Scientists at the Jülich Research Centre in Germany are embarking on an ambitious project to simulate the human brain using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, the JUPITER. This initiative follows the groundbreaking completion in 2024 of the first comprehensive map of the circuitry of a fruit fly’s brain, which revealed nearly 500 feet of wiring and 54.5 million synapses within an organ no larger than a grain of sand. This achievement has paved the way for more advanced understanding of neural signaling.
With significant advances in computing power, the team, led by neurophysics professor Markus Diesmann, aims to integrate various models of smaller brain regions into a cohesive simulation. The goal is to run simulations that mimic the activity of billions of neurons firing simultaneously. The JUPITER supercomputer, currently ranked as the fourth most powerful in the world according to the TOP500 list, will be utilized for this purpose. It features thousands of graphical processing units that enhance its computational capabilities.
In a demonstration last month, the team successfully scaled up a “spiking neural network” to simulate the 20 billion neurons and approximately 100 trillion connections found in the human cerebral cortex. Diesmann noted the significance of this advancement, stating, “We know now that large networks can do qualitatively different things than small ones. It’s clear the large networks are different.”
While this simulation represents a major leap in computational neuroscience, experts caution that even this sophisticated model will only scratch the surface of understanding how the human brain functions. Professor Thomas Nowotny from the University of Sussex emphasized the limitations of such simulations, stating, “We can’t actually build brains. Even if we can make simulations of the size of a brain, we can’t make simulations of the brain.”
The implications of this research extend beyond basic science. Understanding the brain’s complex network could inform developments in artificial intelligence and neurological treatments. Researchers hope that simulating the human brain at this unprecedented scale will yield insights that have eluded scientists for decades.
As the project progresses, the scientific community will be closely monitoring the outcomes. While previous endeavors, such as the Human Brain Project, faced challenges despite substantial funding, the Jülich team is optimistic that the combination of advanced supercomputing and a focused approach will lead to meaningful breakthroughs in our understanding of one of nature’s most intricate organs.
