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Crossing the Cleft: Communication Challenges Between Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience

Historically, neuroscience principles have heavily influenced artificial intelligence (AI), for example the influence of the perceptron model, essentially a simple model of a biological neuron, on artificial neural networks. More recently, notable recent AI advances, for example the growing popularity of reinforcement learning, often appear more aligned with cognitive neuroscience or psychology, focusing on function at a relatively abstract level. At the same time, neuroscience stands poised to enter a new era of large-scale high-resolution data and appears more focused on underlying neural mechanisms or architectures that can, at times, seem rather removed from functional descriptions. While this might seem to foretell a new generation of AI approaches arising from a deeper exploration of neuroscience specifically for AI, the most direct path for achieving this is unclear. Here we discuss cultural differences between the two fields, including divergent priorities that should be considered when leveraging modern-day neuroscience for AI. For example, the two fields feed two very different applications that at times require potentially conflicting perspectives. We highlight small but significant cultural shifts that we feel would greatly facilitate increased synergy between the two fields.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1617318
Report Number(s):
SAND--2020-4146J; 685384
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, Journal Name: Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience Journal Issue: 39 Vol. 14; ISSN 1662-5188
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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