As a computational neuroscientist, I study the brain through models that reduce it to data points and 3D reconstructions, yet watching Dr. Obaid perform live neurosurgeries showed me what models alone could not capture. Here I describe how witnessing the living human brain — fragile, unique, and devoid of clear landmarks — became a turning point, reminding me that our models must not only simulate the brain, but also stay grounded in its complexity and individuality.
Sara Larivière & Sami Obaid