Synthetic Cognitive Systems

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.

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.