The Blue Brain Project - simulation-based research in neuroscience

by Felix Schurmann

Friday 4 Dec 2009, 14:15 → 15:15 Europe/Zurich

Univ. de Geneve, Auditoire Stueckelberg, 24 quai E. Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4

Mammalian brains are arguably the most complex structures known to man. In 1mm^3 of the neocortex of a rat there are 10,000 nerve cells with close to 1km of fibres and tens of millions of synapses. Unifying experimental biology and high-performance computing, the Blue Brain Project is an undertaking to introduce simulation-based research to neuroscience, i.e. enabling researchers to test hypothesis of function and malfunction "in silico". Over the last 4 years an interdisciplinary team of 35 researchers has cast the reverse-engineering of the biological pieces and the forward construction of detailed mathematical models in an iterative process that allows continuous refinement. Using the computational power of a 4-rack BlueGene/L, a dedicated framework of software tools has been built that allows a completely data-driven model generation and simulation of a piece of rat brain. In order to put the expert into the loop, extensive use of visualization and interactive analysis is made, which is powered by another dedicated supercomputer in order to realize short turn-around times.