On Brains and Computing

Anthony Hsiao SapnaSolutions

About Me

The Brain My second most favourite organ!

(Woody Allen, Director)

Context
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system Informatics is the science of information, the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems Neuroiformatics Neuromorphic Engineering

The Brain in a Nutshell

Complex network of Neurons Synapses Distributed Brain Sensors CNS Stomach

Neurons Computation
Concentration gradient of Ions K+, Na+,Ca2+ Action Potential Electrical

Performs 'Sum'

Synapses - Memory?
'Gap' between two interconnecting Neurons Transmits AP Varying Efficacy Action Potential Chemical Performs 'Weighting'

The Amazing Brain

Simple repeated pattern: Concentration difference of Ions in a liquid Many Neurons > Many other Neurons Giving rise to: Emotions Thought Sensation Realities

Quick Comparison: Brain and Computers

Brain Distributed, massively parallel, Architecture redundant Operating Freq. 50-100Hz Power Consump. ~20W 10e11 Neurons, Complexity 10e15 Synapses Processing ~ 100M MIPS Power 4-100um Feature Size 100TB Memory Computer Centralised, still mostly serial > Ghz 150-300W 500M PS3 Cell 10k MIPS ~45nm a lot as well ...

Neuromorphic Engineering
Understanding the principles by which brains function Emulate those in hardware, for further reasearch, and ultimately, to find useful applications Most Neuromorphic hardware is Analog!

Neural Circuits

Science today?

Who is making decisions?

Decisions 'made' in the brain before you know it Subjects asked to press a button Scanner revealed response (Haynes 2008)
M a x P la n c k In s titu te fo r H u m a n C o g n itiv e a n d B r a in S c ie n c e s in L e ip z ig , C h a r it U n iv e r s ity H o s p ita l a n d th e B e r n s te in C e n te r fo r C o m p u ta tio n a l N e u r o s c ie n c e in B e r lin

Cool Stuff

More cool stuff

Some tough questions

What is intelligence?

Can we build intelligence?

When will computational power of machines match that of a human?

When will computational power of machines match that of humanity?

Can we build intelligence?

When will computational power of machines match that of a human? > 2029 (Kurzweil, passing the turing test) = 1 HB (Human Brain) When will computational power of machines match that of humanity? > 2050 (Kurzweil, Kelly) = 6bn HB

What is free will?

If our experience of reality is generated by our brain, given the research I showed you, how do we explain that our impression of choice seems to stem from an underlying mechanistic structure?

Can machines feel?

Conversely, if despite this mechanistic nature of our brain, we are indeed emotional, then can't sufficiently machines and robots be emotional too?

Final thought
Who can think of a similar man-made structure that has some resemblance to the brain?