Unraveling the mysteries of the human brain requires a bold leap beyond traditional neuroscience. Inspired by the success of large language models, the Neuro-X project proposes the development of a Large Brain Model (LBM) — a powerful AI system trained on massive, multi-modal datasets of brain activity and behavior. Neuro-X, echoing ambitious scientific endeavors like Project Apollo, seeks to decode the "language" of the mind, leveraging the brain's own dynamic principles to predict and interpret mental processes.

Drawing upon György Buzsáki's "inside-out" framework, Neuro-X embraces the brain's action-driven nature, viewing it as a prediction machine constantly generating actions and learning from their consequences. LBMs, utilizing the power of "brain transformers," will capture the brain's self-organized activity patterns, such as neural rhythms, which provide a temporal syntax for communication between brain regions.

Crucially, LBMs will unlock the dynamic functional connectome, moving beyond static correlation-based approaches. Self-attention mechanisms will enable modeling the evolving patterns of communication between brain regions, revealing subtle changes associated with cognitive states, mental health, and individual differences. Multi-modal transformers will integrate data from fMRI, EEG, and structural MRI, creating a holistic view of brain structure and function, ultimately paving the way for personalized functional connectomics.

This unprecedented level of understanding offers transformative possibilities. LBMs could:

• Decode the Mind: Accurately predicting emotional responses, thought patterns, and even states of consciousness.

• Revolutionize Mental Health Research: Enable early diagnosis, personalized interventions, and more effective treatments for mental disorders.

• Augment Human Potential: Facilitate the development of cognitive enhancement tools and brain-computer interfaces, expanding the boundaries of human capability.

Navigating ethical considerations around data privacy, bias, and agency is paramount. Neuro-X calls for a global brain initiative, uniting neuroscientists, AI experts, and ethicists to make this ambitious vision a reality, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and unlocking the vast potential of the human mind.

See our Working Paper [link].