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| http://www.semel.ucla.edu/bdd/research/project/visual-functional-connectivity |
I recently read Dan Cossins' article in the Scientist describing the April 2, 2013 announcement
by President Obama on a new government research project called Brain Research
through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN). The primary goal of the
project is to develop technologies to study brain cells. The program is to be
led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (Darpa) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), with the initial
funding for the project set at 100 million federal dollars.
I believe this project will be ultimately beneficial, in
regards to stimulating interest on the subject, and there is a need for it as
we have developed our understanding of neural networks beyond the capacity of
current technologies. However David
Stein (Emory University Neuroscientist) asserts that we should gain a deeper
understanding of what needs to be measured before attempting to develop the
technology, saying “In my mind, the technology ought to follow the concepts
rather than the other way around.” He has a good point. Perhaps this project should
begin with a research team so federal funds are not wasted on developing
technologies that need to be redeveloped after experimentation. Either way, I
am interested in seeing how this program develops, especially with such a
perfectly constructed name and acronym.
Link to Cossins Article: Obama Unveils Brain Project-The Scientist Magazine
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