In this episode of The Healthcare Theory, we sit down with Dr. John Morrison, a professor at Columbia University and the architect behind its Cognitive Science program.
He shares how his background in philosophy led him to explore the mind through neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and computational modeling. We dive into his research on perceptual confidence and how both brains and machines may operate probabilistically, from perception to decision-making. He walks us through his work using transfer learning to uncover which algorithms neural networks use to process information. We also discuss the unique role philosophers can play in shaping emerging sciences like neuroscience. Whether you’re curious about cognition, AI, or the philosophy of mind, this episode unpacks the deep questions driving this interdisciplinary field.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Morrison and his background
01:01 – How cognition and thought emerge from the brain
02:58 – Building Columbia’s Cognitive Science program
04:09 – Interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science
05:06 – Why abstract understanding of the brain matters
07:02 – Philosophy’s role in defining brain “software”
10:26 – Neural network experiments and transfer learning
13:14 – What is perceptual confidence?
15:13 – Perception and cognition as fully probabilistic
21:27 – Advice for students exploring cognitive science