In the fourth episode of Season 2 of the B5Y Podcast, we explore the third paper from Dr. Marvin Weigand’s PhD thesis: “Neural Placement Based on Optimization Principles.” This episode focuses on the intriguing process of brain folding and what those wrinkles tell us about brain structure and function.

Key topics include:

• How a computational model simulates brain development, revealing how the balance between local and global neuron connections shapes brain folding.
• Why larger brains tend to fold, and why a large-brained animal — the manatee — remain smooth-brained.
• Insights into brain disorders like lissencephaly and polymicrogyria, where abnormal folding patterns may be linked to disruptions in neuronal connections.
• The broader implications of these folding patterns for understanding conditions like autism and schizophrenia.

We discuss how the brain’s folding patterns are not just structural but deeply connected to its efficiency and function. Join us for a look at how this model helps explain both normal brain development and what happens when things go wrong.

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