Brain Model Endeavour Succeeds and Fails
A decade-long brain model endeavor backed by €600 million, EU Human Brain Project is set to conclude on September 13th, leaving behind a legacy of both achievements and controversies.
- The project aimed to digitally replicate the complexities of the human brain in a computer.
- Despite significant achievements, the project encountered criticism and challenges, failing to achieve its primary goal.
A decade and €600 million later, the European Union’s most ambitious big data project, the EU Human Brain Project, is coming to an end on September 13th.
With a mission to digitally replicate the complexities of the human brain, the project aimed to expand our neuroscience knowledge and unlock the mysteries of the mind. Despite both achievements and controversies, it has failed to reach its main goal: faithfully recreating the human brain model in a computer.
Involving around 500 scientists and an expenditure of approximately €600 million, the brain model project achieved historical milestones including but not limited to the creation of detailed 3D brain maps of more than 200 regions, the development of brain implants for treating blindness, and the use of supercomputers to model memory, consciousness, and various brain conditions.
“When the project started, hardly anyone believed in the potential of big data and the possibility of using it, or supercomputers, to simulate the complicated functioning of the brain,” noted Thomas Skordas, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission.
Regardless, ever since its launch in 2013, the EU Human Brain Project has faced persistent criticism. It fell short of its initial goal of completely simulating the human brain, raising doubts among scientists about its feasibility from the outset.
The brain model project’s trajectory changed multiple times, leading to fragmented scientific output, which many argued hindered its ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of the brain.
Despite the challenges, the project produced valuable insights, including the Human Brain Atlas, offering standardized maps of brain regions, and aiding in understanding functions such as memory, language, and attention. Not to mention the project’s digital twin concept which led to applications in treating epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, showcasing its potential impact on clinical practices.
While the EU’s Human Brain Project concludes, its offshoot, the virtual platform called EBRAINS, aims to continue the legacy.
EBRAINS offers a suite of tools and imaging data for researchers globally to conduct simulations and digital experiments. Presently, the funding for EBRAINS remains uncertain, leaving scientists concerned about the future of this vital resource.
As Europe’s massive brain model project winds down, comparable initiatives continue worldwide. Brain simulation projects in the US, Japan, China, Australia, and South Korea press forward, indicating the enduring global interest in unlocking the brain’s enigmas.
In the end, while the EU Human Brain Project might not have fully realized its initial audacious goal, there’s no denying that its impact on neuroscience is undeniable.
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