planaria and salamanders0:41:06The future of regenerative medicine and synthetic biology0:45:24The potential of somatic psychiatry and tissue training regimes0:47:44Understanding complex cognitive machines and the limits of understanding0:51:06Different notions of understanding emergent phenomena0:53:29The challenges of understanding neural networks and biological networks