A world survey of artificial brain projects, Part I: Large-scale brain simulations

Abstract

Driven by rapid ongoing advances in computer hardware, neuroscience and computer science, Artificial Brain research and development are blossoming. This article constitutes the first half of a two-part world survey of artificial brain projects: this part dealing with large-scale brain simulations, and the second part with biologically inspired cognitive architectures (BICAs). The large-scale brain simulations we consider in depth here include those by Markram, Modha, Boahen, Horwitz, Edelman, Izhikevich, and Just. As well as reviewing the particulars of these simulation projects, we position them in a broader perspective, comparing at the different underlying definitions of the concept of “simulation,” noting that in many ways the projects are modeling neurosystems at different levels as well as using different methodologies.