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In this groundbreaking episode of Brain Fitness One, host Thoryn Stephens welcomes Dr. Galen Buckwalter — AI pioneer, research psychologist, and one of the first humans in history to have six chronically implanted neural arrays for brain-computer interface (BCI) research.
From his early days as Chief Scientist at eHarmony—where he helped revolutionize human matchmaking through psychometrics and machine learning—to his current role as Chief Brain Futurist at Brain One, Galen has spent his career at the intersection of data, neuroscience, and human potential.
Now participating in a world-leading clinical trial at Caltech, Galen shares what it’s like to be wired directly into the cloud, control robotic limbs with his thoughts, and stimulate long-dormant neural circuits after a 50-year spinal cord injury. His story is a remarkable blend of science, spirit, punk rock, and possibility.
Watch Full Interview:
Key Topics Covered
- Galen’s journey from eHarmony to becoming a neural interface pioneer
- How psychometrics and machine learning reshaped online matchmaking
- The science behind brain-computer interfaces and spinal cord research
- What it feels like to control robotic limbs using only brain signals
- Stimulation in the prefrontal cortex and unlocking new neural insights
- The ethics of neural data: “My brain, not my data”
- The BCI Pioneers Collective and fighting for ethical tech development
- How BCIs may evolve to upload knowledge or enhance memory
- The power of creative expression in recovery and brain health
- The making of “Domino,” the world’s first punk rock song using BCI
- Daily protocols and routines for optimal cognitive function
Connect with Dr. Galen Buckwalter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-galen-buckwalter-04139510/
Music Release: “Domino” (Coming May 2025)
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/thoryn-stephens/
Let’s chat.