Allen Institute for Brain Science Analysis 60,000 neurons, the results challenge the classical theory of Nobel

　　Beijing on December 17, published in the "<strong> Nature Neuroscience </ strong>" <strong> a new study of nearly 60,000 neuronal activity against mouse visual display system, in order to understand how the brain computing how to deal with sensory information to guide behavior, we have a long way to go </ strong>.　　
　　The leadership shown by the analysis of the United States Allen Brain Science Institute, <strong> processing visual world of the brain's visual cortex there are more than 90% of the neurons are not in accordance with the scientists work as imagined, and exactly how they work still a mystery. </ strong>
　　chief scientist and director of the Allen Institute for Brain Science Dr. Christof Koch, said: "We believe that the principle of these neurons processing visual information is simple, these principles have in all textbooks but now we also detected. thousands of cells, has been much more subtle and complex images. "co-corresponding author for the study's senior researcher, Dr. Allen Institute for brain Science and he R.Clay Reid.
　　In 1959, two neurologists David Hubel and Torsten Wisel how mammalian brains perceive the visual world around the experiment carried out, become a breakthrough in the field of neuroscience and a real turning point. They study reveals that individual neurons respond only to specific types of images.
　　The two scientists by showing simple pictures (such as black stripes or black spots on a white background) to cats and monkeys to complete their feat. They reveal the basic principle is that when you look around the world, specific neurons in the brain responsible for identifying the exact part of the scene in a particular area, and this recognition becomes more professional and sophisticated high-order part of the brain.
　　Suppose you in the park: a group of neurons would you sight a dark branches produce rapid electrical response. Only when the birds fly from the left or right of your field of vision, other neurons will be activated. Then, your brain will "branches" of neurons and Information "birds" neurons that are connected together to obtain a complete picture of the world around you, at least in theory, is this.
　　Hubel and Wisel discovery has been recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and formed the basis for the support of most neural network computing vision applications. In the past decade, with the emergence of new scientific methods of nerves, more and more brain cells can be studied simultaneously. Scientists have gradually learned that this model on our brain does not seem all that some neurons apparently did not follow the classic model adjusted to specific functions.
　　But it is unclear how incomplete in the end this model.
　　<strong> brain activity variability </ strong>
　　The new study is the first large-scale analysis of the <strong> Allen Brain Observatory </ strong> (Allen Brain Observatory , ABO) public data, ABO is a pair a total of 243 large-scale visual cortex of awake mice physiological investigations, they capture the visual system tens of thousands of neuronal activity. When the researchers analyzed the different animals to see simple images, photos and short video clips, the outermost layer of the brain visual cortex part of nearly 60,000 different neuronal activity. Orson Welle video section includes the classic film "Touch Of Evil" in the opening shot. It was chosen because it has a continuous movement, but is not cutting a single lens.
　　The existence of these varied and low specific neurons is nothing new. But the researchers say, surprisingly, they dominated the visual part of the brain in mice.
　　<strong> How do you calculate the brain? </ strong>
　　It is unclear how these other neurons processing visual information. Previous research team has found that exercise can drive neuronal activity in the visual part of the brain, but no matter whether the mouse run, can only explain a small amount of change in visual response.
　　Their next study will be conducted similar experiments with more nature documentaries, thus providing more visual features to respond to neurons. The researchers also noted that the classic model from studies of cats and primates, these two animals in the evolutionary process better than mice to see their own world. It is possible to mice with our visual system is completely different, but these studies are still there are some principles that may apply to our own brains.
　　Study co-author Michael Buice said: "Our goal is not to study visual cortex but research is how to calculate the <strong> We believe that the cerebral cortex have a common computing structure, similar to the different types of computers can run the same program. way. </ strong> in the final analysis, it does not matter what kind of program, we want to know it in the end is how to run a program running on the computer. "