Synthetic Brains

Researchers at the University of Southern California are building neurons from carbon nanotubes that could emulate human brain function.

Unlike computer software that simulates brain function, the challenges of creating a synthetic brain will include hardware that emulates brain cells, the brains amazing complexity and plasticity. Not forgetting the scale factor. If the team is able to construct the synthetic brain it would take 100 billion artificial neurons and a very large brain. Power is another consideration, mainly because our brains never turn off (unless we are dead.)Do this numbers sound familiar? Remember the first digital computer, ENIAC, way back in 1946 that weighed 50 tons and occupied almost 1,800 square feet and consumed almost 150kW of power?

Right now, the researchers are building mathematical models that can accurately reflect the byzantine connections of all neurons and their ability to communicate with each other. Each neuron in the cortex will represent a part of the brain that significantly contributes to conscious thought and intelligence.

Portions of the neuron can already be modeled electronically using carbon nanotube circuit models. The researchers also believe that carbon nanotubes would be the ideal material for the synthetic brain.

But beyond all the math, material and scaling required, the question of incorporating emotions to the synthetic brain will be paramount for effective learning and function.

If this is not a waste of the National Science Foundation’s money (and I dare not imply that it is) then I can only imagine the immense applications in could revolutionize neural prosthetics and bionics.

Source: http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=112947&org=NSF

Christine Otieno

VTTP 434-501