#9 - Roshan Cools - Brain mechanisms of cognitive control and motivation

Ever wondered how the EU is shaping the future of AI?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christian Herles, a legal expert and thought leader in digital law, to explore the impact of the EU AI Act on the world of artificial intelligence.Dr. Herles walks us through the intricacies of the EU AI Act—one of the most groundbreaking pieces of legislation in the AI space. We discuss how this regulation will influence innovation, address the ethical use of AI, and tackle critical issues like risk management and compliance. From legal liability in autonomous systems to safeguarding data privacy under GDPR, we cover the key challenges industries are facing today.We also look ahead to the future: How will AI regulation evolve as technology advances? What responsibilities do businesses and developers hold in ensuring the ethical use of AI? And how can companies navigate these new legal landscapes while continuing to innovate?Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of AI, law, and ethics, and discover what the future holds for AI regulation in Europe and beyond.Enjoy!

Ever wondered how AI is reshaping industries right before our eyes? In this episode, I sit down with Sven Spöde, a PR expert and seasoned AI enthusiast, to discuss the transformative power of AI in the business world.Sven breaks down the five levels of AI development—from chatbots to fully autonomous systems—and we explore how businesses are already leveraging AI for growth. We dive deep into real-world applications, from improving workflows to empowering individuals and small businesses with AI tools like GPT models.We also discuss the future: What will Level 3 autonomy look like? How are traditional industries being disrupted? And what are the big questions we still need to answer as AI continues to evolve?Tune in for an insightful conversation about the impact of AI on business, the opportunities it’s creating, and the challenges that lie ahead.Enjoy!

Ever wondered how AI can be harnessed for the greater good? I talk to Dr. Paul Springer.Paul has a background in theoretical physics and years of experience as a management and IT consultant. He’s also the co-founder and managing director of MI4People, a non-profit that develops open-source AI solutions for humanitarian, social, and environmental issues.We dive into how AI can help tackle global challenges, the mission behind MI4People, and how technology can drive meaningful, positive change.Enjoy!

Ever heard of digital therapeutics? Most people haven't. I talk to Jonas Albert. Jonas is a market access and strategy specialist for digital health markets, with a big focus on digital therapeutics. He is currently working as managing consultant for fbeta, Germany's leading consultancy in the area of product conception, evidence generations, general market access and price negotiations for reimbursable digital therapeutics. We cover many topics starting with what digital therapeutics are and where the innovation lies. How do different countries approach the process and what are business opportunities in this area.Enjoy

How does willpower work and how do underlying factors such as cognitive control and motivation influence it? We talk to Dr. Roshan Cools about her research. We cover many topics ranging from reward and the role of dopamine as well as cognitive enhancers such as ritalin or adderall and if they are actually effective or not.  We also touched upon how UX design could impact cognitive control and how you should think about it.

What actually makes a good learning experience and how does it affect learning performance? We talk about this with our guest Frank. He has a passion for understanding and improving learning as well as education. He is currently an assistant professor in Neuroeducation & Artificial Intelligence at the Donders Institute.  We cover many topics ranging from AI in education to online learning all the way to the important effect emotions have on learning.

In this conversation we talk about the science of language. How does language work? What is language and how does it impact us every day? We discuss how language makes us uniquely human and where do the borders lie if there are any. We also talk about the overlaps of language and memory. Our guest is Dr. Vitoria Piai. Vitória is a senior researcher at the Donders Centre for Cognition and the Radboud University Medical Centre. Her research focuses on language function in healthy and neurological populations, such as stroke, brain tumor, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia or Parkinson’s. She pays special attention to the intersection of language and other functions, such as executive control, (semantic) memory, and motor control in the case of speaking. 

Our guest today is Prof. Pieter Medendorp. He is the head of the sensorimotor (http://sensorimotorlab.com/) lab at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. In this conversation we talk about the science of sensory integration and transformation. Specifically, how these very fundamental processes impact us on a daily basis without us even realizing it. We discuss how our senses can fool us and how that experience can be fun. We also make links to industry and how forms of therapy and diagnosis can improve using these principles.

We most of the time don’t make rational decisions. It feels like feel like we are in control but that’s just an illusion. In this conversation we talk to Prof. Alan Sanfey (alansanfey.com) who is the principal investigator of the decision neuroscience lab (www.decisionneurosciencelab.com/) at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior. We get a better idea of what drives our decisions, how industry is trying to use these concepts and also where it sometimes goes wrong.

Did you ever wonder what the career path looks like for a scientist? The academic system can feel obscure to outsiders and not easy to get into. To scientists themselves, it can create uncertainty and is also fiercely competitive. In this conversation, we talk to Dr. Ian Cameron (@ian_gm_cameron). Ian works at the exciting interface between academia, entrepreneurship, industry and society. We discuss the ‘standard’ career path, transfer of knowledge to society, and the relationship of academia and industry.