With these techniques, network engineering, scientists have grown the different networks in the cluster size of neurons. When they saw these groups, they found the rich and surprising behavior that could not be expected from what scientists know about individual neurons.Shein and his PhD supervisor, Professor Yael Hanein of the School of Electrical Engineering and Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob School of Physics and Astronomy, want to understand the logic of the brain. They have developed a new type of platform for lab-on-a-chip that may help neuroscientists understand one of the deepest mysteries of how our neural networks in the brain to communicate and work together. The chip was described in a recent issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
Inside, Shein has applied advanced mathematical and engineering techniques to connect neurons with electronics and to understand how neural networks to communicate. Hoping to answer the ultimate questions of how our neural circuits work, the researchers believe that their instrument can also be used to test new drugs. You could also advance the science of artificial intelligence and artificial limbs to help rewire the brain.
Study of the activity of individual neurons is not sufficient to understand how a network. Systems and tools with nanotechnology, today, researchers can explore the business models of many neurons simultaneously. In particular, we can study how different groups of neurons communicate with each other, said Shein.
Brain circuits function as codes. You can see patterns in networks and to simplify, or connectivity between the control cells to see how the neural network responds to various chemicals and conditions, the ratio of scientists. A theory proposed by Prof. Ben-Jacob, is that the human brain stores memories, like a holographic image of: small networks of neurons contain information about the entire brain, but only a very low resolution.
The brain is composed of an impressive number of circuits interconnected with many other circuits, to understand how it was almost impossible. But the use of brain tissue developed in a petri dish, a Shein device allows researchers to see what is going on well-defined neural circuits in different conditions. The result is an active circuit of neurons on a chip man. With it, you can look for patterns in large neural networks to see if there are basic elements for the encoding of information.
It ’s relatively simple neural “fire” models that can be measured by the sensory organs, like ears or eyes, but researchers know little about the process of deep thought. Brain electrical signals may reveal the basis of thought itself?
Machine logic is based on human logic. But even if the computer’s processor can be hidden and sectioned into logical steps, is not the case of how our processes information to the brain, said Mark Shein Tel Aviv University’s School of Electrical Engineering.
Until now, researchers are able to reveal that groups of a minimum of 40 cells can serve as a minimum but sufficient functional network. This cluster is able to support the activity of the neural network and communicate with other clusters. What this means exactly will be the next question.
The researchers were also able to measure trends in neural activity in the nodes, where a number of nerves in converged networks. What they found suggests that neural networks have a hierarchical structure of large networks are composed of smaller sub-networks. This observation, and using a unique configuration of the electrodes and the nerves of life enabled them to network in a flat hierarchy.
“When we look at the functioning of neural networks in the ears or eyes, we have an idea on the coding schemes they use,” said Shein. A researcher can apply a stimulus such as bright light, for example, and then follow any responses in neurons of the eyes. But for more complex processes, such as the “thinking” or the use of various sensory inputs and outputs together, “we are looking for basically a black box,” he said.