CRCNS:Proto-object based perceptual organization in three dimensions

视觉大脑从二维推断出三维世界 以三维对象的形式对视觉信息进行成像和组织 空间，甚至表示视网膜中部分遮挡和看起来支离破碎的物体 图像。这种组织是精心挑选、行动规划和目标识别的基础。一个 将实验和理论研究与模型实施相结合 神经形态硬件将用于阐明视觉特征表征之间的接口 和专心的认知过程。以前关于图形-背景结构的神经编码的发现可以 可以理解为将传入的感觉信息组织为 原型对象(系统在此阶段定义的对象)。分组机制还提供 用于寻址和选择与对象相关的信息的自上而下机制的句柄。拟议中的工作 将解释神经元电路如何将空间上分离的视觉特征组织成知觉 物体。这是如何在神经上实现的，以导致连贯的表述？详细计算 将开发基础电路的模型，既作为标准的数值模拟，也作为FAST， 神经形态硬件，然后通过清醒的非人类的多个单细胞记录进行测试 灵长类动物。具体地说，虽然先前的研究不分青红皂白地检查了所有 神经元，我们最近的研究根据神经元在分组电路中的作用来区分神经元。这个 分组假说只预测属于同一对神经元的同步性升高 分组电路，但不在其他对中。这些模型预测在最近的一项研究中得到了证实 结果表明，峰-峰相关函数与知觉相关函数在定性上一致 分组通过来自专用分组小区的群体的反馈来实现。量化 理解需要开发明确的尖峰模型，这是这方面的主要关注点之一 求婚。模型将在神经形态尖峰硬件上实施，因为 皮质电路使得在CPU/GPU系统上进行真实的模型模拟变得不可能。预测 该电路的集成和引发型模型将与在我们的 用于微调模型的录音和偏差。 我们将在五个方面追求教育和更广泛的影响目标。1)学生将面临交叉压力 并在生物、数学和工程科学方面得到指导，这将导致 拥有独特技能的毕业生。2)我们将为新生的神经形态的发展做出贡献 工程领域，提供新的研究问题，可以从交叉和 协作。我们计划参加NSF赞助的Telluride神经形态认知 工程学和Capo Caccia神经形态认知工程研讨会为此而举办。3)我们 将为本科生提供参与研究的机会，作为我们网站的一部分 REU(由其中一名PI管理)。他们接受了沟通、研究伦理和项目方面的培训 管理，这对当今生物技术和生物科学工作和市场的成功至关重要 地点。4)我们目前接待来自当地高中的学生进行STEM研究实践 我们实验室里的旋转。这个项目将为旋转者提供一个完美的暴露和 在多学科研究问题上提供指导。我们将使用分层指导结构，其中 本科生指导K-12轮值，研究生指导本科生和教职员工 指导所有参与者。5)我们的招生计划将建立在我们目前与 MARC，LSAMP，McNair，SWE，SHPE和其他类似的计划和少数群体服务机构和 当地社区学院，帮助培养合格的、多样化的个人，他们将做出贡献 对STEM领域的劳动力来说。

The visual brain infers a three-dimensional world from twodimensional images and organizes the visual information in terms of objects in three-dimensional space, representing even objects that are partially occluded and appear fragmented in the retinal image. This organization is the basis for attentive selection, action planning and object recognition. A combination of experimental and theoretical studies together with model implementations in neuromorphic hardware will be used to elucidate the interface between visual feature representations and attentive cognitive processes. Previous findings on the neural coding of figure-ground structure can be understood in terms of grouping mechanisms that structure the incoming sensory information as proto-objects (objects as defined by the system at this stage). The grouping mechanisms also provide handles for top-down mechanisms to address and select object-related information. The proposed work will explain how neuronal circuitry organizes spatially disconnected visual features into perceptual objects. How is this implemented neurally to lead to a coherent representation? Detailed computational models of the underlying circuitry will be developed, both as standard numerical simulations and in fast, neuromorphic hardware, and then tested by multiple single-cell recordings in awake non-human primates. Specifically, while prior studies examined spike time correlations indiscriminately in all neurons, our recent studies differentiated neurons according to their role in the grouping circuits. The grouping hypothesis predicts elevated synchrony only in pairs of neurons that belong to the same grouping circuit, but not in other pairs. These model predictions were confirmed in a recent study which showed that spike-spike correlation functions are in qualitative agreement with the idea that perceptual grouping is implemented by feedback from populations of dedicated grouping cells. Quantitative understanding requires the development of explicit spiking models, which is one of the main foci of this proposal. Models will be implemented on neuromorphic spiking hardware since the complexity of the cortical circuitry makes realistic model simulations on CPU/GPU system impossible. Predictions of integrate-and-fire type models of this circuitry will be compared with rate and synchrony observed in our recordings and deviates used to fine-tune the models. We will pursue the educational and broader impacts aims on five fronts. 1) Students will be crosstrained and mentored in biological, mathematical and engineering sciences, which will lead to graduates with unique skill sets. 2) We will contribute to the development of the nascent neuromorphic engineering field, providing new research problems that can benefit from the crosstraining and collaboration. We plan to participate in the NSF sponsored Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering and Capo Caccia Neuromorphic Cognitive Engineering Workshops for this purpose. 3)We will provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in the research as part of our Site REU (managed by one of the PIs). They are trained in communications, research ethics and project management, which are crucial for success in todays biotechnology and bioscience work and market place. 4) We currently host students from local high-schools who conduct STEM research practicum rotations in our labs. This project will provide a perfect venue for the rotators to get exposed and mentored on multi-disciplinary research problems. We will use a tiered mentoring structure, where undergraduates mentor K-12 rotators, graduate students mentor undergraduates, and faculty members mentor all participants. 5) Our student recruitment plans will build on our current partnerships with MARC, LSAMP, McNair, SWE, SHPE and other similar programs and minority-serving institutions and local community colleges, to help develop a pipeline of qualified, diverse individuals who will contribute to the workforce in the area of STEM.