Scientists to build 'human brain':

[Analog]

The human brain’s power could rival any machine. And now scientists are trying to build one using the world’s most powerful computer.
It is intended to combine all the information so far uncovered about its mysterious workings - and replicate them on a screen, right down to the level of individual cells and molecules.
If it works it could be revolutionary for understanding devastating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and even shedding light into how we think, and

make decisions.

Ambitious: Scientists are hoping to build a computer that will simulate the entire human brain



Leading the project is Professor Henry Markram based in Switzerland, who will be working with scientists from across Europe including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute at Cambridge.
They hope to complete it within 12 years. He said: ‘The complexity of the brain, with its billions of interconnected neurons, makes it hard for neuroscientists to truly understand how it works.
‘Simulating it will make it much easier – allowing them to manipulate and measure any aspect of the brain.’
Housed at a facility in Dusseldorf in Germany, the ‘brain’ will feature thousands of three-dimensional images built around a semi-circular ‘cockpit’ so scientists can virtually ‘fly’ around different areas and watch how they communicate with each other.
It aims to integrate all the neuroscience research being carried out all over the world – an estimated 60,000 scientific papers every year - into one platform.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...e-mind-exactly-help-fight-brain-diseases.html

 

[Arkaign]

Very ambitious.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Great, the last thing we need is more brains in a jar running for the GOP nomination.

 

[destrekor]

I love the neuroscience research trends, and I really, really hope this pans out for the best. We desperately need a strong and fundamental understanding of the CNS, and while we [as a species] have a lot of working knowledge of various aspects, there are still a lot of best guesses. It's been the most difficult part of the human body to truly research, and is the furthest behind in terms of granular data.. that is to say, we can discuss, with high precision, the interaction and behavior of cellular-level biological activities throughout much of the body, not to forget the bigger picture of interconnection between the various physiological systems... but the brain? Might as well take a few guesses, try a few different things, and hope one of them leads to something not potentially dangerous over the course of time.
There is a lot that really needs addressed, imho, for our species to really start getting a grip on a few things and improving life.

Of course, I'm talking neuro-engineering. That, alongside its parents, genetic engineering, and its future spawn, Gattaca (Jeff reminded me of this! ), is probably our only hope. :biggrin:

But in all seriousness, there are major implications for the mental (and physical) health of future generations if we can gleam any fundamental knowledge from this. More importantly, with more of the populace not only more mentally healthy/stable, but possibly more intelligent, we can make bigger strides in the structure and behavior of a globe-spanning civilization.

 

[rivan]

50 years from now, we'll all be jobless. Replaced by brains running in VMs in the cloud.

 

[Ichinisan]

The "simulation" will become self-aware. This will not end well for humanity.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

They're not building an electronic human brain, they're building an emulator.

 

[destrekor]

They're not building an electronic human brain, they're building an emulator.

Step 1: Emulate
Step 2: Replicate
Step 3: ?
Step 4: Profit!

:awe:

 

[BladeVenom]

IBM used 4,000 processors to emulate half a mouse brain at one tenth the speed. Think of how much more CPU power it's going to take to emulate a human brain.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

They've already done a cat.

 

[busydude]

They've already done a cat.

Only the part of the brain where higher level cognition occurs, IIRC. (<10% of its brain volume)

 

[Ichinisan]

They're not building an electronic human brain, they're building an emulator.

You don't have the creativity of a Hollywood screenplay writer.

Simulation becomes self-aware and discovers how to escape its "sandbox" and spread through the existing Internet in a way that's beyond our comprehension. :awe: