Project description FET Proactive: Neuro-Bio-Inspired Systems (NBIS)Emulating the C. elegans nervous system for the reverse-engineering of nervous system function will pave the way to the realization of brain-inspired computational architectures Show the project objective Hide the project objective Biological neural systems are powerful, robust and highly adaptive computational entities that outperform conventional computers in almost all aspects of sensory-motor integration. Despite dramatic progress in information technology, there is a big performance discrepancy between artificial systems and brains in seemingly simple orientation and navigation tasks. In fact, no system exists that can faithfully reproduce the rich behavioural repertoire of the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans which features one of the simplest nervous systems in nature made of 302 neurons and about 8000 connections. Si elegans aims at providing this missing link. We propose to develop a computing framework that accurately mimics C. elegans and let complex and realistic behaviour emerge through its interaction with a rich, dynamic simulation of a natural environment. We will replicate the nervous system of C. elegans on a highly parallel, modular, arbitrarily programmable, reconfigurable and scalable hardware architecture, virtually embody it for behavioural studies in a realistic virtual environment and provide the resulting computational platform through an open-access web portal to the scientific community for its peer-validation and use. Si elegans will constitute a generalizable framework from which the universal working principles of nervous system function can be induced, and new scientific knowledge on higher brain function and behaviour can be generated. More importantly, it will lay the foundation for exploring and refining new neuromimetic computational concepts and will provide a blueprint for the design of brain-like hardware architectures that are orthogonal to current von Neumann-type machines. The 3-year project brings together a highly interdisciplinary, experienced and focused research team from leading European institutions with well-balanced complementary skills and will reach out to the world-wide scientific community in a peer-contribution and validation approach. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologysocial sciencespsychologybehavioural psychology Programme(s) FP7-ICT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Information and communication technologies Topic(s) ICT-2011.9.11 - FET Proactive: Neuro-Bio-Inspired Systems (NBIS) Call for proposal FP7-ICT-2011-9 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP - Collaborative project (generic) Coordinator FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA EU contribution € 633 652,00 Address VIA MOREGO 30 16163 Genova Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Gabriele Ballero (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all FUNDACION CENTRO DE TECNOLOGIAS DE INTERACCION VISUAL Y COMUNICACIONES VICOMTECH Spain EU contribution € 436 373,00 Address PASEO MIKELETEGI PARQUE TECNOLOGICO DE MIRAMON 57 20009 Donostia San Sebastian See on map Region Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Sabarinath Rajasekharan (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY Ireland EU contribution € 360 500,00 Address UNIVERSITY ROAD H91 Galway See on map Region Ireland Northern and Western West Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Vahey Mari (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution € 1 175 706,00 Address 50 SHAKESPEARE STREET NG1 4FQ Nottingham See on map Region East Midlands (England) Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Nottingham Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Stephen Wright (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER Participation ended United Kingdom EU contribution € 120 769,00 Address CROMORE ROAD BT52 1SA Coleraine See on map Region Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Causeway Coast and Glens Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Maxwell Morrow (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data