Understanding Neuronal Networks & The Mystic Brain: An Insight

The most wonderful machine known to human race is perhaps the conglomerations of around 100 billion cells or neurons and its myriad interconnections, the human brain. The urge to understand the brain and use the knowledge to make human lives better has inspired me to persue[or rather opt to persue :)..thats more commensurate to the current scenario] for a career in neurosciences research. The Project ‘nPAD’ testify the quest for the same.
Understanding the working of the brain and its underlying foundations have intrigued the researchers, recent advances has shown brain wiring is probably the key factor behind it .Furthermore, it is also assumed that specificity and plasticity are the fundamental requirements for brain wiring. Networks transforms simple inputs into complex output that mediate brain function and behavior, often achieved through non linear operations. The understanding of these principles can greatly aid areas like machine learning and artificial cognition which are necessary to design and fabricate kinetic and interactive artificial intelligence. This applied to the robotics platform coupled with innovations in network algorithms can create a new breed of intelligent and self sustaining machines which can automate various workflows and processes.
Molecular imaging methods and computational techniques in neurosciences can provide valuable insights into the dynamics of cortical connections. This may be achieved by imagining neuronal function in single cell level and monitoring network activities. Imaging Ca2+ in vivo using extrinsic dyes or genetic reporters and the future development of sensitive voltage reporters are the proposed mechanism for such experimentations. Functional imaging of single‐cell activity in vivo combined with molecular markers that might provide information as to cellular identity will enable the determination of network connectivity and its plasticity following activity‐dependent manipulation. Mechanisms of rapid functional plasticity can also be investigated by imaging of single cell molecular changes and synapses.


The Roadmap :

Here, I can take the liberty to introduce to the readers one of the greatest talks which has been instrumental in drawing my attention and also further consolidating my career goals in the fields of neurosciences. The speaker not only delivers a fervent speech to ignite new research but also dismisses the sullen thoughts of morphological disorientations present in the core areas of neural research and the myths thats circumvent the growth of an unified Brain Theory.The hallmark of the research and the path for development as sketched is that it is inspire by the progressive idea of generation of a unified theory for Brain apprehension and not for amassing some more neurophysiological or anatomical data or either to develop newer computational techniques as it has been the swansong of the neural reseach community for decades now. This is testified by fact that data from Medline ,Nature &IEEE publications[sources uncinfirmed] about 17% of Biological and computational research is directly or indirectly related to Brain Sciences. This has led to the generation of colossal data related to neurosciences with no apparent breakthroughs that can directly address the cause of Humanity ..or answer the query ..."What we are ? ..and How we are ?"
Hope some day this fellowship of endless quest will end and men will rise again to a new truth ...

About this Talk

To date, there hasn't been an overarching theory of how the human brain really works, Jeff Hawkins argues in this compelling talk. That's because we still haven't defined intelligence accurately. But one thing's for sure, he says: The brain isn't like a powerful computer processor. It's more like a memory system that records everything we experience and helps us predict, intelligently, what will happen next. Bringing this new brain science to computer devices will enable powerful new applications -- and it will happen sooner than you think.

Why you should listen to him:

Jeff Hawkins' Palm PDA became such a widely used productivity tool during the 1990s that some fanatical users claimed it replaced their brains. But Hawkins' deepest interest was in the brain itself. So after the success of the Palm and Treo, which he brought to market at Handspring, Hawkins delved into brain research at the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience in Berkeley, Calif., and a new company called Numenta.

Hawkins' dual goal is to achieve an understanding of how the human brain actually works -- and then develop software to mimic its functionality, delivering true artificial intelligence. In his book On Intelligence (2004) he laye human neocortex doesn't work like a processor; rather, it relies on a memory system that stores and plays back experiences to help us predict, intelligently, what will happen next. He thinks that "hierarchical temporal memory" computer platforms, which mimic this functionality (and which Numenta might pioneer), could enable groundbreaking new applications that could powerfully extend human intelligence.

"Even if Hawkins finds only a small sliver of the Holy Grail he seeks [in brain research], he'll add yet another industry-moving startup to his resume."

Business Week