Recent advances in neuroscience and brain-based artificial intelligence have opened up new possibilities for understanding intelligence. Now, a research team led by Tianzi Jiang of the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has outlined the key components and features of an innovative platform called the Digital Twin Brain, which can bridge the gap between biological and artificial intelligence and provide new insights into both. .

The network structure is what unites biological and artificial intelligence. Because the brain is composed of biological networks, a digital model, or “twin” of the brain, created using artificial networks would allow researchers to add information about biological intelligence to the model. The ultimate goal is to “advance the development of artificial general intelligence and promote precision mental health care,” requiring collaborative efforts from interdisciplinary scientists worldwide.

Using the Digital Twin Brain, researchers can study the functioning of the human brain by simulating and modulating the brain in different situations for different cognitive tasks. For example, they can model how the brain functions properly at rest and malfunctions during disorders, or develop methods to remove it from an undesirable state by modulating its activity.

Although the idea of ​​a digital twin brain may seem like science fiction, it has a solid biological basis. It combines three main elements: brain atlases that serve as structural frameworks and biological constraints, multi-level neural models trained on biological data to simulate brain functions, and a set of programs to evaluate and update the existing “twin”.

It is assumed that the three main elements will develop and interact in a closed loop. A dynamic brain atlas leads to improved neural models that create more realistic simulations of function. The current “twin” of these models is then tested in an ever-expanding range of practical applications, including disease biomarker discovery and drug testing. These programs complete the loop by providing feedback to improve the brain atlas.

The biological brain has a complex structure and complex dynamics. Therefore, learning how to create a digital twin requires extremely sophisticated brain atlases, including atlases at different scales, different methods, and even different types of atlases. With a comprehensive collection of atlases, you can explore different aspects of the brain, the connections and interactions between different areas of the brain, and the basic principles of brain organization.

On the other hand, brain atlases are also limitations in the sense that neural models must be based on them for “biological plausibility”, which creates technical difficulties.

Jiang’s team suggests that the Brainnetome atlas will be a key component in the development of the Digital Twin Brain. Announced in 2016 by researchers from the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the atlas is a macroscale atlas covering 246 subregions of the brain and is developing toward “expanded and detailed mapping” of the structure and connectivity of the human brain. .

Meanwhile, given that current brain simulation platforms do not adhere to their anatomical foundations, the authors believe that it is vital to develop an “open, efficient, flexible and user-friendly” brain atlas platform that is powerful enough to support multi-scale and multi-modal simulations. . There are still many open questions that need to be addressed, such as how to effectively process pieces of biological information into a digital twin, how to develop better simulation models, and how to integrate the Digital Twin Brain into practical scenarios.

Therefore, the Digital Twin Brain represents the combination of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Integrating complex brain atlases, dynamic neural models, and a range of applications, this platform is poised to revolutionize our understanding of both biological and artificial intelligence.

Thanks to the collective efforts of scientists around the world, the Digital Twin Brain promises to advance artificial general intelligence and revolutionize precision mental healthcare, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs in our understanding of the human mind, the development of smart technologies, and discoveries. Treatments for brain disorders.