Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Mouse brain simulated on computer

Recently some of us had a discussion about the possibility of simulating the human brain. Through an act of serendipity I found this article.

US researchers have simulated half a virtual mouse brain on a supercomputer.

The scientists ran a "cortical simulator" that was as big and as complex as half of a mouse brain on the BlueGene L supercomputer.

[....]

The researchers say that although the simulation shared some similarities with a mouse's mental make-up in terms of nerves and connections it lacked the structures seen in real mice brains.

Imposing such structures and getting the simulation to do useful work might be a much more difficult task than simply setting up the plumbing.

Full article

3 comments:

ExpendableAsset said...

First!

pimp-a-lot bear said...

4096 processors, with each 256 MB memory can simulate half a mouse brain at a tenth of the normal brain speed!

Conclusion:
Mice are very clever!

annom said...

WOW! Nice, first time I see a decent comparsion between the complexity of a earth-brain and a computer.

Evolution wins for now... but it had some serious desing-time.