In the search for innovative neurological research, neuro-biologist Bob Datta led a study using a common gaming system called the Xbox Kinect. The study performed in 2013 used the Kinect’s ability to track movement to better understand and quantify behavior in mice. This is the latest example of neurological research using large quantities of data rather than small, specific experiments. These big data experiments rely on machine learning to crunch the data and pick up on patterns that human observers are typically blind to. Machine learning, neural networks, and quantifiable data is a change from older methods of tracking behavior will small samples, simple tools, human observations, and little data points. These machine learning tools some notable names DeepLabCut, LEAP, SLEAP, DeepPoseCut are able to handle great volumes of data and reveal new characteristics in behavior of animals. It is part of ongoing research to uncover the mystery of the operation of the human brain.
Key Takeaways:
- Scientists want to decode the brain, and are using machine learning technology to study the behavior patterns.
- Using predictive AI, technology is closer to understanding the science behind animal movements.
- Researchers hope that understanding and predicting animal behavior will grant greater insight into human cognitive processes.
“Capitalizing on advances in machine learning, scientists are building algorithms that automatically track animals’ movements, down to tiny changes in the angle of a fly’s wing or the arch of a mouse’s back.”
