Brain and Computation

Simons计算理论研究所将在加州大学伯克利分校组织三场研讨会，作为Simons研究所大脑与计算项目的一部分。大脑和计算机在概念上的密切关系可以追溯到20世纪中期，当时这两个领域的先驱理论家（冯·诺依曼、图灵、麦卡洛克、皮茨、巴洛）开始利用他们在其他领域的兴趣来更好地理解他们自己的领域。在过去的几十年里，这两个领域在新知识、方法论和声望方面都出现了爆炸式增长。但随着它们变得更加技术化和复杂化，它们之间的距离也越来越远。这些研讨会旨在重新点燃这两个领域之间的亲和力，认识到在统一的研究努力中可以实现的巨大潜力。他们将汇集脑科学和理论计算机科学领域的杰出研究人员，共同研究脑科学中一些最重要的当前问题，这些问题特别需要共同审查和合作：神经回路中的表示、编码和计算；脑数据的定向发现以及大脑的计算理论。每一个研讨会将汇集一组杰出的研究人员在脑科学和理论计算机科学。这些研讨会将向所有潜在的参与者开放，并将向公众分发演示录像，以供评论和参与。主办方将欢迎学生参加研讨会，并将积极招募来自不同背景的科学家参加。

The Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing will organize three workshops at UC Berkeley as part of the Simons Institute program on The Brain and Computation. The conceptual affinity between the brain and the computer dates back to the mid-20th century, as the pioneering theoreticians of both fields (von Neumann, Turing, McCulloch, Pitts, Barlow) were beginning to leverage their interests in the other field to gain a better understanding of their own. Both fields have exploded in the past decades in terms of new knowledge, methodology, and prestige. But as they have become more technical and sophisticated, they have also grown further apart. These workshops aim to rekindle the affinity between these two fields, recognizing the enormous potential for what could be achieved in a unified research effort. They will bring together groups of outstanding researchers in both Brain Science and Theoretical Computer Science to attack some of the most important current problems in Brain Science that particularly require joint scrutiny and collaboration: Representation, Coding, and Computation in Neural Circuits; Targeted Discovery in Brain Data; and Computational Theories of the Brain. Each of the three workshops will bring together a group of outstanding researchers in both Brain Science and Theoretical Computer Science. These workshops will be open to all potential participants, and video recordings of presentations will be distributed to the public for comment and engagement. The organizers will welcome students to attend the workshop, and will actively recruit scientists from a diversity of backgrounds to participate.