报告题目: |
Grand Challenge in Neural Engineering: Can We Forward Engineer a Living Brain? |
报告人: |
Bruce C. Wheeler |
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Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair of the Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, USA
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报告时间: |
2012-01-10 15:00 |
报告地点: |
Room B323, Medical Science Building |
主办单位: |
医学院 |
简介: |
One of the Grand Challenges identified by the National Science Foundation is the Reverse Engineering of the Brain – e.g. taking it apart of learning it how it works so that the principles can be used in many fields of science and engineering. Here I propose that a more exacting challenge is Forward Engineering of the Brain – the design and construction of ever more complex living neural circuits that emulate brain function. While certainly a wild idea, is closer to reality than is reasonable to expect, thanks to applications of both engineering and applied biology. The metaphor works both ways: applications of more traditional engineering technologies – signal processing, electronics, microlithography, materials science – make possible the controlled growth, recording, and stimulation of nerve cells. In turn the goal is to design, construct, test, and utilize – in short to engineer – a working biological construct. In this lecture examples illustrate the component technologies that have been utilized in this pursuit, as well as examples illustrating how the approaching the problem as an engineer leads to the asking new questions. |
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