New Algorithms for Encoding, Learning and Classification of fMRI Data in a Spiking Neural Network Architecture: A Case on Modelling and Understanding of Dynamic Cognitive Processes

This paper argues that, the third generation of neural networks-the spiking neural networks (SNNs), can be used to model dynamic, spatio-temporal, cognitive brain processes measured as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This paper proposes a novel method based on the NeuCube SNN architecture for which the following new algorithms are introduced: fMRI data encoding into spike sequences; deep unsupervised learning of fMRI data in a 3-D SNN reservoir; classification of cognitive states; and connectivity visualization and analysis for the purpose of understanding cognitive dynamics. The method is illustrated on two case studies of cognitive data modeling from a benchmark fMRI data set of seeing a picture versus reading a sentence.