Objective
A hallmark of intelligence is the ability to mentally simulate future scenarios and plan actions accordingly. This cognitive ability requires an internal model of the world. How the brain constructs, and uses such a world model is a fundamental, yet unresolved question. Normative models in neuroscience can explain the emergence of abstract representations from sequential observations, but their rigid formulation restricts them to static toy models. In artificial intelligence, world model based agents have matured significantly. However, despite impressive successes, leading state-of-the-art agents fail at long-horizon navigation and, as recent findings show, their internal dynamics do not match the structured representations observed in the brain, suggesting a fundamental architectural gap.
This project addresses world model learning in both brains and machines upfront with a cross-disciplinary approach that explains failure modes of state-of-the-art agents, overcomes their limitation with a novel brain-inspired architecture, and finally validates artificial world models against a unique dataset of brain activity recorded from mice navigating 11-different environments.
Key deliverables are a) a precise characterization of inductive biases required for well-structured internal representations, b) a new model class that pushes the frontiers for world model based reinforcement learning and that serves as powerful normative model for brain dynamics across contexts, and c) an in-depth analysis of hippocampal activity to reveal how the brain creates and reuses internal representations.
This project establishes a virtuous NeuroAI cycle: Insights from neuroscience will help to build more robust and interpretable AI, which in turn will serve as a powerful computational framework to deepen our understanding of how the brain builds its model of the world.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning reinforcement learning
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
37073 Gottingen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.