Author Topic: Computer simulates brain activity.  (Read 3337 times)

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Offline Askold

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Computer simulates brain activity.
« on: August 27, 2013, 07:17:34 am »
http://www.riken.jp/en/pr/press/2013/20130802_1/

Quote
Using NEST, the team, led by Markus Diesmann in collaboration with Abigail Morrison both now with the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine at Jülich, succeeded in simulating a network consisting of 1.73 billion nerve cells connected by 10.4 trillion synapses. To realize this feat, the program recruited 82,944 processors of the K computer.  The process took 40 minutes to complete the simulation of 1 second of neuronal network activity in real, biological, time.

And to do this they needed a SUPERCOMPUTER WITH THE COMBINED POWER OF 25'000 PC'S!!!

So I don't think well be seeing brain uploading anytime soon but at least they believe this experiment has taught them a lot about simulating the brain. They even believe that in the next 10 years they may have enough computing power to simulate the entire brain.
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Offline PosthumanHeresy

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2013, 07:25:34 am »
Well. Damn. That's cool.
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Offline Lithp

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2013, 04:03:38 am »
So, what in the Hell makes this a simulation of brain activity, rather than just a computer doing computer things?

Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2013, 04:13:57 am »
So, what in the Hell makes this a simulation of brain activity, rather than just a computer doing computer things?

Probably the nature of how those computers do those computer things.
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Offline Askold

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2013, 07:20:20 am »
So, what in the Hell makes this a simulation of brain activity, rather than just a computer doing computer things?

This was a simulation of brain activity in the same way that a flight simulator is a simulation of flying an airplane or the programs that create weather forecasts are simulations of weather patterns.

Someone makes a computer program which is an attempt to simulate some action or behaviour. Then the computer does computer things as suggested by the program.
No matter what happens, no matter what my last words may end up being, I want everyone to claim that they were:
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
Aww, you guys rock. :)  I feel the love... and the pitchforks and torches.  Tingly!

Offline Shane for Wax

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2013, 09:01:12 am »
Hrm. Interesting. The way the article is worded basically makes it seem like they just wanted to see if it was possible, rather than having a real goal in mind when it comes to the brain.

&
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Offline Askold

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2013, 09:04:52 am »
Yes, thats the thing.

They know that they don't have the computing power to do any real simulations that would teach us about the brain. So at the moment they are focusing on learnin HOW to simulate brain while waiting untill computers are advanced enough for the real deal.
No matter what happens, no matter what my last words may end up being, I want everyone to claim that they were:
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
Aww, you guys rock. :)  I feel the love... and the pitchforks and torches.  Tingly!

Offline Lithp

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2013, 09:06:44 am »
Okay, but you can visually represent flying airplanes, or weather patterns. I'm not sure how you could "simulate 1% of brain activity" in a meaningful sense, & have it be distinct from regular computing.

Offline Shane for Wax

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2013, 09:08:20 am »
You can watch each synapse fire and the movement of the neural pathways on a computer screen.

&
"The human race. Greatest monsters of them all."
"Ke barjurir gar'ade, jagyc'ade kot'la a dalyc'ade kotla'shya."
Fucking Dalek twats I’m going to twat you over the head with my fucking TARDIS you fucking fucks!

Offline SpaceProg

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2013, 12:28:19 pm »
Hm...  Neurochemical vs. digital.   Pretty fascinating.

Offline Lithp

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2013, 12:39:53 pm »
Oh. I thought it was simulating actual, immaterial thought. That makes a lot more sense.

Offline Old Viking

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2013, 04:32:11 pm »
One time my hard drive zonked.  The result was a pretty accurate computer simulation of my mental activity.
I am an old man, and I've seen many problems, most of which never happened.

Offline Lithp

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2013, 04:52:05 am »
Tell me when they get a computer to simulate rage & a desire to participate in time-wasting nonsense instead of doing its actual functions.

Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2013, 05:06:36 am »
Tell me when they get a computer to simulate rage & a desire to participate in time-wasting nonsense instead of doing its actual functions.

It's called "I Wanna Be The Guy"
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Offline PosthumanHeresy

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Re: Computer simulates brain activity.
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2013, 05:28:18 am »
Tell me when they get a computer to simulate rage & a desire to participate in time-wasting nonsense instead of doing its actual functions.
Would seemingly messing up the most at the most important times and freezing constantly count?
What I used to think was me is just a fading memory. I looked him right in the eye and said "Goodbye".
 - Trent Reznor, Down In It

Together as one, against all others.
- Marilyn Manson, Running To The Edge of The World

Humanity does learn from history,
sadly, they're rarely the ones in power.

Quote from: Ben Kuchera
Life is too damned short for the concept of “guilty” pleasures to have any meaning.