Research Activities[]

In a coarse summary, the goals of the project can be formulated as follows:

• Provide biological input data from in-vivo and in-vitro measurements at cell and network level, set-up a large-scale computer data base for neural cell characterisation
• Use large-scale computer based models to test the concepts and benchmarks developed in the project, develop a common data model for neural simulations
• Build and use very large-scale hardware models based on the above results
• Evaluate new computing paradigms using the FACETS benchmark problems in vision

Consequently, the project follows 4 major lines of research: Logo: biological experiments in vitro and in vivo The experimental characterisation of cortical cells and networks in-vivo and in-vitro Logo: modelling and theoretical study The study of theoretical and computer based models of cells and networks Logo: design, construction, and operation of neural hardware The design, construction, and operation of VLSI circuits emulating the biological example Logo: study of adaptation and emerging paradigms The study of mechanisms for changes and adaptation on all 3 above levels

Beyond that, a very essential aspect of the work to be carried out within the project is the necessary integration of the results and demonstrators produced in the above lines of research. To this end, the performance of software models and hardware systems will have to be assessed in realistic scenarios.

In order to focus the computational analysis on realistic tasks for this new approach to computing, the benchmark applications for the project will concentrate on computational problems that arise in vision, in particular on problems involving rapidly changing visual input where there is a particular need for novel computational ideas and corresponding circuit designs.