Publications by authors named "S Nimu Ganguli"
Conventional artificial intelligence (AI) systems are facing bottlenecks due to the fundamental mismatches between AI models, which rely on parallel, in-memory, and dynamic computation, and traditional transistors, which have been designed and optimized for sequential logic operations. This calls for the development of novel computing units beyond transistors. Inspired by the high efficiency and adaptability of biological neural networks, computing systems mimicking the capabilities of biological structures are gaining more attention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent decades, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has garnered significant attention due to its rapid global prevalence. The cholinergic hypothesis posits that the degradation of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) contributes to AD development. Despite existing anti-AChE drugs, their adverse side effects necessitate new agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRemembering events is crucial to intelligent behavior. Flexible memory retrieval requires a cognitive map and is supported by two key brain systems: hippocampal episodic memory (EM) and prefrontal working memory (WM). Although an understanding of EM is emerging, little is understood of WM beyond simple memory retrieval.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Sensory systems, such as the visual system in salamanders, are designed to differentiate between stimuli based on neural sensitivity and neural variability, which includes correlations among neurons.
- This study uses a model of the retinal neural code to analyze how a population of salamander retinal ganglion cells adapts to better transmit information about natural scenes, especially localized motion.
- The findings challenge previous models by showing that correlated neural noise actually reduces information transmission and arises due to the shared circuitry in the retina, while also highlighting the retina's ability to adapt its sensitivity to enhance the detection of natural movements.
Article Synopsis
- Animals, especially mammals, utilize grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex to create a spatial map of their surroundings to help locate resources like food and shelter.
- Researchers recorded over 15,000 grid cells in mice to examine how quickly these cells adapt their firing patterns in response to changes in the environment, finding that fixed visual landmarks provide stable input for these cells.
- The study highlights a dual mechanism in the brain where fixed connections ensure quick adaptation to new environments, while plasticity in other brain regions allows for more precise navigation over time, suggesting a broader principle of flexible connectivity in neural networks.