top of page
THE
WESTERN INSTITUTE
FOR
ADVANCED STUDY
NEWS AND EVENTS
The Western Institute for Advanced Study works with partners to host symposiums, scientific workshops, and similar events across the country. These events bring together scientists and supporters to progress our fundamental research program and develop impactful applications.
IN THE NEWS
June 2026: A paper summarizing the results of our first Grand Challenge has been published, in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience! This study explains how our new approach to describing biophysical processes in the brain naturally leads to the generation of emergent properties, including perceptual content. Can consciousness truly be a natural process, explained by probabilistic computation and holographic encoding? Link to the open-access article: Kirkeby-Hinrup, A. and Stoll, E. A. (2026) Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 20: 1816314
This paper received press attention! Here are some articles on the study:
MSN - A Q&A with the author of this new theory
Herald - Neuroscience presents a naturalized theory of consciousness
Bloomberg - We're one step closer to understanding consciousness
February 2026: Another paper summarizing the results of our first Grand Challenge has been published, in the journal New Ideas in Psychology! Historically, it has proven difficult to explain the relationship between neuronal activity and perceptual experience. By modeling each ion interacting with the neuronal membrane as an electromagnetic point source, we model the distribution of possible system states as a wavefunction. The probabilistic trajectory of each ion over time t may affect the voltage state of one or more neurons, so the system state must be computed as a whole. In this model, the constructive and destructive interference of these wavefunctions not only alters the position and momentum of each ion, leading to a signaling outcome for each neuron - it is a compression of information. If the neuronal membrane is also a charge-detecting
polymer substrate, which meets the criteria of a holographic recording surface, then this physical process of encoding information through wavefunction interference will generate a holographic projection of the encoded information content. And so, as the system state is defined, the computation is paired with a multi-sensory percept, exclusively accessed by the encoding structure and corresponding to data collected by the sensory apparatus. Link to the open-access article: Stoll, E. A. (2026) New Ideas In Psychology 82: 101253
June 2024: Another paper summarizing the results of our first Grand Challenge has been published, in the journal Applied Math! This paper models each cortical neuron as a two-state quantum system, with some probability of switching from an off-state to an on-state - rather than a classical digital system, which is either in an off-state or an on-state at any given time. This model builds on many probabilistic and statistical approaches of modeling cortical neural networks over the past thirty years, from Bayesian statistical mechanics to the Fokker-Planck equations, but this new model formalizes the inherently non-deterministic quantum nature of the system. Interestingly, this new theoretical framework readily explains the energy efficiency of the brain, and makes specific and testable predictions for neuroscientists to evaluate in the laboratory. One key unique prediction of this model is that infrared particles should be released upon information compression during perceptual tasks, but not during ictal activity.
Link to the open-access article: Stoll, E. A. (2024) Applied Math 4(3), 806-827
February 2024: Another paper summarizing the results of our first Grand Challenge has been published, in the journal Frontiers in Cognition! This paper describes how a cortical neural network encodes the state of its surrounding environment, through a non-deterministic computational process, by thermodynamically favoring the selection of an optimal system state from a large probability distribution. Each iterative computational cycle results in a decision – to engage in further exploration, in order to acquire more predictive value, or to exploit the predictive value already gained. Critically, this model demonstrates that fundamental thermodynamic constraints provide a limit on the predictive capacity of the system, with the amount of energy entering the system restricting both the amount of information generated and the amount of predictive value extracted.
Link to the open-access article: Stoll, E. A. (2024) Front Cogn 2: 1171273
January 2024: A new paper summarizing the results of our first Grand Challenge has been published in Physical Biology! This paper presents a model of thermodynamic computation in cortical neural networks, with information compression having a physical effect on the voltage of the neuronal membrane, as free energy is converted into the cellular work of maintaining the membrane potential. This paper shows that the extraordinary energy efficiency of the brain is consistent with an inherently non-deterministic, rather than classical, computation.
Link to the open-access article: Stoll, E. A. (2024) Phys Biol 21(1): 016003
March 2023: Over the past year, the journal Cognitive Science hosted a special initiative entitled Progress and Puzzles of Cognitive Science. The purpose of this initiative was to publish concise and provocative proposals to reframe the past and conceptualize the future of this discipline. The accepted papers represented viewpoints of the widest multidisciplinary relevance, which were likely to have the broadest impact on the field. The lead investigator on our first Grand Challenge was invited to present her view on this platform. Read Izi's paper on the emerging connections between consciousness, exascale computational power, probabilistic outcomes, and energy efficiency here: Stoll, E. A. (2023) Cogn Sci 47: 13272
EVENTS
SYMPOSIUM DINNER SF
SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP SF
The Western Institute for Advanced Study received sponsorship from Creative Ventures, Flagstar Bank, Moss Adams, and Benchmark Wines to hold its first symposium and fundraising dinner, on Sunday, December 10, 2023 in San Francisco. We were so pleased to celebrate the success of our first Grand Challenge! This event was followed by a full-day scientific workshop to develop the next stage of our research program.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Yasunori Nomura
Director of The Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics, University of California
speaking on the role of theory and experiment in driving scientific progress
Izi Stoll
Scientific Director of The Western Institute for Advanced Study
speaking on consciousness, computation, and information processing
David Redish
Distinguished McKnight Professor of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
speaking on how we perceive the world and make decisions
Amy Wachholtz
Program Director in Clinical Psychology, University of Colorado
speaking on the role of neuroscientific research in improving mental health outcomes
bottom of page