Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7.11 The Human Brain Project and Computer
Simulation
We so much want to understand our minds. The shadows and the light, how
we process emotion and information, and what happens in normal and
pathological conditions. The latest news regarding the concerted efforts to map
brain activity (BAM) neuron by neuron, electric impulse by electric impulse, in
a simultaneous unfolding of spatial and temporal patterns of brain firing
processes, is taking the scientific community by storm. The boldness of such an
endeavor is clearly exciting scientists. The Human Brain Project in Europe aims
to create a computer simulation of the entire brain. Realistically, we know that
computational modeling and analysis of every spike from every neuron will
generate a flood of data impossible to handle even by the most powerful
computer systems presently available. Computational techniques to handle
such an amount of data have still to be developed. Of course it is advisable to
start with limited numbers of neurons in networks grown in vitro,tobe
followed by small brains of worms, insects and small animals. As in the Human
Genome Project, the initial awkward methods can be accelerated to previously
unimaginable results. The Human Connectome Project, using functional MRI
to track how different regions of the brain interact is a good start, even if it
doesn't have the spatial and temporal resolution needed for a very detailed
mapping. Invasive implantable electrodes, nanowires and non-invasive
reporters like nanoparticles functionalized to trace the desired molecular
reactions represent interesting developments, although at this time it is not
known how they disrupt the normal functioning of neurons in the brain and so
they surely cannot be applied to humans at this stage.
Despite all the projected effort the all-encompassing problem remains, that
is, what is the significance if we can see all neurons firing in real time? Will we
find the key to decoding the brain? Such mapping techniques are meaningless if
we are not able to relate electrical activity to behaviour. Will we be able to
finally connect the brain with the mind, cognition and consciousness? What if,
as with the Human Genome Project, we end with more questions than answers?
The outcome is dicult to predict. The applications in artificial intelligence,
brain-computer interfaces, and understanding of normal and diseased brain
might be invaluable and extremely helpful, leading to better treatments of
mental disease and thus alleviating the problems confronting the present
healthcare system and society in general.
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7.12 Conservative Perspectives: A Final Comment
The conventional strategy in modern neurobiology is to examine, using
state-of-the-art techniques such as functional MRI, neurons or subcircuits of
interconnected neurons, as well as their feedback and inhibitory mechanisms
that would explain brain activities, including thinking, emotions and maybe
even intuition, creativity and insight. The current research plan is to search for
