The Human Brain Project
- The Human Brain Project
(HBP) is a billion euro project that fits in perfectly.
- The idea is to improve our understanding of the brain in lots of
ways.
- A good starting point is that it would really further understanding
if there were really good computer simulations of the brain.
- One part (the biology bit) is to gather more information about
how neurons are connected to each other, and the behaviour of
neurons.
- This fits in with brain diseases too.
- The computer bit of that is to store it in smart ways so people
(researchers but also the public) can get at it.
- There is also an attempt to develop tools for building
brain simulations.
- One way of doing this is with supercomputers tied together.
- Henry Markram is leading the project and he ran the Blue Brain Project,
which is an attempt to simulate a full brain in real time using
lots of super computers. (They're not there yet.)
- Another way is to build special neuromorphic chips; these are
chips that are meant to simulate neurons.
