Whole-Brain Modeling Flashcards
Visual Cortex
One of the first large-scale brain simulations was
a task-tailored engineered computer simulation
of the visual cortex with nine functionally
segregated areas by Tononi et al. (1992).
* For efficiency, neurons are not simulated
individually but as neuronal groups
* The model…
… is comprised of 10,000 neuronal groups and
1,000,000 connections
… processes input from a color camera
… solves the binding problem (link object
attributes coherently across the different
cortical areas)
Thalamocortical System
The engineered thalamocortical brain model by
Izhikevich et al. (2008) is based on DTI measurements
and 3D neuron reconstructions.
* The model contains one Million spiking multi
compartment neurons and almost 500 Million
synapses
* The simulation of the neural dynamics is based on the
Izhikevich neuron model; there are 22 different
neuron types for the thalamus and the different
layers of the cortical microcircuits
* The model is able to reproduce typical patterns of
brain activity
Spaun
Spaun is a functional spiking neuron-based whole brain
model that was synthesized from an abstract cognitive
architecture based on the Neural Engineering
Framework and the Semantic Pointer Architecture.
* The model is built from 2.5 Million spiking neurons
* The cognitive architecture underlying the model
implements cognitive functions such as image
recognition, working memory, perception and action
* The focus of the model is on the production of
behavior; it is therefore constrained by
neuroscientific data but not derived or abstracted
from it
The Blue Brain Project
The Blue Brain Project has developed a
data-driven reconstruction process for
cortical microcircuits.
* The microcircuit consists of 31,000
anatomically detailed neurons and 37
Million synapses
* The microcircuit model is a digital
reconstruction that is based on both
experimental data and predictions
* The simulation reproduces data
recorded in experiments
