352 | Bing Brunton on Connecting the Connectome to the Body

<div class="fl-col-group fl-node-fo5egvmhq2b0 fl-col-group-nested"> <div class="fl-col fl-node-vsg5ncbz1pul fl-col-bg-color"> <div class="fl-col-content fl-node-content"> <div class="fl-module fl-module-rich-text fl-node-rxkn86co4ahj"> <div class="fl-module-content fl-node-content"> <div class="fl-rich-text"> <p>The connectome is the wiring diagram of a brain, a big matrix that tells us what neurons talk to what other neurons. Understanding it is an important step to understanding how brains work, but a long way from the final answer. A big next step is understanding how neuronal circuits connect to and guide bodily behavior. Very recent work on mapping the fruit-fly connectome has brought us closer to that goal. I talk with neuroscientist Bing Brunton about the connectome, how we can study it to understand bodily motion in flies and other creatures, and where it's all taking us.</p> <p><em>Chubbies is here to keep you comfy and looking good year-round. Get 20% off with code<strong> MINDSCAPE</strong> at <a href="https://chubbiesshorts.com/MINDSCAPE">chubbiesshorts.com/MINDSCAPE</a>! #chubbiespod</em></p> <p><em>Upgrade your denim game with Rag & Bone! Get 20% off sitewide with code MINDSCAPE at <a href="https://www.rag-bone.com/">www.rag-bone.com</a>. #ragandbonepod</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="fl-module fl-module-rich-text fl-node-r5jxwu9kzfb1"> <div class="fl-module-content fl-node-content"> <div class="fl-rich-text"> <p><em>Support Mindscape on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Patreon</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Blog post with transcript: <a href="https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2026/04/27/352-bing-brunton-on-connecting-the-connectome-to-the-body/"> https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2026/04/27/352-bing-brunton-on-connecting-the-connectome-to-the-body/</a></em></p> <p>Bing Wen Brunton received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Princeton University.. She is currently a Professor of Biology and the Richard & Joan Komen University Chair at the University of Washington, with affiliations at the eScience Institute for Data Science, the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, and the Department of Applied Mathematics.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bingbrunton.com/">Web site</a></li> <li><a href="https://biology.washington.edu/people/bing-w-brunton">University of Washington web page</a></li> <li><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UftAYPkAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Google Scholar publications</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bingsbrain">YouTube channel</a></li> <li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bingbrunton.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bings_art/">Artworks (Instagram)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>