The human brain is composed of the seemingly unstable biological elements known as neurons. Importantly, the sophisticated information processing carried out by the brain operates on principles fundamentally different from those of digital computers.

 

 We study the neural basis of information processing in the brain from an engineering perspective, and translate this understanding into next-generation brain-inspired computing systems and biomedical technologies for future super-smart and super-aging societies. Using artificial neuronal networks developed in our lab as in-vitro models for brain networks, we investigate key features of the biological computation that are not yet captured by current artificial neural networks and AI systems. We then implement these principles in biologically plausible computational models, ultra-low-power neuromorphic hardware, and “wetware” based on cultured neurons. In parallel, by utilizing cultured human neurons, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of neurological disorders and establish new in vitro disease models.