Synthetic Cognitive Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
The brain can be viewed as an immensely sophisticated computational system, the understanding of which presents us with a very challenging problem. Whilst much progress has been made in understanding how the brain functions, a fundamental question that remains to be resolved is how the brain encodes and processes information as spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity. This proposal will establish a core team of interdisciplinary researchers and the facilities required in order to address this important question. The key aim of the group's research program is to produce a synthetic system, incorporating living neurons, which is capable of cognition at a highly simplified, elemental, level. The system will incorporate a continuous, closed-loop, flow of information between the network and its environment analogous to that in a real organism and will ensure the system has some relevance to neural processing. It will result in a tool that will overcome current limitations; allowing a close correspondence between the experimental system and the mathematical models. This experimental tool will be made available to the neuroscience community at large and will enable researchers to develop the beginnings of a theory of neural processing. The initial system will undergo continual development; incorporating technical innovations and improvements to construct neural systems of ever increasing complexity and relevance.This proposal will provide an investment in the core activities of a new interdisciplinary facility that will provide an experimental platform for neuroscientists both from the UK and abroad. The expertise of the facility will be both in the development and production of synthetic cognitive systems as well as their application to fundamental, curiosity-driven, neuroscience research. The majority of output from this facility will come from funding attracted by the collaborative projects that arise both during the development and the application of this tool.The relatively simple initial system will undergo continual development; incorporating technical innovations and improvements. For example, larger networks will be produced, more sophisticated methods of monitoring and controlling biochemical pathways will be incorporated and networks of interacting networks will be produced to construct neural systems of ever increasing complexity and relevance.Ultimately these systems will allow us to develop models of information processing in the more complex networks found in living brains. These models may lead to treatments to correct the instabilities that underlie many brain diseases and disorders and may lead to advances in artificial intelligence.
Planned Impact
The primary impact of this research program will be advances in fundamental science and the development of basic technology. Secondary activities including commercialisation of technology, education and training and outreach are anticipated to have flow on effects that will have wider, less well defined, social and economic impact. The multidisciplinary nature of this research is expected to result in incremental gains in basic knowledge and technology in several fields including physics, biology, medicine, neuroscience and artificial intelligence - ranging from imminent and highly probable to longer term and more speculative. A step change in neuroscience is also anticipated by providing a set of research tools that will allow fundamental questions of neural processing to be addressed from a novel, biologically inspired, philosophically informed perspective. The development of basic technology has the potential to lead to several products with commercial value. The support and involvement of industry from the early stages of this project will ensure the best chance of success in transforming basic technology into viable commercial products. It will also ensure researchers focus on research while any commercial activities are handled by industry. Traditional academic dissemination routes will be utilised to communicate research outputs in addition to a number of educational and outreach initiatives. This includes science festival booth construction and touring, school outreach events, projects with film makers and theatre companies and engagement in the policy making process. In summary, as well as advances in basic knowledge and technology and its dissemination via traditional routes there are many potential broader consequences that could result from this research program. It is anticipated that there will be flow on effects from the secondary activities of education and outreach, commercial development of technology and engagement in the policy making process that will have wider, less well defined, social and economic impacts.
People |
ORCID iD |
Noah Russell (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chaplin J
(2011)
The effect of encapsulation on molecular computing efficiency
Chaplin JC
(2014)
Photochromic molecular implementations of universal computation.
in Bio Systems
Chaplin JC
(2012)
Implementing conventional logic unconventionally: photochromic molecular populations as registers and logic gates.
in Bio Systems
Croft W
(2016)
Probabilistic encoding of stimulus strength in astrocyte global calcium signals.
in Glia
Dhowre H
(2015)
Responsive Cell-Material Interfaces
in Nanomedicine
Dhowre H
(2014)
Responsive biointerfaces
Dhowre H
(2014)
Surface charaterisation of peptide surfaces
Dhowre H
(2015)
Surfaces that guide neural stem cell differentiation
Goodwin P
(2011)
Self-administering neuronal networks
Description | We have developed a range of novel technologies for growing, stimulating and interrogating neural networks grown in cell culture. This reduces the reliance on animals for conducting experiments to understand disease processes and has the potential to help accelerate drug development. |
Exploitation Route | The basic technology we have developed is being used by other researchers. With further development it has the potential to result in commercial products. |
Sectors | Chemicals Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Other |
Description | The basic research from this project has led to technology that is being used by other researchers to study fundamental signalling mechanisms in cells to lead to development of better drugs to treat neurological diseases. We have also contributed to the technical know how and product range of a small UK technology company. We have contributed to public understanding of basic science through several outreach events. |
Impact Types | Cultural Economic |
Description | 2014 University of Nottingham Graduate School Staff Prize Travel Grant (£600)-Christopher Towlson |
Amount | £600 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 01/2014 |
Description | 2014 University of Nottingham, Faculty of Engineering - Strategy & Steering Conference Fund (£700) |
Amount | |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Anglo-Jewish Association Scholarship |
Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Anglo-Jewish Association |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2016 |
End | 01/2017 |
Description | Graduate centre travel prize -Nitzan Herzog |
Amount | £600 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Department | University of Nottingham Graduate School |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2014 |
End | 11/2014 |
Description | Graduate school travel grant- Johnstone Alex |
Amount | £600 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2014 |
End | 11/2014 |
Description | Graduate travel prize |
Amount | £600 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 10/2014 |
Description | Guarantors of Brain |
Amount | £500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Guarantors of Brain |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Guarantors of Brain and University of nottingham Applied optics research division-Johnstone Alex |
Amount | £400 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2012 |
End | 11/2012 |
Description | Leverhulme Trust |
Amount | |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | MBA |
Amount | £750 (GBP) |
Organisation | Marine Biological Association |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN |
Amount | € 5,300,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start |
Description | PhysSoc |
Amount | £500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Physiological Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | RSC Travel grant |
Amount | £200 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 04/2015 |
Description | UNICAS |
Amount | £2,221 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Department | University of Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Analytical Science (UNICAS) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 08/2014 |
Description | Whitworth |
Amount | £22,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Whitworth Art Gallery Manchester |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2014 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | Brain matters |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | British Science Week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Science festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Mayfest University of Nottingham 2013-2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | open day |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
Description | PubHD 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | PubHD- popular science presentation, April 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity |
Description | School Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | School visit (Trinity Catholic School, Beechdale-Presentation on Neurodegeneration and promote the Brain Matters poster competition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity |
Description | Science outreach programme 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School outreach workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Summer School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Summer school |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |