Parallel Computing for Brain Simulation.
BACKGROUND
The human brain is the most complex system in the known universe, it is therefore one of the greatest mysteries. It provides human beings with extraordinary abilities. However, until now it has not been understood yet how and why most of these abilities are produced.


OBJECTIVE
For decades, researchers have been trying to make computers reproduce these abilities, focusing on both understanding the nervous system and, on processing data in a more efficient way than before. Their aim is to make computers process information similarly to the brain. Important technological developments and vast multidisciplinary projects have allowed creating the first simulation with a number of neurons similar to that of a human brain.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper presents an up-to-date review about the main research projects that are trying to simulate and/or emulate the human brain. They employ different types of computational models using parallel computing: digital models, analog models and hybrid models. This review includes the current applications of these works, as well as future trends. It is focused on various works that look for advanced progress in Neuroscience and still others which seek new discoveries in Computer Science (neuromorphic hardware, machine learning techniques). Their most outstanding characteristics are summarized and the latest advances and future plans are presented. In addition, this review points out the importance of considering not only neurons: Computational models of the brain should also include glial cells, given the proven importance of astrocytes in information processing.
Department of Information and Communications Technologies, University of A Coruna, A Coruna, 15071, Spain.
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Pastur-Romay
Facultad de Informática, Campus de Elviña s/n, A Coruna 15071, Spain.
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Porto-Pazos
Department of Information and Communications Technologies, University of A Coruna, A Coruna, 15071, Spain.
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Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de A Coruna (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruna (CHUAC), A Coruna, 15006, Spain.
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Pazos
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009488:Neurosciences
Brain computational models; Brain emulation; Neuromorphic chip; Neuron-astrocyte
networks.; Parallel computation