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Neuron-based Communications

Challenges

Dr. Olga KaraNano Communication Centre

Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering

Tampere University of Technologyolga.kara@tut.fi

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Neuron-based communication in

Neurotechnology

RoboticsHuman spare parts

Human-computer interaction

Information technology

Effective resource managementSelf-organization

Memory storage and retrieval

Neurotechnology is an integration of neurobiology with

information technology and engineering

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Robotics and nanorobotics Robotic vision is one of the most

complex sensory system that takesaround 1/3 of human cortex

Robotic today need camera and hugecomputational power

Neurons simplify visual processing, bycompressing information at the source

and apply specific encodings in a formof spikes.

To resolve the problem of high speedmotor control

Decision making-The complex networkof single biological nano-unitsneurons

able to solve the complex problems inmilliseconds by separating the probleminto small problem and resolving themwithout understanding of global picture.

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Bionics - robotic spare parts

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Nanorobotics

Neurodust

by Michel Maharbiz from

Berkeley

We need some systemthat will be able to

record simultaneously

thousands of individual

neurons in multiple brain

areas. Communication???

Dr. Michel Maharbiz: Neural dust system diagram showing the placement of ultrasonic interrogator

under the skull and the independent neural dust sensing nodes dispersed throughout the brain.

Source: arXiv:1307.2196v1

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.html#jCp

http://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.htmlhttp://phys.org/news/2013-08-world-itskov-futurists-convene-gf2045.html

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Human Computer Interaction

Information System Research Microsoftresearch on the potential of

neuroscience

Cognition

Usability engineering (implement real-time

ergonomic for adaptive fitting of the task to

the user). Embedded nanodevices?

Artificial intelligence (neurochip with real

neurons instead of computer components?)

Diagnostic and monitoring

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Information processing

Neuron networks perform effectiveinformation processing and transfer

Information coding, transfer anddecoding

Information theory

Neural system as a communicationchannel

Neural coding: how the activity ofneuron (measured as output)represent input?

When neurons face with new

information they will try to develop astrategy to encode this informationand store it for later usage.

The mechanism of informationcompression

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Sensory information processing performed on many levels

Information processing

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Neural circuits Neurons are interconnected

with one another to formcircuits with dense synaptic

connectivity to process specific

information.

Circuits regulate itself by

feedback loop.

Many neural circuits togetherform a neural system (as many

electronic circuits together form

a computer)

Afferent

(sender)

Interneuron -

modulator with

inhibitory

properties

Efferent (receiver) -

carry information

away from the cell

body

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Information

coding

Information

transmission

Information

receiving

Information

decoding

Syntesis Release Reception Processing

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Information processing in postsynaptic

neuron (receiver)

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Resource management

Effective resource management in the brain Two targets can be processed simultaneously even in alimited information capacity situation

T1presented first and occupied short term memoryfor 500ms, T2 may not be seen

Brain can be adjusted by training the neurons toeffectively distribute brain resources

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Self-organization, adaptation and

learning Neurons self-organized

in an effective

communication network

during the development

Communication within

and between networkparties

Principles and

mechanism of this

process will help to

develop effective

communication

network between

nano devices

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Neuronal plasticity

Neuronal plasticity is a fundamental property of the

neuronal tissue. This enables learning and

adaptation.

Activity in neurons can strengthen or weaken

signalling at a synapse.

High activity of neuron leads to recruitment of

more axon terminals from the same neuron.

Reduced activity leads to loss of synapses. If two synapses are active at the same time, the

strength of the postsynaptic response may

increase at both synapses, mediated by long-term

potentiation.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lasting

enhancement in signal transmission between two

neurons as a results of synchronous stimulation

LTP plays a major role in memory formation, that

thought to be related to the modification of

synaptic strength

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Memory

Memory is attributed to strengthened

synaptic connections among particular brain

neurons, yet synaptic membrane components

are transient, whereas memories can endure.This suggests synaptic information is encoded

and hard-wired elsewhere, e.g. at molecular

levels within the post-synaptic neuron.

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Memory storage and retrieval

memoryis the process in whichinformation is encoded, stored, andretrieved.

Encoding or registration: receiving,processing and combining ofreceived information

Storage: creation of a permanentrecord of the encoded information

Retrieval, recall or recollection:calling back the stored information inresponse to some cue for use in aprocess or activity

1 Sensory memory 2 Short-term memory

3 Long-term memory

Atkinson-Shiffrin model

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Cytoskeleton

Cytoskeleton : actin filaments, microtubuline and intermediatefilaments establish the form of neuron, maintains synaptic

connections. It is a part of eukaryotic (absent in bacteria) cells

cytoskeleton.

In the brain tubulin account for 10-20% of all soluble proteins.

Microtubules are hollow tubes formed from tubulin molecules

Microtubule is electrically polar structures composed of and

subunits (which can be a different subtypes, located at differentparts of the cell and involved in different functions (mutation may

lead to a loss of some specific function (sensitivity in nematode)).

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Microtubules Microtubules are dynamically instable and undergo

rapid cycles of growth and shrinkage

Microtubules constructed of /heterodimers (

and subunits of tubuline) that compose a

protofilament s, and form a hollow tubule (24 nm)

-tubul ineis bound to DTP

is bound to GDP in microtubule (as it will

hydrolyze from GPT to GDP during the binding

process). The tubuline + GTP at the end is called GTP

cup that will be hydrolysed by binding the rescue

process.

If GTP at the end hydrolysed without binding the

shrinkage will occur - catastrophe

The number of protofilaments can be different from

10 to 15. In mammalian cells is usually 13

Microtubules are interconnected by linking proteins

(microtubule-associated proteins: MAPs) to other

microtubules and cell structures to form

cytoskeletal lattice networks

Microtubule dynamics

growth and shrinkage rates,

rescue and catastrophe frequencies,

sometimes supplemented by pause

duration.

MT formation can be regulated by calcium

signals