New Books in Neuroscience · New Books Network

Grace Lindsay, "Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain" (Bloomsbury, 2021)

March 20, 2025·50 min·4 clips
Why do physicists assume a spherical cow when studying milk production?
Grace Lindsay discusses her book 'Models of the Mind,' exploring how physics, engineering, and mathematics shape our understanding of the brain. She covers topics like mathematical modeling, neural circuits, and the complexities of studying motor cortex, while sharing insights from her research and science communication journey.

As heard by us

A careful look at how one circuit shows the limits of wiring diagrams in neuroscience.

Grace Lindsay's conversation treats neuroscience as a field shaped by interdisciplinary methods and a few carefully chosen examples. The lobster gut circuit stands out because it shows how the same circuit can produce different rhythms when neuromodulators change how neurons…

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Why you'd press play

You want a calm, rigorous tour of how simple circuits can reveal broader brain principles.

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