It is exciting to think that through technological advances in computers, we may soon be able to simulate the human brain, every cell represented.
This article, published by MIT, describes a project with the goal of modeling 10,000 neurons and 30 million synaptic connections of the neocortical column of a rat. Though only a small component of a mammal’s brain, it is one of the most complex. Researchers feel that they will model the entire brain of a rat within a few years and be able to simulate a human’s brain in about a decade.
According to the article:
By mimicking the behavior of the brain down to the individual neuron, the researchers aim to create a modeling tool that can be used by neuroscientists to run experiments, test hypotheses, and analyze the effects of drugs….
It should be noted that the simulation is being developed specifically for medical research and is not an attempt to create artificial intelligence. Though, seeing that a small portion of the brain can be so accurately constructed leads one to the tantalizing prospect that we may be able to soon create some type of functional model of the entire brain--researchers seem sure of it. Enjoy the article in its entirety:
