Prof. Tomaso Poggio

Computational Neuroscience -- The scientific goal is to discover how intelligence is grounded in computation, how these computations are implemented in neural systems, how they develop during childhood, and how social interaction amplifies the power of these computations. As we progress, we will aggressively pursue opportunities to discover and develop unifying mathematical theories. To foster collaboration across disciplines, we will jointly develop top-to-bottom computational models powerful enough to explain visually perceived situations the way humans do. The models will emerge from fundamental questions about visually perceived situations: who, what, why, where, how, with what motives, with what purpose, and with what expectations. Models of visual understanding will be further advanced by developing computational models of what children know and learn about physical objects and intentional agents, and how they learn so much so rapidly. We will develop computational models of learning, memory, reasoning, and concept formation that are consistent with behavior, neural systems, and neural circuits. We will also develop computational models that enable computers to think new thoughts, imagine new scenes, form hypotheses, propose interventions, and compose narratives. Through these collaborative efforts, we will develop new methodologies and new technologies that will help to reach our goals. Our diversity goal is to ensure that the field of Science and Engineering of Intelligence is broadly inclusive. Our education goal is to ensure that our new knowledge is packaged in accessible ways, including model subjects at graduate and undergraduate levels. Our knowledge transfer goal is to ensure that new knowledge is quickly and broadly disseminated and brought to bear on the great challenges of the 21st century, so as to serve the people of the nation and the world.