SFB 1461:  Neurotronics: Bio-inspired Information Pathways

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering ; Biology ; Materials Science and Engineering ; Mathematics ; Medicine ; Physics ; Social and Behavioural Sciences
• Term: since 2021
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434434223

As a result of Billions of years of evolution, all living animals are extremely well adapted to inhabit their ecological niche. This implies species specific interaction with their immediate environment by assessing sensory cues and performing appropriate behavior. The information pathway in pattern recognition and cognitive tasks are of special interest as platform for reverse engineering. These features represent attractive guidelines for entirely new computing architectures. With a concerted effort of a multidisciplinary team from the fields of neuroscience, biology, psychology, physics, electrical engineering, material science, networks science and nonlinear dynamics, fundamental information pathways in selected nervous systems will be extensively studied with respect to their relevance as building blocks for novel, hardware-oriented computing. Abstract models of the information processes in nervous systems represent the key link to bio-inspired electronics. Vice versa, trough the theoretical superstructure and the experimental findings in neuromorphic circuits, biologists will gain a deeper understanding of the information processing in nervous systems. This will prompt the posing of new biologically relevant questions. The key element in the biological part of the CRC is the exploration and identification of topological und dynamical phenomena in evolutionary early creatures. The interwoven mechanisms in nervous systems such, as neuronal synchrony, self-organized criticality, plasticity, connectomics and nervous system growth under external stimuli are essential components of the CRC. Together with the cutting-edge technology of memristive and memsensor devices, combined with micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, the goal is to turn a new page in information technology.In accordance to the highly interdisciplinary character of the CRC, a data management infrastructure project, a science outreach project and an integrated research training group (iRTG) is being established. The iRTG encompasses a catalog of measures to enhance the scientific and personal skills of the participating doctoral researchers.The distinct interdisciplinary character of the project and the participating scientists will prove to be a very fruitful strategy to tackle the cutting-edge science at the intersection of biology, information processing and technology. The CRC "Neurotronics: Bio-inspired Information Pathways" will explore and propel the research of novel hardware technologies as a cornerstone for novel bio-inspired computing architectures paving the way towards an unconventional information processing. We envision impacts in various research fields in science and technology, such as robotics and brain implants.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Current projects

• A01 - Modeling neuronal circuit growth and sensory information processing of Hydra (Project Heads Bosch, Thomas C. G. ;  Ochs, Karlheinz )
• A02 - Sensory information processing in a simple animal nervous system (Project Heads Terlau, Heinrich ;  Wulff, Peer )
• A03 - Cognition in evolutionary early cortical structures (Project Heads Kaernbach, Christian ;  Wulff, Peer )
• A04 - Formation of structured neural circuits in hydra and computational models (Project Heads Hilgetag, Claus ;  Klimovich, Ph.D., Alexander )
• B01 - Nanoscale oscillatory network evolution (Project Heads Kohlstedt, Hermann ;  Ochs, Karlheinz )
• B02 - Integrated Neural Circuits for Tactile Sensing (Project Heads Petraru, Adrian ;  Rieger, Robert )
• B03 - Neuromorphic smart sensing system for sound perception (Project Heads Lenk, Claudia ;  Meurer, Thomas )
• B04 - Oscillatory network development: From control theory to robotics (Project Heads Meurer, Thomas ;  Schaum, Alexander )
• B05 - From CMOS integrated devices to the behavioral design of memristive circuits (Project Heads Kahmen, Gerhard ;  Mai, Andreas ;  Wenger, Christian )
• C01 - Memristive devices and materials (Project Heads Kohlstedt, Hermann ;  Ziegler, Martin )
• C02 - Memsensors in Dynamically Configurable Network Systems (Project Heads Adelung, Rainer ;  Faupel, Franz )
• C03 - Dynamic memristive networks based on near-field optics and plasmonic nanostructures (Project Heads Gerken, Martina ;  Vahl, Alexander )
• C04 - Multiscale analyses of structural, electronic, and chemical mechanisms in memristive devices (Project Heads Kienle, Lorenz ;  Rossnagel, Kai )
• C05 - Multiscale Transport Modeling: From Process Plasmas to Resistive Switching Devices (Project Heads Mussenbrock, Thomas ;  Trieschmann, Jan )
• C06 - Nano-battery to mimic neural transmitters in the synaptic cleft (Project Heads Adelung, Rainer ;  Hansen, Sandra )
• C07 - MEMS Technology for adaptive Sensors (Project Heads Ivanov, Ph.D., Tzvetan ;  Ziegler, Martin )
• INF - Data Management and Analysis (Project Heads Kohlstedt, Hermann ;  Renz, Matthias )
• IRTG - Integrated Research Training Group (Project Heads Gerken, Martina ;  Meurer, Thomas )
• Z - Central Tasks (Project Head Kohlstedt, Hermann )
• ÖSOP - Science Outreach Project: Design and evaluation of immersive media environments addressing barriers and opportunities of a biologically inspired artificial intelligence (Project Heads Beyer, Isabella ;  Keller, Melanie ;  Parchmann, Ilka ;  Sacristán, Daniel )

• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Participating University: Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg; Ruhr-Universität Bochum; Technische Hochschule Lübeck; Technische Universität Ilmenau; Universität Hamburg
• Participating Institution: IPN - Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik; an der Universität Kiel; IHP GmbH; Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics/; Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Hermann Kohlstedt