Blue Brain Project

So, there is such a great project that is sponsored by IBM, called the Blue Brain Project. The main idea of ​​this enterprise is to take and digitize the brain. Up to the molecular level, in order to study all the processes occurring in it in silico. Well, there is a corresponding computer - Blue Gene Supercomputer.

As of August of this year, they can simulate about 100 cortical columns, consisting of 1 million neurons and a billion synapses.

So the news is that they injected into the simulation about 10,000 neurons in random order in 3D space (taking into account the overall density and local morphology of the neurons), and traced how they would build connections with each other, and then compared with the real mammalian brain. As a result, they received 75-95% similarity in the positioning of synapses.

What does this mean for us?

Here, in the previous topic, comrade eresik asked what principle neurons make connections with, and so, VVR give us the answer: neurons grow as independently from each other as physically possible and set synapses in places where they just collide.
But, as always, there are exceptions that demonstrate the possibility of chemical signals that change the statistics of compounds. With such exceptions, it is possible to predict the position of all synapses of the neurochain.

Generally speaking, it makes sense. If cognitive functions would depend on a detailed pattern of interneuronal connections, any injury would be a catastrophe, neuroplasticity would be impossible (taking the functions of a damaged brain region by neighboring areas). It is precisely such opportunities that make it possible to think that in order to simulate consciousness it is not necessary to go deeper to the level of molecules, and, even more so, to the quantum level.

They also note that the change in density, positions and orientations did not affect the distribution of the positions of the formation of synapses. But the change in morphology was essential for reproducible results.

well accompanying video: