Science Daily February 6, 2018
C. elegans must get by with only 300 neurons. It can be drawn as a circuit diagram or reproduced by computer software, so that the neural activity of the worm is simulated by a computer program. Researchers in Austria trained and optimized the artificial reflex network on the computer with the help of reinforcement learning. They succeeded in teaching the virtual nerve system to balance a pole on its tip – solving a standard technology problem. They have demonstrated that their neural policy performs as good as existing traditional control theory and machine learning approaches… read more. Video Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
In real life, the worm reacts to touch — and the same neural circuits can perform tasks in the computer. Credit: TU Wien