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OCD therapy retrains the brain

A new study finds that exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy for OCD improves cognitive control by strengthening connections between brain networks. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanisms underlying EX/RP's effectiveness in treating OCD, paving the way for targeted therapies.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 29, 2023

Orbital-angular-momentum-encoded diffractive networks for object classification tasks

Researchers developed three diffractive deep neural networks using orbital angular momentum to recognize objects in images, achieving accuracy comparable to wavelength and polarization-based models. The technology has potential for real-time processing applications like image recognition and data-intensive tasks.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateNov 27, 2023

Multi-synaptic photonic SNN based on a DFB-SA chip

A new publication introduces a multi-synaptic photonic SNN based on a DFB-SA chip, showcasing its ability to simulate neuron-like dynamics and improve network performance. The algorithm's learning efficiency and performance were excellent, with improved robustness through time coding.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalOpto-Electronic Advances·DateNov 22, 2023

The mind’s eye of a neural network system

Researchers at Purdue University developed a new tool to visualize neural network decisions, making it easier to identify errors in image recognition. The tool uses graph-topological data analysis to provide a bird's-eye view of all images in a database, revealing areas where the network struggles to distinguish between classifications.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 16, 2023

Paper offers perspective on future of brain-inspired AI as Python code library passes major milestone

The Python code library snnTorch, developed by UC Santa Cruz's Jason Eshraghian, has surpassed 100,000 downloads and is used in various projects. A new paper published in the Proceedings of the IEEE documents the library and offers a candid educational resource for students and programmers interested in brain-inspired AI.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the IEEE·DateNov 16, 2023

AI recognizes faces but not like the human brain

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that AI's deep convolutional neural networks can identify faces but struggle to capture other important information like emotional state and trustworthiness. Brain activity scans revealed a weak correlation between AI's codes and human brain represent...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2023

Machine learning gives users ‘superhuman’ ability to open and control tools in virtual reality

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a virtual reality application that allows users to build figures and shapes without interacting with menus. The 'HotGestures' system uses machine learning to recognize hand gestures, providing fast and effective shortcuts for tool selection and usage.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics·DateNov 7, 2023

Unraveling the mysteries of the brain with the help of a worm

A team of neuroscientists and physicists at Princeton University studied the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans to understand how information flows through a network of interacting neurons. They used optogenetics to activate individual neurons and observe how other neurons responded, shedding light on the complex neural connections.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2023

Improved wind speed forecasts can help urban power generation, according to new Concordia research

A new hybrid method developed by Concordia researchers combines data from Weibull probability distribution and numerical weather prediction models to improve wind speed forecasting accuracy. This innovation has the potential to significantly enhance urban power generation, particularly in areas with high variability in wind speeds.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEnergies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 31, 2023

The new robot is taking its first intuitive steps

A team of engineers at the University of Pittsburgh has created a new robot that can navigate complex environments using bio-inspired neural networks. The robots will be able to avoid obstacles and learn from their experiences, enabling autonomous navigation for various applications such as commercial transport and disaster response.

Researchers create a neural network for genomics—one that explains how it achieves accurate predictions

A team of New York University computer scientists created a neural network that can explain how it reaches its predictions, shedding light on the intricacies of RNA splicing. The breakthrough reveals how a small, hairpin-like structure in RNA can decrease splicing and provides new insights into the transfer of genomic information.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 6, 2023

New evidence for sub-network specializations within the Default Mode Network and the Special Role of Facial Movements in Brain Activation and Self-Perception

Researchers found differential activation patterns of the Default Mode Network nodes, with facial movement inducing an inverted positive BOLD pattern in certain areas. Facial recognition and movement uniquely impact brain activity, highlighting their importance in cognitive and social development.

SourceReichman University·JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

Efficient training for artificial intelligence

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute present a method for training artificial intelligence using physical processes, reducing energy consumption and computing time. The new approach relies on non-linear processes, such as optics, to mimic the human brain's parallel processing, potentially leading to more efficient neural networks.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review X·DateSep 22, 2023

NTU Singapore scientists find new evidence to explain how we pay attention

Researchers uncover clues about how chemicals released by brain cells regulate our attention span, finding that two neurotransmitters work together in a precise sequence to regulate signal transmission. This discovery could lead to new treatments for neurological conditions associated with concentration difficulties.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2023

The art of wandering in vertebrates: new mapping of neurons involved in locomotion

Researchers have identified a conserved brain region in vertebrates essential for initiating forward movement. The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulates reticulospinal neurons to control finer details of movement. Mapping this circuit could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2023

Brain cells living on the edge

A paper published in Nature Communications shows that when neurons are given task-related sensory input, they change how they behave and support the critical brain hypothesis theory. The researchers used DishBrain, a collection of 800,000 human neural cells, to demonstrate near-critical network behavior emerges when the neural network ...

SourceCortical Labs·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2023

Neural network helps design brand new proteins

Researchers have developed a novel neural network approach to design brand new proteins with unique arrangements and dynamic functionalities. The method combines attention neural networks with graph neural networks to predict existing protein properties and envision new proteins that nature has not yet devised.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 29, 2023

AI models are powerful, but are they biologically plausible?

Researchers propose a hypothesis that astrocytes, non-neuronal cells in the brain, can perform core computation as transformers, providing insights into human brain function and machine learning success. This discovery could spark future neuroscience research and help explain transformer performance across complex tasks.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 15, 2023