We Must Invest in Applied Knowledge Editorial of Computational Neurosciences and Neuroinformatics as an Important Future in Malaysia: The Malaysian Brain Mapping Project PUTRA Sumari1,3, ZAMZURI Idris3,4, JAFRI MALIN Abdullah2,3,4 Submitted: 1 Nov 2016 1 School of Computer Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Accepted: 5 Dec 2016 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Online: 24 Feb 2017 2 Chief Editor, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, USM Press, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 3 Center for Neuroscience Services and Research, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia 4 Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia To cite this article: Putra S, Zamzuri I, Jafri Malin A. We must invest in applied knowledge of computational neurosciences and neuroinformatics as an important future in Malaysia: the Malaysian brain mapping project. Malays J Med Sci. 2017;24(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2017.24.1.1 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2017.24.1.1 Abstract The Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Malaysian Industry-Government group for High Technology has been working hard to project the future of big data and neurotechnology usage up to the year 2050. On the 19 September 2016, the International Brain Initiative was announced by US Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon at a meeting that accompanied the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York City. This initiative was seen as an important effort but deemed costly for developing countries. At a concurrent meeting hosted by the US National Science Foundation at Rockefeller University, numerous countries discussed this massive project, which would require genuine collaboration between investigators in the realms of neuroethics. Malaysia’s readiness to embark on using big data in the field of brain, mind and neurosciences is to prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution which is an important investment for the country’s future. The development of new strategies has also been encouraged by the involvement of the Society of Brain Mapping and Therapeutics, USA and the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility. Keywords: big data, computational neurosciences, neuroinformatics, neurotechnology, Malaysia, industrial revolution, brain mapping Malays J Med Sci. Jan-Feb 2017; 24(1): 1-9 www.mjms.usm.my © Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017 1 For permission, please email:[email protected] Malays J Med Sci. Jan-Feb 2017; 24(1): 1–9 To prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution existence. Computational neuroscience and (4IR) (1), Malaysian neuroscientists must neuroinformatics are two distinct (with some concentrate on engaging in analytics of big overlapping) areas, and yet they complement data collected on the human neuron system each other. Computational neuroscience is using computational neurosciences and a research field concerned with theoretical neuroinformatics. Computational neurosciences methods of investigating the function and previously defined as the study of brain mechanism of the nervous system. It aims to functions concerning the information-processing give a quantitative description of functionality properties of the structures that make up the and biologically realistic neuron networks and to nervous system must link with the diverse capture them in realistic models that can be used fields of neurosciences, cognitive sciences to develop new hypotheses to be experimentally and psychology with electrical engineering, tested. This field is also often loosely referred chemistry, mathematics and physics. Moreover, to as computational modelling. To continue it is different from machine learning and deepening our understanding of the brain, it is depends on data derived from resting and necessary for many and various sub-disciplines active biological neurons and other cells, to share data and findings in a meaningful way. namely astrocytes for their temporal-spatial In contrast, neuroinformatics is a research field electrophysiology, as well as their chemical concerned with the organisation of neuroscience “characteristics”. These data are collected using data via the application of databases and advanced neurotechnology equipment, such analytical tools. Such areas of research as high-density-array electroencephalography, are important for the integration, sharing, functional magnetic resonance imaging, near management and analysis of increasingly infrared spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography large-volume, high-dimensional, and fine- and other devices that both stimulate and record grain experimental data. This field provides the response of neural tissues. computational tools, mathematical models and The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) interoperable databases for research scientists. and the Malaysian Industry-Government group Scientific endeavours in the computational for High Technology (MIGHT) has worked neuroscience and neuroinformatics fields have over the past 2 years to project the future of big been ongoing for centuries. Today, the advance data and neurotechnology usage up to the year of technology has led to the point where we can 2050 (2, 3). The International Brain Initiative understand brain function perhaps down to the was announced by US Under Secretary of State molecular level; however, Malaysia still has a Thomas Shannon at a meeting that accompanied long way to go to fulfil the goal of understanding the United Nations’ General Assembly in basic brain function. The future of computational New York City on the 19 September 2016. neuroscience and neuroinformatics are wide This initiative was seen as an important effort open in Malaysia, and the directions that remain but deemed costly for developing countries. to be explored in the development of methods, At a concurrent meeting hosted by the US techniques and algorithms are described below National Science Foundation at Rockefeller (6). University, numerous countries discussed this Data archiving is used to efficiently collect, massive project, which would require genuine store, query and share neuroimaging data. collaboration between investigators in the realms Some of these data are large in scale (big data), of neuroethics (4). Looking at these ongoing geographically distributed and already have global perspectives, it is about time that ASM a large dataset and a well-established user and MIGHT unite Malaysian neuroscientist so as community. To engage in data archiving, it is to achieve these knowledge skills and technology also necessary to apply a new infrastructure, to join the 4IR. such as cloud technology, that provides a globally Computational neuroscience and integrated view of the data. Another approach neuroinformatics represent growing fields in is data visualisation, which facilitates viewing Malaysia which are important for the growth and understanding the context of brain data of Brain Mapping as highlighted by the (7). Three-dimensional (3D) visualisation and Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics virtualisation for the human brain is the best and the International Neuroinformatics approach to meeting domain-specific needs. Coordinating Facility (INCF) (5). Both As important equipment, high-performance focuses on understanding the human brain, machines with heterogeneous environments the most complex computer system in are required to rapidly carry out large-scale 2 www.mjms.usm.my Editorial | Malaysia brain mapping project parallel data-processing tasks. This is necessary collaboration. Tools can be used to run large- for the efficient processing of high-volume scale simulations and helping scientists to carry datasets, especially when a popular bottom-up out difficult and time consuming tasks. Brain- explorative data analysis (8) approach is used. computer interface (BCI) prototype development Furthermore, data mining is an approach used is necessary to generate intelligent technical to efficiently extract meaningful information devices with brain-inspired sensors that carry from the data; this represents the most out a complex task in a safe, reliable way. Finally, challenging part of computational neuroscience strategic collaboration between many parties, and neuroinformatics advancement. Machine such as clinicians and researchers, should be learning and statistical software are crucial fostered to understand the brain. The US BRAIN requirements for the success of data mining. Initiative (9) and BLUE Brain project (10) are Data modelling is also necessary, as it provides some examples of collaboration. The future is a link between the data we collect and our heavily dependent on a new spirit of working theories about the way the brain works. This together as a global community. approach provides a scaffold for collecting data The growth of neurosciences in Malaysia, of interest and acts as a proving ground for audited using Scopus data (Figure 1–6), indicates theories. Software package tools facilitate the that the investment of neurosciences in research analysis of heterogeneous datasets for a better universities in Malaysia are focused mainly on understanding the structure and function of general neurosciences and that neuroscientists the brain. Such tools enhance data collection, are mostly working in silos. This needs to change sharing, storage, manipulation, analysis, if we are to join the Global Brain Project. integration, interpretation, modelling and Figure 1. The field-weighted citation