SP4
THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE SP9 SP4 THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE SP6 SP7
SP4 SP1
SP5 SP3
The Human Brain Project (HBP) is a European Commission Future and Emerging SP2 Technologies Flagship that aims to achieve a multi-level, integrated understanding SP4 INTERACTS DIRECTLY WITH SEVERAL OTHER SUBPROJECTS of brain structure and function through the development and use of information
Subproject 1 SP1 Strategic Mouse Brain Data – Subproject 2 SP2 Strategic Human Brain Data – Subproject 3 SP3 Cognitive and communication technologies (ICT). These technologies will enable large-scale Architectures – Subproject 4 SP4 Theoretical Neuroscience – Subproject 5 SP5 Neuroinformatics Platform – Subproject 6 SP6 collaboration and data sharing, reconstruction Brain Simulation Platform – Subproject 7 SP7 High Performance Computing Platform – Subproject 8 SP8 Medical Informatics of the brain at different biological scales, Platform – Subproject 9 SP9 Neuromorphic Computing Platform – Subproject 10 SP10 Neurorobotics Platform – Subproject 11 SP11 federated analysis of clinical data to map diseases of the brain, and the development Applications – Subproject 12 SP12 Ethics and Society of brain-inspired computing systems.
3 The HBP is working to achieve an integrated, multi- level understanding of brain structure and function through the development and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) Operational Objectives
Theoretical insights from mathematics can Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN), which works make a valuable contribution to many different as an incubator for approaches that challenge The HBP’s ICT Platforms will allow • Neurorobotics (testing brain models and areas of HBP research, from modelling of low- traditional wisdom. neuroscientists, clinical researchers and simulations in virtual environments) level biological processes, to the analysis of The main objectives of SP4 for the information technology developers to perform • A High Performance Computing Platform large-scale patterns of brain activity and the Ramp-Up Phase are to I) provide models and diverse experiments and share knowledge, with will support the other platforms formalisation of new paradigms of computation. mathematical techniques to link different a common goal of unlocking the most complex The HBP thus includes a cohesive programme model types (from detailed to simplified); II) structure in the known universe. During the first The HBP was launched in 2013 and of theoretical research addressing strategically provide models of brain signals at different two-and-a-half years (the Ramp-Up Phase), the brings together more than 100 academic and selected themes essential to the goals of the scales, from cellular to large-scale; III) provide HBP will collect strategic data, develop theoretical corporate Partners in more than 20 countries. Project: mathematical techniques to produce models of synaptic plasticity, learning and frameworks and perform the development work HBP research is organised into twelve simplified models of complex brain structures memory; IV) provide models of several cognitive necessary to make the six ICT Platforms available Subprojects (SP), each broken down into and dynamics; rules linking learning and functions, such as perception-action, attention, for use by the scientific community in the Work Packages (WP) and Tasks (T), with memory to synaptic plasticity; large-scale working memory, as well as brain states such Operational Phase. The HBP’s ICT Platforms are: well-defined goals and milestones. Six models creating a bridge between “high-level” as wakefulness and sleep; V) extract general Subprojects are building the ICT Platforms, behavioural and imaging data; and mathematical principles of neural computation that can • Neuroinformatics (a data repository, while the other six are gathering data, descriptions of neural computation at different guide the design and implementation of including brain atlases) clarifying theory and controlling ethical levels of brain organisation. In addition to Neuromorphic Computing Systems; VI) establish • Brain Simulation (building ICT models aspects. An additional Subproject manages the plannable, cohesive theory programme a European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience and simulations of brains and brain and coordinates the HBP. implemented by the HBP Partners, brain to involve the theoretical community in the HBP. components) With an unprecedented cross-disciplinary theory also needs to explore unconventional Models generated by SP4 are • Medical Informatics (bringing together scope, the HBP’s goal is to catalyse a global ideas, which are most likely to come from complemented by additional work performed information on brain diseases) collaborative effort to understand the human outside the current HBP Consortium. To by projects that have been selected via a • Neuromorphic Computing (ICT that brain and its diseases and, ultimately, to foster interaction with outside scientists, the competitive call (Cognitive Architectures). mimics the functioning of the brain) emulate its computational capabilities. HBP has established a European Institute for
4 5 6 7 Methodology
Theoretical work in the HBP addresses a set of strategic issues, all related to the goal of achieving a multi-level understanding of the brain.
Bridging scales. Researchers values for large-scale biologically realistic network are establishing mathematical modelling, and guiding the states – waking and sleep). SP4 applies principles that will enable simplification of models These models will provide a them to derive simplified for implementation in bridge between “high-level” models of neurons and neuromorphic technology. behavioural and imaging mathematical neuronal circuits from more data and detailed multi-level detailed biophysical and Synaptic plasticity, learning models of brain physiology. techniques to morphological models. These and memory. SP4 researchers Topics for modelling will mathematical principles will are developing learning rules include perception-action, produce models also facilitate the derivation for unsupervised and goal- attention, and the sleep/ of population and mean field oriented learning. Key themes wakefulness cycle. These models from simplified neuron include the derivation of models contribute directly to of the brain models, and the derivation learning rules from biophysical the testing of architectures of brain region models from synapse models and the for neuromorphic computing across different models of interacting neuronal identification of rules for systems. populations. Other studies will unsupervised learning giving scales to model brain signals at various rise to emergent connectivity Principles of brain scales from intracellular patterns observed in the computation. Studies in this signals to local field potentials, cortex. Outputs include area develop mathematical understand the voltage-sensitive dye (VSD), learning rules transferable to descriptions of neural electroencephalography (EEG) large-scale brain simulations computation at the single basic principles and magnetoencephalography and neuromorphic technology. neuron, neural microcircuit (MEG). The results, which and higher levels of brain underlying are validated by comparison Large-scale brain models. organisation. The results with results from SP3, The HBP is developing provide basic insights into the provide basic insights into simplified large-scale models multi-level organisation of the neural and the relationships between of specific cognitive functions brain, while simultaneously different levels of brain and states (perception- contributing to the high- cognitive organisation, helping action; working memory level design of neuromorphic researchers choose parameter and the effects of attention; systems. functions 8 9 EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE (EITN)
The European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN) is a research infrastructure created as part of the Theoretical Neuroscience Division of the HBP. The EITN is operated by the CNRS and directed by Alain Destexhe from the UNIC. It is hosted in Paris, by the Foundation “Voir et Entendre” and the Vision Institute. The EITN has been conceived as an open place to foster theoretical neuroscience activities related to the HBP, as well as to create strong interactions with the theoretical neuroscience community beyond HBP, to bring new concepts and theories to the project. The EITN finances the visit of external researchers through an extensive workshop and visitor program. It also plays a role to reinforce horizontal interactions within HBP, by organizing cross-SP meetings. www.eitn.org
10 11 Computer Resources
SP4 requires moderate high-performance computing (HPC) resources to adjust network models before making them available to the rest of the HBP. These are provided by the High Performance Computing Platform (SP7).
12 13 Deliverables
MONTH 6 — REPORT MONTH 18 MONTH 30 SPECIFICATION OF BRAIN MODELS, ALGORITHMS, COGNITIVE MODELS AND ALGORITHMS, COGNITIVE MODELS ALGORITHMS AND COMPUTING PRINCIPLES COMPUTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE HBP AND COMPUTING PRINCIPLES FOR TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE RAMP-UP PHASE, HUMAN BRAIN ATLAS: PACKAGE ONE IMPLEMENTATION IN HPC, NEUROMORPHIC INDICATORS OF PROGRESS AND TARGET AND NEUROROBOTIC SYSTEMS: VALUES This Deliverable will provide an initial PACKAGE TWO set of brain models, algorithms and The report provides a detailed description computing principles. These will include This Deliverable will include algorithms, of the brain models, algorithms and computing models for perception-action, learning cognitive models and computing principles principles that SP4 plans to develop, specifies algorithms, algorithms for mapping models suitable for implementation on the HPC, indicators of progress and defines target with morphologically detailed neurons to Neuromorphic and Neurorobotics Platforms. values for the indicators. point neuron models, and brain-inspired The package will include models of working principles of computing suitable for memory and attention and of sleep and implementation in neuromorphic computing wakefulness models based on cognitive MONTH 12 systems. A short report will describe architectures derived in SP3. A short report EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR THEORETICAL each algorithm, model and principle, will describe each algorithm, model and NEUROSCIENCE outline the state of validation work and principle, outline the state of validation work provide details on how to access the model and describe how they can be tested in HPC, This Deliverable consists of the official in the Human Brain Atlas. neuromorphic and neurorobotic systems. opening of the planned EITN, which by the time of the Deliverable should be fully MONTH 30 — REPORT equipped and staffed, with all managerial and EITN ACTIVITY REPORT administrative support functions in place. This report will describe the activities of the EITN between its set-up in Month 12 MONTH 12 — REPORT and the end of the Ramp-Up Phase. The FIRST DRAFT OF VALIDATED METHODS, report will include a detailed account of ALGORITHMS AND COMPUTING PRINCIPLES the work of the resident post-docs, the visiting scientist programme, and the The report will provide a detailed account workshops organised by the Institute. It of the conceptual framework for first draft will also contain a roadmap for the models, algorithms and computing principles continuation of the EITN’s work in the and progress in their validation for general use. Operational Phase.
14 15 Milestones
MONTH 6 MONTH 30
• Requirements identified • Second-draft principles, algorithms and Second package of principles, algorithms and models for Human Brain Atlas; • EITN workshop programme for first thirty models completed and deposited in Human second set of EITN workshops completed months defined Brain Atlas M 30 • Second set of workshops at EITN MONTH 12 completed: Participation statistics and feedback First package of principles, algorithms and models for Human Brain Atlas • European Institute for Theoretical • Population simulator for Simulation Platform M 24 Neuroscience in operation • Summary of theoretical results PDT-RBMS • Report to HBP: Publication(s) on Principles for modelling completed; first set of EITN workshops completed MONTH 18 framework for spiking learning algorithms and applications M 18 • Conceptual and theoretical foundations • Full model of astrocyte-neuron interaction completed for future large-scale simulations EITN in operation • First set of workshops at EITN completed; completed Participation statistics and feedback • Estimation of separation and invariance M 12 • Evaluation of existing computational property in the retinal network models of astrocyte-neuron interaction for Requirements identified. European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN) workshop future large-scale simulations completed programme defined M 6 MONTH 24
M 6 M 12 M 18 M 24 M 30 • First-draft principles, algorithms and models completed and deposited in Human Brain Atlas
16 17 Partners
Austria P54 Technische Universität Graz – TUGRAZ
Belgium P66 Universiteit Gent – UGENT
Finland P99 TTY-SAATIO – TUT
France P7 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – CNRS
P26 Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique – INRIA
P107 Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 – UPMC
Germany P17 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH – JUELICH
Israel P21 Hebrew University of Jerusalem – HUJI
P78 Weizmann Institute of Science – WIS
Norway P67 Universitetet for Miljø og Biovitenskap – UMB
Spain P65 Universitat Pompeu Fabra – UPF
Switzerland P1 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL www.tugraz.at www.fz-juelich.de www.unibe.ch P62 Universität Bern – UBERN www.ugent.be www.huji.ac.il www.ucl.ac.uk www.tut.fi www.weizmann.ac.il www.leeds.ac.uk
www.cnrs.fr www.umb.no www.surrey.ac.uk United P70 University College London – UCL www.inria.fr www.upf.edu Kingdom www.upmc.fr www.epfl.ch P110 University of Leeds – ULEEDS
P111 University of Surrey – SURREY
18 19 Work Packages and Key Personnel
Subproject Co-Leaders SP4 Objective Alain DESTEXHE, “To produce simplified models of complex brain structures and dynamics; rules linking learning Wulfram GERSTNER and memory to synaptic plasticity; large-scale models creating a bridge between ‘high-level’ behavioural and imaging data; and mathematical descriptions of neural computation at different levels of brain organisation.”
WP4.1 Bridging scales Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS WP4.3 Large-scale models of human cognitive function Gustavo DECO - UPF
Idan SEGEV - HUJI Gustavo DECO - UPF Derive simplified neuron and neural circuit models from Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS Models for perception-action Neil BURGESS - UCL biophysically morphologically detailed models Wulfram GERSTNER - EPFL Olivier FAUGERAS - INRIA Modelling brain signals at different scales, from Models of working memory and the effects of attention Misha TSODYKS - WIS Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS intracellular, local field potentials, VSD up to EEG and MEG Gaute EINEVOLL - UMB Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS signals Models of biologically realistic network states; wakefulness Abigail MORRISON - JUELICH & sleep Mechanistic models of cognition linked to the neural Gustavo DECO - UPF Marc DE KAMPS - ULEEDS substrate by population density methods Computational model of astrocyte-neuron interaction for Marja-Leena LINNE - TUT WP4.2 Synaptic plasticity, learning and memory Wulfram GERSTNER - EPFL future large-scale simulations WP4.4 Principles of brain computation Wolfgang MAASS - TUGRAZ Wulfram GERSTNER - EPFL Derive learning rules from biophysical synapse models Misha TSODYKS - WIS Wolfgang MAASS - TUGRAZ Walter SENN - UBERN Principles of computation in single neurons and neural Alain DESTEXHE- CNRS Unsupervised learning rules and emergent connectivity Wulfram GERSTNER - EPFL microcircuits Idan SEGEV - HUJI Henry MARKRAM - EPFL Structures of spiking learning algorithms Andre GRUNING - SURREY Joni DAMBRE - UGENT Novel computing systems inspired by biology Wolfgang MAASS - TUGRAZ Closed loop analysis of population coding Olivier MARRE - UPMC
WP4.5 The European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS
Setting up and administration of the institute Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS Visitor and Workshop Programme Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS
WP4.6 Theoretical Neuroscience: scientific coordination Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS
Scientific coordination and support Alain DESTEXHE - CNRS
20 21 DR. ALAIN DESTEXHE PROF. WULFRAM GERSTNER PROF. NEIL BURGESS PROF. JONI DAMBRE — CNRS — EPFL — UCL — UGENT
Alain Destexhe is physicist and Research Wulfram Gerstner studied physics at the Neil Burgess is a professor of cognitive and Joni Dambre is a professor at Ghent University Director (DR1) at the CNRS, in the Unité de universities of Tubingen and Munich and computational neuroscience, a Wellcome and head of the UGent Reservoir Lab in Neurosciences, Information and Complexité received a Ph.D. from the Technical University Trust Principal Research Fellow, and the Engineering Faculty. Her lab addresses (UNIC) of the Centre National de la of Munich. His research in computational Deputy Director of the UCL Institute of theoretical research and applications Recherche Scientifique, France, CNRS UPR neuroscience concentrates on models of Cognitive Neuroscience. His laboratory of recurrent neural networks, reservoir 3293. At UNIC he leads the computational spiking neurons and spike-timing dependent investigates the neural mechanisms of computing, and several other machine neuroscience group comprising three plasticity, on neuronal coding in single memory using a combination of methods learning techniques. The group has a special permanent researchers, postdocs and PhD neurons and populations, and on the role including computational modelling, interest in neuro-inspired computing by students. He is Editor in Chief of The Journal of spatial representation for navigation of human neuropsychology and functional directly exploiting the dynamics of analogue of Computational Neuroscience, and in the rat-like autonomous agents. He currently neuroimaging, and single unit recordings in systems. As an engineer and a computer board of five other journals including Journal has a joint appointment at the School of Life freely moving rodents. His main goal is to scientist, Prof. Dambre’s original research of Neuroscience and Journal of Neural Sciences and the School of Computer and understand how the actions of networks of addressed interconnection complexity in Engineering. He has been involved in European Communications Sciences at EPFL, where neurons in our brains allow us to remember digital design. In 2008, she shifted towards projects (such as FACETS and BrainScaleS, he teaches courses for physicists, computer events and the spatial locations where they reservoir computing in general and analogue where he was WP leader), and numerous scientists, mathematicians, and life scientists. occurred. After studying math and physics at hardware realisations of the reservoir grant review committees. He is author of two UCL he did a Ph.D. in theoretical physics in computing concept in particular. Currently she monographs, three edited books, and about Manchester and a research fellowship in Rome, is focused on building biologically plausible 200 publications, including more than 100 before returning to UCL funded by a Royal analogue reservoir architectures that can learn peer-reviewed journal articles. In 2014, Alain Society University Research Fellowship and without global supervision, i.e. using either Destexhe initiated the European Institute for the Medical Research Council (UK). unsupervised or reward modulated learning. Theoretical Neuroscience (EITN) in Paris, She is very interested in model abstractions which he now leads as co-Director of SP4, in that can bridge the gap between biologically the framework of HBP. plausible learning mechanisms and learning rules that are efficient in complex tasks.
22 23 PROF. DR. GUSTAVO DECO MARC DE KAMPS PROF. GAUTE T. EINEVOLL OLIVIER FAUGERAS — UPF — LEEDS — UMB — INRIA
Gustavo Deco is Research Professor Marc de Kamps is a researcher in the School Gaute T. Einevoll is a professor of physics at Olivier Faugeras is a mathematician and at the Institucio Catalana de Recerca i of Computing of the University of Leeds. His the Department of Mathematical Sciences and computer scientist working in theoretical Estudis Avançats. He is also Full Pofessor expertise is in population density techniques Technology at the Norwegian University of neuroscience. He is Research Director at (Catedrático) at the Pompeu Fabra University applied to populations of spiking neurons. He Life Sciences. He is contributing his expertise INRIA, where he leads the NeuroMathComp (Barcelona), where he is also the head of the holds a PhD in high energy physics, and has on biophysical modelling of electrical signals Laboratory, a joint scientific venture Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience considerable experience in the application in the brain to this Subproject. Dr. Einevoll is between INRIA, the ENS (computer science Group and Director of the Center of Brain of stochastic methods to neural dynamics, also interested in various aspects of multiscale department), and the JAD Laboratory at and Cognition. He received his Ph.D. degree using a combined analytic and numerical modeling of early sensory pathways, including the UNSA. in Physics in 1987 (National University of approach. He also works on models of visual how to connect models at different levels of Rosario, Argentina). In 1997, he obtained his attention and neural language representation. detail, biophysical modelling of astrocytes habilitation (academic degree in Germany) in In the past he was responsible for running the and their interactions with neurons, as well Computer Science (Dr. rer. nat. habil.) at the FET-funded Thematic Network nEUro-IT.net, development of neuroinformatics tools. Dr. Technical University of Munich for his thesis on which was instrumental in bringing together Einevoll received his master’s in physics from Neural Learning. In 2001, he received his PhD a European network of neuroscientists, the Norwegian University of Science and in Psychology (Dr. phil.) for his thesis on Visual engineers and computer scientists. Technology in Trondheim in 1985 and his Attention at the Ludwig Maximilian University doctoral degree in theoretical physics from the of Munich. He headed the Computational same university in 1991. He is currently serving Neuroscience Group at the Siemens Corporate as the vice-president of the Organization Research Center in Munich from 1990 to 2003. of Computational Neurosciences, and is also a co-leader of the Norwegian national node of the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Society (INCF).
24 25 DR. ANDRE GRUNING PROF. MARJA-LEENA LINNE PROF. WOLFGANG MAASS PROF. HENRY MARKRAM — SURREY — TUT — TUGRAZ — EPFL
Andre Gruning has been a lecturer in the Marja-Leena Linne is a Research Team Leader Wolfgang Maass’ early research was in the Henry Markram is a professor of neuroscience Department of Computing at the University at Tampere University of Technology (TUT, theory of computation in mathematics at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology of Surrey since 2007 after postdoctoral Finland) and Coordinator of the INCF national after which he moved on to computational in Lausanne (EPFL). He is a founder of the stations at Scuola Internazionale Superiore node of Finland. She holds an Adjunct complexity theory and the theory of learning Brain Mind Institute, founder and director of di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) in Trieste, Italy Professorship in Computational Neuroscience in theoretical computer science. Since 1995 the Blue Brain Project, and the coordinator (in neuroscience) and the University of and Neuroinformatics at TUT. Dr. Linne his research has focused on the extraction of the Human Brain Project, which aims Warwick, UK (in cognitive science). Dr. received her M.Sc. in electrical engineering of principles of brain computation and to construct a computerized simulation of Gruning pursued his doctoral studies at the in 1993 and a Ph.D. in signal processing and learning from experimental data. Maass the human brain. The HBP was selected Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the computational neuroscience in 2001. She was and Henry Markram designed the liquid in January 2013 as one of the European Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. There he was awarded an Academy Research Fellow position computing model for understanding universal Commission’s Future Emerging Technologies a member of the complex systems group, (equivalent to Associate Professor) in 2004 to computations in cortical microcircuits. This Flagship projects, with a grant of more than which applied mathematical concepts to establish an interdisciplinary research team in has now become a classic reference work, €1 billion over the next ten years. The initiative natural complex systems such as neural computational neuroscience. Dr. Linne’s current inspiring numerous innovative ideas in involves researchers in 80 institutions across networks, pattern formation, and systems research interests include development of engineering. In his current research, he is Europe – from biologists, neurobiologists biology. He received his diploma degree in new models for cellular and subcellular (both analysing the role of noise and variability in and biochemists to computer scientists and mathematical physics from the University neuronal and glial) mechanisms responsible computation and learning by biological engineers. Markram believes that the HBP of Gottingen, Germany, and studied physics for excitability and plasticity in mammalian neural systems. He has published some may lead not only to a paradigm shift in our and mathematics in Gottingen and Uppsala, cortical networks. She performed experimental 200 research articles and has been editor understanding of the brain and its illnesses, Sweden. Dr. Gruning has been working in work on astrocytes in the early 1990s and of several journals. but that it could also provide new, innovative the fields of computational, cognitive and used patch clamp, multi-electrode arrays, and concepts for designing computers and robots. theoretical neuroscience with publications on microscopy in her work. Her research group Markram also aims for the Human Brain the computational power of neural networks, also develops theoretical tools to assess the Project to spur a new approach to mental aspects of unifying reinforcement and growth and structure-function relationships in health globally. supervised learning approaches or learning in local networks. Dr. Linne has developed novel multi-layered spiking neural networks. stochastic approaches to model neural systems.
26 27 DR. OLIVIER MARRE PROF. DR. ABIGAIL MORRISON PROF. IDAN SEGEV — UPMC — JUELICH — HUJI
Olivier Marre is an INSERM researcher Abigail Morrison received a Master’s degree Idan Segev is the David and Inez Myers (since 2013) in the Vision Institute (Paris), in non-symbolic artificial intelligence from the Professor in Computational Neuroscience working in the team headed by Serge Picaud. University of Edinburgh, UK and a Ph.D. from and the former director of the Interdisciplinary He did his PhD (defended in 2008) with Yves Albert Ludwigs University and the Bernstein Center for Neural Computation (ICNC) at the Fregnac (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette) studying the Center for Computational Neuroscience, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He received visual cortex with both theoretical models and Freiburg, Germany. In 2006, she performed his B.Sc (1973) in math and his Ph.D (1982) intracellular recordings in vivo. He then did a postdoctoral work at the Bernstein Center in experimental and theoretical neurobiology postdoc at Princeton University with Michael for Computational Neuroscience, Freiburg, from the Hebrew University. His work is Berry, where he developed a new technique Germany and then became a Research Scientist published in reputed journals and he has to record almost all the output neurons in a in Computational Neurophysics, RIKEN Brain received several important awards, some patch of retina. He is a laureate of the “ANR Science Institute, Wako-Shi, Saitama, Japan for his excellent teaching abilities. He takes retour postdoc” (2012-2014) return grant (2007-2009). Between 2009 and 2012 she a keen interest in the connection between to start working in the Vision Institute. He was a Junior Professor for Computational art and the brain. Prompted by an encounter designed models of the visual cortex network Neuroscience and led the Functional Neural with ICNC researchers, he has recently during his PhD, and also did experiments to Circuits Group, Faculty of Biology, Albert co-edited an “Artists” book with original study the neural coding of natural stimuli by Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany. etchings by ten top Israeli artists. Segev, the the neurons of the primary visual cortex of Since 2012, she has led the Functional Neural world’s undisputed leader and a pioneer on the cat. He also developed a technique to Circuits Group, INM-6, Forschungszentrum model neurons, has been instrumental in measure the retinal output sent to the brain Jülich, and been Professor at the Ruhr theoretically ground automated building of during his postdoc at Princeton University, University of Bochum, Germany. Since 2013, model neurons in the Blue Brain Project. and showed that the recorded output can be she has headed the Simulation Laboratory used to precisely reconstruct the trajectory of Neuroscience at Jülich Supercomputing Centre, a randomly moving object from the responses Forschungszentrum Jülich. of hundreds of neurons to this stimulus.
28 29 SP9 Theory developed in the HBP will provide a framework for understanding SP10SP10 SP8 learning, memory, attention, goal- oriented behaviour, and the way function emerges from structure SP11 SP12
SP6 SP7
SP4 SP1
SP5 SP4 applies mathematical techniques to SP3 produce models of the brain across different scales—from interactions among molecules to the large-scale patterns of electrical activity observed in imaging studies— SP2 and to understand the basic principles underlying cognitive functions. For example, THE HBP’S EMPHASIS ON COLLABORATION IS EXEMPLIFIED mathematical theories of the brain can help BY THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF ITS TWELVE RESEARCH SUBPROJECTS researchers understand how experience- driven changes in the strengths of connections
(synapses) allow us to learn new skills and Subproject 1 SP1 Strategic Mouse Brain Data – Subproject 2 SP2 Strategic Human Brain Data – Subproject 3 SP3 Cognitive information. As part of its work, SP4 has Architectures – Subproject 4 SP4 Theoretical Neuroscience – Subproject 5 SP5 Neuroinformatics Platform – Subproject 6 SP6 established a European Institute for Theoretical Brain Simulation Platform – Subproject 7 SP7 High Performance Computing Platform – Subproject 8 SP8 Medical Informatics Neuroscience (EITN), which brings together leading mathematicians and neuroscientists Platform – Subproject 9 SP9 Neuromorphic Computing Platform – Subproject 10 SP10 Neurorobotics Platform – Subproject 11 SP11 from all over the world and serve as a hub for Applications – Subproject 12 SP12 Ethics and Society the development of innovative theory.
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