Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston
@arielzj.bsky.social
Neuroscientist, author | Book out now on brain preservation as a means of life extension: https://www.arielzj.com/the-future-loves-you |
Currently a postdoctoral fellow in @conscious_tlab
Currently a postdoctoral fellow in @conscious_tlab
Sydney people:
I'm giving a talk at #SXSWSydney on Mon afternoon hosted by Tom Nash focusing on survey results of hundreds of neuroscientists on their thoughts about the feasibility of brain preservation for eventual uploading.
Come check it out!
www.sxswsydney.com/lineup?date=...
I'm giving a talk at #SXSWSydney on Mon afternoon hosted by Tom Nash focusing on survey results of hundreds of neuroscientists on their thoughts about the feasibility of brain preservation for eventual uploading.
Come check it out!
www.sxswsydney.com/lineup?date=...
October 10, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Sydney people:
I'm giving a talk at #SXSWSydney on Mon afternoon hosted by Tom Nash focusing on survey results of hundreds of neuroscientists on their thoughts about the feasibility of brain preservation for eventual uploading.
Come check it out!
www.sxswsydney.com/lineup?date=...
I'm giving a talk at #SXSWSydney on Mon afternoon hosted by Tom Nash focusing on survey results of hundreds of neuroscientists on their thoughts about the feasibility of brain preservation for eventual uploading.
Come check it out!
www.sxswsydney.com/lineup?date=...
Melbourne people, I'll be giving a talk at the @wheelercentre.bsky.social tomorrow.
It's part of the Now or Never festival's theme this year: "I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE" - very on topic for my book!
nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/twc-ta...
It's part of the Now or Never festival's theme this year: "I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE" - very on topic for my book!
nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/twc-ta...
August 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Melbourne people, I'll be giving a talk at the @wheelercentre.bsky.social tomorrow.
It's part of the Now or Never festival's theme this year: "I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE" - very on topic for my book!
nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/twc-ta...
It's part of the Now or Never festival's theme this year: "I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE" - very on topic for my book!
nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/twc-ta...
@spencrgreenberg.bsky.social grilled me on:
1. Why do humans live 80 years, instead of 20 or 300?
2. How has the understanding of death changed over time?
3. If someone walks into a teleporter, who comes out the other end?
Was a great discussion!
podcast.clearerthinking.org/episode/276/...
1. Why do humans live 80 years, instead of 20 or 300?
2. How has the understanding of death changed over time?
3. If someone walks into a teleporter, who comes out the other end?
Was a great discussion!
podcast.clearerthinking.org/episode/276/...
August 22, 2025 at 11:11 PM
@spencrgreenberg.bsky.social grilled me on:
1. Why do humans live 80 years, instead of 20 or 300?
2. How has the understanding of death changed over time?
3. If someone walks into a teleporter, who comes out the other end?
Was a great discussion!
podcast.clearerthinking.org/episode/276/...
1. Why do humans live 80 years, instead of 20 or 300?
2. How has the understanding of death changed over time?
3. If someone walks into a teleporter, who comes out the other end?
Was a great discussion!
podcast.clearerthinking.org/episode/276/...
Eating a delicious lunch is definitely the right place to make the case for an unlimited lifespan.
Great piece by Cass Knowlton in @theageaustralia.bsky.social on my work and how it might help people enjoy great food indefinitely
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
Great piece by Cass Knowlton in @theageaustralia.bsky.social on my work and how it might help people enjoy great food indefinitely
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
August 19, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Eating a delicious lunch is definitely the right place to make the case for an unlimited lifespan.
Great piece by Cass Knowlton in @theageaustralia.bsky.social on my work and how it might help people enjoy great food indefinitely
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
Great piece by Cass Knowlton in @theageaustralia.bsky.social on my work and how it might help people enjoy great food indefinitely
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
If proponents of brain preservation/biostasis/cryonics want the field to become mainstream science, we need standards for what counts as a well-preserved brain. To become mainstream medicine, we need 3rd-party reviews and accreditation.
The Brain Preservation Foundation wants to make this happen
1/n
The Brain Preservation Foundation wants to make this happen
1/n
July 3, 2025 at 11:37 AM
If proponents of brain preservation/biostasis/cryonics want the field to become mainstream science, we need standards for what counts as a well-preserved brain. To become mainstream medicine, we need 3rd-party reviews and accreditation.
The Brain Preservation Foundation wants to make this happen
1/n
The Brain Preservation Foundation wants to make this happen
1/n
New paper showing cryopreservation & subsequent functional/electrophysiological recovery in both
1. hippocampal slices
2. partially in whole mouse brains (!)
Great discussion of how to deal with osmotic shrinkage too
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1. hippocampal slices
2. partially in whole mouse brains (!)
Great discussion of how to deal with osmotic shrinkage too
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
June 27, 2025 at 7:06 AM
New paper showing cryopreservation & subsequent functional/electrophysiological recovery in both
1. hippocampal slices
2. partially in whole mouse brains (!)
Great discussion of how to deal with osmotic shrinkage too
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1. hippocampal slices
2. partially in whole mouse brains (!)
Great discussion of how to deal with osmotic shrinkage too
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Despite disagreement, the community assigns substantial probability to long-term memories only depending on static brain structure preservable by modern brain preservation techniques.
Good news for those interested in brain preservation for life extension!
5/6
Good news for those interested in brain preservation for life extension!
5/6
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Despite disagreement, the community assigns substantial probability to long-term memories only depending on static brain structure preservable by modern brain preservation techniques.
Good news for those interested in brain preservation for life extension!
5/6
Good news for those interested in brain preservation for life extension!
5/6
To take this further, we asked what probability neuroscientists thought
1) at least one memory could theoretically be decoded from static brain structure (i.e. a preserved brain)
2) all memories could theoretically be decoded, e.g. by making a whole-brain emulation
4/n
1) at least one memory could theoretically be decoded from static brain structure (i.e. a preserved brain)
2) all memories could theoretically be decoded, e.g. by making a whole-brain emulation
4/n
June 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
To take this further, we asked what probability neuroscientists thought
1) at least one memory could theoretically be decoded from static brain structure (i.e. a preserved brain)
2) all memories could theoretically be decoded, e.g. by making a whole-brain emulation
4/n
1) at least one memory could theoretically be decoded from static brain structure (i.e. a preserved brain)
2) all memories could theoretically be decoded, e.g. by making a whole-brain emulation
4/n
If long-term memories are stored in synaptic ensembles, rather than dynamic processes like electrophysiological activity, then maybe they could theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of the brain's ultrastructure?
Here neuroscientists are less certain
3/n
Here neuroscientists are less certain
3/n
June 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
If long-term memories are stored in synaptic ensembles, rather than dynamic processes like electrophysiological activity, then maybe they could theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of the brain's ultrastructure?
Here neuroscientists are less certain
3/n
Here neuroscientists are less certain
3/n
In a review from 2015, Mu-Ming Poo stated “There is a clear consensus on where the memory engram is stored—specific assemblies of synapses activated or formed during memory acquisition”
Most, but not all, neuroscientists agree
2/n
Most, but not all, neuroscientists agree
2/n
June 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
In a review from 2015, Mu-Ming Poo stated “There is a clear consensus on where the memory engram is stored—specific assemblies of synapses activated or formed during memory acquisition”
Most, but not all, neuroscientists agree
2/n
Most, but not all, neuroscientists agree
2/n
What do neuroscientists think is the physical basis of long-term memory?
Could memory theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of brain structure?
Our survey of hundreds of participants has just been published!
1/🧵
Could memory theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of brain structure?
Our survey of hundreds of participants has just been published!
1/🧵
June 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
What do neuroscientists think is the physical basis of long-term memory?
Could memory theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of brain structure?
Our survey of hundreds of participants has just been published!
1/🧵
Could memory theoretically be read out from a static snapshot of brain structure?
Our survey of hundreds of participants has just been published!
1/🧵
Come discuss how the cortex stores long-term memories with @aspirationalneuro.bsky.social on Tuesday when we discuss 'Neocortical synaptic engrams for remote contextual memories' by Lee et al (2023).
Details here: aspirationalneuroscience.org/nlm-journal-...
Details here: aspirationalneuroscience.org/nlm-journal-...
June 16, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Come discuss how the cortex stores long-term memories with @aspirationalneuro.bsky.social on Tuesday when we discuss 'Neocortical synaptic engrams for remote contextual memories' by Lee et al (2023).
Details here: aspirationalneuroscience.org/nlm-journal-...
Details here: aspirationalneuroscience.org/nlm-journal-...
Are you a memory/engram researcher or know someone who is?
Consider nominating a paper for one of the Aspirational Neuroscience's $25,000 Annual Research Awards given "To honor and highlight research into how learning and memory are physically encoded in the brain."
aspirationalneuroscience.org
Consider nominating a paper for one of the Aspirational Neuroscience's $25,000 Annual Research Awards given "To honor and highlight research into how learning and memory are physically encoded in the brain."
aspirationalneuroscience.org
May 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Are you a memory/engram researcher or know someone who is?
Consider nominating a paper for one of the Aspirational Neuroscience's $25,000 Annual Research Awards given "To honor and highlight research into how learning and memory are physically encoded in the brain."
aspirationalneuroscience.org
Consider nominating a paper for one of the Aspirational Neuroscience's $25,000 Annual Research Awards given "To honor and highlight research into how learning and memory are physically encoded in the brain."
aspirationalneuroscience.org
If decoding memories from preserved brains seems like science-fiction by today’s standards, consider that these guys have now (partially) figured out how to read a burned and buried scroll from two thousand years ago by cleverly analysing 3D X-rays of the still-rolled-up scrolls
tinyurl.com/3p8y7w73
tinyurl.com/3p8y7w73
May 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
If decoding memories from preserved brains seems like science-fiction by today’s standards, consider that these guys have now (partially) figured out how to read a burned and buried scroll from two thousand years ago by cleverly analysing 3D X-rays of the still-rolled-up scrolls
tinyurl.com/3p8y7w73
tinyurl.com/3p8y7w73
If you're in Brisbane, come have a drink and a chat with me and some other scientists tomorrow!
March 28, 2025 at 1:27 AM
If you're in Brisbane, come have a drink and a chat with me and some other scientists tomorrow!
Everyone dies...
... until Joseph doesn't. Until Anne doesn't. Until Clyde doesn't. Until Ashanthi doesn't. Until Moisés doesn't. Until Emily doesn't.
open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
... until Joseph doesn't. Until Anne doesn't. Until Clyde doesn't. Until Ashanthi doesn't. Until Moisés doesn't. Until Emily doesn't.
open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
March 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Everyone dies...
... until Joseph doesn't. Until Anne doesn't. Until Clyde doesn't. Until Ashanthi doesn't. Until Moisés doesn't. Until Emily doesn't.
open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
... until Joseph doesn't. Until Anne doesn't. Until Clyde doesn't. Until Ashanthi doesn't. Until Moisés doesn't. Until Emily doesn't.
open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
"Modern medicine's seemingly paradoxical stance - simultaneously declaring death 'healthy' while working tirelessly to prevent it - parallels the cognitive dissonance of some 19th century surgeons."
Eli and I argue doctors should acknowledge desires for longer lives
www.amjmed.com/article/S000...
Eli and I argue doctors should acknowledge desires for longer lives
www.amjmed.com/article/S000...
March 5, 2025 at 11:27 PM
"Modern medicine's seemingly paradoxical stance - simultaneously declaring death 'healthy' while working tirelessly to prevent it - parallels the cognitive dissonance of some 19th century surgeons."
Eli and I argue doctors should acknowledge desires for longer lives
www.amjmed.com/article/S000...
Eli and I argue doctors should acknowledge desires for longer lives
www.amjmed.com/article/S000...
The Memory Decoding Challenge: A $100,000 prize for decoding a "non-trivial" memory from a preserved brain
Read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
Read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
March 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The Memory Decoding Challenge: A $100,000 prize for decoding a "non-trivial" memory from a preserved brain
Read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
Read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/preservi...
Nice to see my book now available in my home bookstore at Readings, Carlton
February 27, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Nice to see my book now available in my home bookstore at Readings, Carlton
Fascinating discovery that symptoms of Huntington's disease only manifest after expansion of CAG repeats in mature neurons. CAG-repeats lead to mispairing after strand separation, leading to DNA excision and resynthesis. Across a human lifetime, this results in a progressive expansion of the repeat.
February 12, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Fascinating discovery that symptoms of Huntington's disease only manifest after expansion of CAG repeats in mature neurons. CAG-repeats lead to mispairing after strand separation, leading to DNA excision and resynthesis. Across a human lifetime, this results in a progressive expansion of the repeat.
I'm interviewed in @haaretzcom.bsky.social for an article about AI, neural prosthetics, brain emulations, consciousness and brain preservation for life extension.
archive.is/bHPEP
archive.is/bHPEP
February 7, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I'm interviewed in @haaretzcom.bsky.social for an article about AI, neural prosthetics, brain emulations, consciousness and brain preservation for life extension.
archive.is/bHPEP
archive.is/bHPEP
One of my favourite visual illusions, printed in my new book
February 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
One of my favourite visual illusions, printed in my new book
As both a consciousness researcher and access to life extension advocate, I fully endorse "I still feel like it has something to do with those fries on the pier"
February 4, 2025 at 7:17 AM
As both a consciousness researcher and access to life extension advocate, I fully endorse "I still feel like it has something to do with those fries on the pier"
"...the highly accurate and complete brain reconstruction took an estimated 33 person-years of manual proofreading, yet less than 5 years to complete.."
Good summary of fly connectome mapping advancements by my former mentor back when I was a wee undergrad
@nsneuro-jr.bsky.social
t.co/XIS2jGzsw3
Good summary of fly connectome mapping advancements by my former mentor back when I was a wee undergrad
@nsneuro-jr.bsky.social
t.co/XIS2jGzsw3
January 13, 2025 at 4:03 AM
"...the highly accurate and complete brain reconstruction took an estimated 33 person-years of manual proofreading, yet less than 5 years to complete.."
Good summary of fly connectome mapping advancements by my former mentor back when I was a wee undergrad
@nsneuro-jr.bsky.social
t.co/XIS2jGzsw3
Good summary of fly connectome mapping advancements by my former mentor back when I was a wee undergrad
@nsneuro-jr.bsky.social
t.co/XIS2jGzsw3