Human brain project refers to experiment and research started by a group of scientists in America from 1993 on brain to find its structure, composition, functioning and development. It is on the same line as Human-Genome project which reached a crescendo in 2001. However, this project is far more complex as it involves integrating information from the level of gene to the level of behavior.
The project will provide all the needed support like advanced technology, information, infrastructure etc. to neuroscientists. It will make available to researchers powerful model of neural functions and facilitate hypothesis formulation and electronic collaboration. The project scientists use computer to analyze the result of optical and FMRI brain imaging. It aims to use emergent computational technology to create models to brain development. The long-term goal is to provide an atlas of the complete anatomy and neural wing of the brain, both in adult and throughout child development. Broadly, the project is split into three parts.
(i) Algorithms Project: The data from different imaging modalities need to be combined into a single image. It requires computer melding technique. Thus, under this project, the task is to develop a software algorithm for this melding.
(ii) Connectivity Project: This term uses data from multi-model imaging to analyze the anatomy of brain structure and their patterning of neuron connectivity.
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(iii) Atlas Project: This part of project has the task of producing an in-vivo atlas of the developing brain using the result of above two projects.