Borjan (Boki) Milinković
@neuromorphicboki.bsky.social
Mathematical Neuroscientist. Biologically Inclined
Postdoc Researcher @ Destexhe Lab, CNRS, Paris-Saclay
Exploring brains and minds, in humans and machines.
consciousness . synthetic systems . emergence . computation . information . autonomy . causality
Postdoc Researcher @ Destexhe Lab, CNRS, Paris-Saclay
Exploring brains and minds, in humans and machines.
consciousness . synthetic systems . emergence . computation . information . autonomy . causality
If we want #synthetic #consciousness, the challenge is not to find what algorithm we should run.
But, what kind of physical system must compute it and what are it’s features.
That is the shift #biological #computationalism demands.
8/n
But, what kind of physical system must compute it and what are it’s features.
That is the shift #biological #computationalism demands.
8/n
December 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
If we want #synthetic #consciousness, the challenge is not to find what algorithm we should run.
But, what kind of physical system must compute it and what are it’s features.
That is the shift #biological #computationalism demands.
8/n
But, what kind of physical system must compute it and what are it’s features.
That is the shift #biological #computationalism demands.
8/n
Biological computation has 3 properties:
1. It is #hybrid: discrete events embedded in continuous dynamics
2. It is #scale-#inseparable: no clean software/hardware or functional level separation
3. Its metabolically grounded: #scale-#integration is an energy optimisation strategy
4/n
1. It is #hybrid: discrete events embedded in continuous dynamics
2. It is #scale-#inseparable: no clean software/hardware or functional level separation
3. Its metabolically grounded: #scale-#integration is an energy optimisation strategy
4/n
December 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Biological computation has 3 properties:
1. It is #hybrid: discrete events embedded in continuous dynamics
2. It is #scale-#inseparable: no clean software/hardware or functional level separation
3. Its metabolically grounded: #scale-#integration is an energy optimisation strategy
4/n
1. It is #hybrid: discrete events embedded in continuous dynamics
2. It is #scale-#inseparable: no clean software/hardware or functional level separation
3. Its metabolically grounded: #scale-#integration is an energy optimisation strategy
4/n
The core claim is simple but uncomfortable:
the traditional computational paradigm is broken.
Brains don’t compute like von Neumann machines, but we can build an alternative theory of computation
3/n
the traditional computational paradigm is broken.
Brains don’t compute like von Neumann machines, but we can build an alternative theory of computation
3/n
December 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The core claim is simple but uncomfortable:
the traditional computational paradigm is broken.
Brains don’t compute like von Neumann machines, but we can build an alternative theory of computation
3/n
the traditional computational paradigm is broken.
Brains don’t compute like von Neumann machines, but we can build an alternative theory of computation
3/n
This place..
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This place..
Brighton feels as good as I remember it.
September 10, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Brighton feels as good as I remember it.
Anaesthetic-induced unresponsiveness, by contrast, breaks this vertical tether: macroscopic dynamics proliferate and become fragmented, producing an explosion of the number of closed macros discovered on each scale that never consolidate into structured and dominant dynamics
11/n
11/n
July 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Anaesthetic-induced unresponsiveness, by contrast, breaks this vertical tether: macroscopic dynamics proliferate and become fragmented, producing an explosion of the number of closed macros discovered on each scale that never consolidate into structured and dominant dynamics
11/n
11/n
Contrasting this with #wake, and to a lesser extent the #dream-like #ketamine anaesthetic state, which display *lower* overall emergence but a far more structured emergence landscape!
It was crazy wild! But it took time to grasp the deeper insight behind it.
8/n
It was crazy wild! But it took time to grasp the deeper insight behind it.
8/n
July 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Contrasting this with #wake, and to a lesser extent the #dream-like #ketamine anaesthetic state, which display *lower* overall emergence but a far more structured emergence landscape!
It was crazy wild! But it took time to grasp the deeper insight behind it.
8/n
It was crazy wild! But it took time to grasp the deeper insight behind it.
8/n
Getting into the nitty gritty, we found drug specific effects. First, propofol and xenon both *elevate* emergence while fragmenting the emergent landscape across the #multiscale #heterarchy.
7/n
7/n
July 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Getting into the nitty gritty, we found drug specific effects. First, propofol and xenon both *elevate* emergence while fragmenting the emergent landscape across the #multiscale #heterarchy.
7/n
7/n
The results overturn an intuitive assumption that richer #consciousness should coincide with greater #emergence. Instead, we show that loss of consc. is characterised by higher emergence (meaning stronger cross-scale decoupling) yet the emergent landscape becomes fragmented
6/n
6/n
July 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The results overturn an intuitive assumption that richer #consciousness should coincide with greater #emergence. Instead, we show that loss of consc. is characterised by higher emergence (meaning stronger cross-scale decoupling) yet the emergent landscape becomes fragmented
6/n
6/n
Today, on our closing day, we begin with the cohesive and clear work of Carmen Miguel. Here she is providing us with a model of chasing movement of pairs of fish. Going beyond just toy examples of collective dynamics!
June 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Today, on our closing day, we begin with the cohesive and clear work of Carmen Miguel. Here she is providing us with a model of chasing movement of pairs of fish. Going beyond just toy examples of collective dynamics!
..After which.. we have the wonderful #synch.live active scientifico-movement-performance!
June 27, 2025 at 8:07 AM
..After which.. we have the wonderful #synch.live active scientifico-movement-performance!
Next up!.. Madalina Sas presenting a consilience between artistic and scientific methods in her practice to discover emergent phenomena. Fascinating!
#EmbracingComplexity
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
#EmbracingComplexity
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
June 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Next up!.. Madalina Sas presenting a consilience between artistic and scientific methods in her practice to discover emergent phenomena. Fascinating!
#EmbracingComplexity
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
#EmbracingComplexity
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
After an afternoon swim and a beautiful dinner yesterday we begin refreshed for the 4th day of the workshop with David Sanchez presenting on whether human coordination is embedded in social network structures. In the image is a fascinating analysis of the use of ‘bruh!’ Across the U.S., #bruh.
June 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
After an afternoon swim and a beautiful dinner yesterday we begin refreshed for the 4th day of the workshop with David Sanchez presenting on whether human coordination is embedded in social network structures. In the image is a fascinating analysis of the use of ‘bruh!’ Across the U.S., #bruh.
Our third day begins with a #Workshop #Tutorial, by the always-erudite Pedro Mediano. Making distinctions between the difference ‘faces’ of an #information-theorist he presents a clear starters guide to information in #complex #systems.
June 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Our third day begins with a #Workshop #Tutorial, by the always-erudite Pedro Mediano. Making distinctions between the difference ‘faces’ of an #information-theorist he presents a clear starters guide to information in #complex #systems.
For the first #workshop of #EmbracingComplexity, Julia Mindlin explains how Takens embedding can be used to chatacterise time-series from climate-specific dynamical systems.
With the addition, of measuring their complexity under particular criteria. Fascinating work!
With the addition, of measuring their complexity under particular criteria. Fascinating work!
June 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
For the first #workshop of #EmbracingComplexity, Julia Mindlin explains how Takens embedding can be used to chatacterise time-series from climate-specific dynamical systems.
With the addition, of measuring their complexity under particular criteria. Fascinating work!
With the addition, of measuring their complexity under particular criteria. Fascinating work!
Antonella Tramacere moves us towards not only thinking about the positives of emergentist thinking, but towards its limits as well. A talk that is proving powerful with its considered precision of thought.
June 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Antonella Tramacere moves us towards not only thinking about the positives of emergentist thinking, but towards its limits as well. A talk that is proving powerful with its considered precision of thought.
Next, Leonardo Gollo highlighting a key notion of scales and the duality of whether a priviledged scale is a necessary assumption.
June 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Next, Leonardo Gollo highlighting a key notion of scales and the duality of whether a priviledged scale is a necessary assumption.
Today we kick off with @frosas.bsky.social, with an opening overview of the utility of maths when confronting challenges in philosophy, particularly ideas of emergence!
June 24, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Today we kick off with @frosas.bsky.social, with an opening overview of the utility of maths when confronting challenges in philosophy, particularly ideas of emergence!
After lunch, we have begun with Lucas Lacasa (@wetuad.bsky.social) who is introducing the use of #federated #learning as implementable solutions for cross-institutional problems. Highlighting industry applications of quantifying #emergence.
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
June 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
After lunch, we have begun with Lucas Lacasa (@wetuad.bsky.social) who is introducing the use of #federated #learning as implementable solutions for cross-institutional problems. Highlighting industry applications of quantifying #emergence.
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
After lunch, we have begun with Lucas Lacasa (@wetuad.bsky.social) who is introducing the use of #federated #learning as implementable solutions for cross-institutional problems. Highlighting industry applications of quantifying #emergence.
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
June 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
After lunch, we have begun with Lucas Lacasa (@wetuad.bsky.social) who is introducing the use of #federated #learning as implementable solutions for cross-institutional problems. Highlighting industry applications of quantifying #emergence.
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
@ifisc.uib-csic.es
Next, @canalesjohnson.bsky.social showing that shifts between temporal integration and segregation in sound phenomenology is concomitant with information exchange of neural dynamics between Frontal and Posterior regions prior to report. Super cool!
June 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Next, @canalesjohnson.bsky.social showing that shifts between temporal integration and segregation in sound phenomenology is concomitant with information exchange of neural dynamics between Frontal and Posterior regions prior to report. Super cool!
We kick off #EmbracingComplexity with the inimitable @laurennross.bsky.social explaining two key aspects of emergence that cause philosophical and scientific challenges. Challenges we hope to tackle!
@ifisc.uib-csic.es @rherzoga.bsky.social
@ifisc.uib-csic.es @rherzoga.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM
We kick off #EmbracingComplexity with the inimitable @laurennross.bsky.social explaining two key aspects of emergence that cause philosophical and scientific challenges. Challenges we hope to tackle!
@ifisc.uib-csic.es @rherzoga.bsky.social
@ifisc.uib-csic.es @rherzoga.bsky.social
We're looking forward to welcoming everyone to #Mallorca tomorrow at the @ifisc.uib-csic.es, for the #EmbracingComplexity: Principled and practical approaches to #emergence!
It's going to be a stellar line-up, during what appears to be a few glorious summer days.
See you tomorrow everyone!
🎉🎉
It's going to be a stellar line-up, during what appears to be a few glorious summer days.
See you tomorrow everyone!
🎉🎉
June 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
We're looking forward to welcoming everyone to #Mallorca tomorrow at the @ifisc.uib-csic.es, for the #EmbracingComplexity: Principled and practical approaches to #emergence!
It's going to be a stellar line-up, during what appears to be a few glorious summer days.
See you tomorrow everyone!
🎉🎉
It's going to be a stellar line-up, during what appears to be a few glorious summer days.
See you tomorrow everyone!
🎉🎉
The key is that we *very* systematically show how our Dynamical Independence framework works on simple synthetic data. Serving as a step-by-step tutorial on what you can do with it!
3/n
3/n
May 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
The key is that we *very* systematically show how our Dynamical Independence framework works on simple synthetic data. Serving as a step-by-step tutorial on what you can do with it!
3/n
3/n
🎉 FINALLY PUBLISHED! 🎉
We outline how to capture the #emergent dynamical structure in #biophysical neural models.
coauthored with a team dear to my heart; @thomasandrillon.bsky.social, @anilseth.bsky.social, Lionel Barnett, and Olivia Carter.
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
We outline how to capture the #emergent dynamical structure in #biophysical neural models.
coauthored with a team dear to my heart; @thomasandrillon.bsky.social, @anilseth.bsky.social, Lionel Barnett, and Olivia Carter.
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
May 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
🎉 FINALLY PUBLISHED! 🎉
We outline how to capture the #emergent dynamical structure in #biophysical neural models.
coauthored with a team dear to my heart; @thomasandrillon.bsky.social, @anilseth.bsky.social, Lionel Barnett, and Olivia Carter.
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
We outline how to capture the #emergent dynamical structure in #biophysical neural models.
coauthored with a team dear to my heart; @thomasandrillon.bsky.social, @anilseth.bsky.social, Lionel Barnett, and Olivia Carter.
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...