1. NeoCortical Builder: A Web Based Front End for NCS Jakub Berlinski Marlon D. Chavez, Cameron Rowe, Nathan M. Jordan, Devyani Tanna, Roger V. Hoang, Sergiu M. Dascalu, Laurence C. Jayet Bray, Frederick C Harris, Jr. Brain Computation Lab Department of Computer Science and Engineering University of Nevada, Reno

2. Overview Introduction Introduction NCS Overview NCS Overview Design Overview Design Overview Conclusion and Future Work Conclusion and Future Work

3. Human Brain Neurons : ~ 8.6 x 10^10 (86 Billion) Neurons : ~ 8.6 x 10^10 (86 Billion) Synapses: ~ 1x 10^14 (100 Trillion) Synapses: ~ 1x 10^14 (100 Trillion)

4. Neurons Fun Fact - Longest axons in human body run from base of the spinal cord to the big toe of each foot!

5. Channels

6. Signal Propagation

7. Levels of Organization of Modeling

8. Problem Creating a brain model is hard Creating a brain model is hard Old methods are outdated or use text based input Old methods are outdated or use text based input

9. Problem: Other Simulators NEURON’s GUI

10. Problem (cont) Current brain simulators require extraneous methods during the setup process to be fully functional Current brain simulators require extraneous methods during the setup process to be fully functional NCS cannot easily be accessed remotely to build models, run simulations, and view output NCS cannot easily be accessed remotely to build models, run simulations, and view output

11. What is NCS? Developed and maintained by the UNR Brain Computation Laboratory Developed and maintained by the UNR Brain Computation Laboratory The NeoCortical Simulator is designed for modeling large-scale neural networks and systems The NeoCortical Simulator is designed for modeling large-scale neural networks and systems Can model millions of neurons in real time Can model millions of neurons in real time Open source Open source Runs on a heterogeneous cluster of CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs Runs on a heterogeneous cluster of CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs First simulator to support real-time neurorobotics application First simulator to support real-time neurorobotics application

12. Hodgkin-Huxley Neurons (Added in NCS 7.0) Biologically accurate Biologically accurate Developed in 1952 by Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley from their experiments on the giant axon of a squid Developed in 1952 by Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley from their experiments on the giant axon of a squid Set of four differential equations Set of four differential equations Three variables n, m, h Three variables n, m, h

13. Hodgkin-Huxley (cont)

14. Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Comprised of Comprised of Sub-threshold leaky-integrator dynamic Sub-threshold leaky-integrator dynamic Firing threshold Firing threshold Reset mechanism Reset mechanism Leakage Channels Leakage Channels Drive the neuron to higher voltage Drive the neuron to higher voltage Let the voltage decay to its resting potential Let the voltage decay to its resting potential

15. Izhikevich Created by Eugene M. Izhikevich Created by Eugene M. Izhikevich Published in 2003 Published in 2003 Most Simplistic Most Simplistic Computationally efficient and captures large variety of response properties of real neurons Computationally efficient and captures large variety of response properties of real neurons Only 6 variables! Only 6 variables!

16. Image Source: http://www.izhikevich.org/publications/spikes.htm Izhikevich (Added in NCS 6.0)

17. Izhikevich Output

18. Solution NeoCortical Builder (NCB) NeoCortical Builder (NCB) Graphical User Interface for easy construction of brain models and simulation parameters Graphical User Interface for easy construction of brain models and simulation parameters Web based application for easy access from any location or device Web based application for easy access from any location or device

19. Design Overview

20. Technologies used in NCB Core Core HTML5 HTML5 CSS3 CSS3 JavaScript JavaScript Python Python Libraries Used JavaScript jQuery AngularJS Bootstrap X-editable Flask

21. Design Overview -- Brain Builder

25. Design Overview -- Simulation Builder

27. Conclusion NCB Provides a front end interface for the NeoCortical Simulator NCB Provides a front end interface for the NeoCortical Simulator Easy to use web based application with intuitive controls Easy to use web based application with intuitive controls

28. Future Work Complete full front end application by merging NCB with NCR and Virtual Robot Complete full front end application by merging NCB with NCR and Virtual Robot NCB NCB Brain Builder Brain Builder Simulation Builder Simulation Builder NCR NCR Reports Reports Model Database Model Database Virtual Robot Virtual Robot

29. NeoCortical Builder: A Web Based Front End for NCS Jakub Berlinski Marlon D. Chavez, Cameron Rowe, Nathan M. Jordan, Devyani Tanna, Roger V. Hoang, Sergiu M. Dascalu, Laurence C. Jayet Bray, Frederick C Harris, Jr. Brain Computation Lab Department of Computer Science and Engineering University of Nevada, Reno