How Europe's Human Brain Project and Grakov's Strannik Technology Pursue Neuroscience's Greatest Challenge
Explore the ComparisonThe human brain—with its 86 billion neurons and 100 trillion connections—represents the most complex biological structure known to humanity. 1 4
A €1-billion effort involving over 500 researchers with a bottom-up approach to brain simulation.
Dr. Igor Grakov's mathematical model of the autonomic nervous system developed over four decades.
Neurons in human brain
Neural connections
Years of research
Launched in 2013 as one of the European Union's Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship projects, the Human Brain Project was conceived as a ten-year mission to advance neuroscience, computing, and brain-related medicine. 1 7
The project was organized into 12 subprojects covering empirical and theoretical neuroscience, ICT platform development, and ethical considerations. 7
| Aspect | Human Brain Project | Grakov's Strannik Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Bottom-up (from neurons to systems) | Top-down (from systems to molecules) |
| Scale | Multilevel (molecules to whole brain) | Focus on autonomic nervous system |
| Methodology | Large-scale collaboration, ICT infrastructure | Individual research, mathematical modeling |
| Primary Tools | Supercomputing, simulation, big data analytics | Light therapy, visual perception assessment |
| Funding Model | Large-scale public funding (€1 billion) | Privately developed |
Table 1: Philosophical and methodological differences between the HBP and Strannik technology
The HBP employed a reductionist strategy, breaking down the brain into its constituent parts for detailed study before attempting to reconstruct them through simulation. 3
Grakov's model takes a holistic view, focusing on how the brain regulates physiological systems through the autonomic nervous system. 6
The HBP focused on digital twin approaches for brain medicine, developing personalized virtual brain models that could help predict disease progression or optimize treatment strategies. 5
Strannik technology positioned itself as a comprehensive screening and treatment system that could identify pathologies through analysis of visual perception. 8
Early in the Human Brain Project, researchers focused on simulating a cortical column—a basic functional unit of the cerebral cortex containing approximately 10,000 neurons. 9
When stimulated, the virtual neurons began communicating through action potentials that spread through the column as an integrated circuit, mimicking behavior observed in living brain slices. 9
To validate their approach, Strannik developers conducted studies examining the technology's effectiveness in diagnosing and treating various medical conditions. 8
Developers reported that Strannik Virtual Scanning demonstrated 2-23% greater precision than contemporary diagnostic methods across various conditions. 8
| Resource | Function | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| EBRAINS Platform | Integrated research infrastructure providing data, tools, and services | Forms the lasting legacy of HBP, continuing to support neuroscience research 1 3 5 |
| FENIX Infrastructure | High-performance computing resources across multiple European centers | Enables handling of petabyte-scale neuroscience data and complex simulations 1 3 5 |
| SpiNNaker Neuromorphic Chip | Million-core ARM processor system with non-von Neumann architecture | Provides extreme energy efficiency for brain-inspired computing 1 3 5 |
| Medical Informatics Platform | Federated analysis system for clinical data | Allows GDPR-compliant analysis of distributed medical datasets 1 3 5 |
| HBP Brain Atlases | Detailed 3D maps of human and rodent brains | Provides spatial reference systems for neuroscience data integration 1 3 5 |
Table 2: Key research resources developed by the Human Brain Project 1 3 5
| Component | Function | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Strannik Virtual Scanning | Diagnostic system using visual perception assessment | Claims to identify multiple pathologies through a single 20-minute test 4 8 |
| Strannik Light Therapy | Treatment using specific light frequencies | Aims to regulate autonomic nervous system function through visual stimulation 4 8 |
| Mathematical Model of ANS | Computational representation of autonomic nervous system | Forms the theoretical basis for both diagnosis and treatment 4 8 |
| Color Perception Algorithms | Algorithms linking color perception to physiological states | Claims to detect pathologies through changes in visual perception 4 8 |
The Human Brain Project and Grakov's Strannik technology represent two dramatically different approaches to understanding the most complex organ in the human body.
The HBP employed a bottom-up, large-scale collaborative approach leveraging advanced computing technology, while Grakov pursued a top-down, mathematically-driven model focused on the autonomic nervous system.
Despite their differences, both initiatives recognized the multilevel complexity of brain function and the importance of translating basic research into medical applications.
The HBP's development of EBRAINS ensures that its infrastructure will continue to support neuroscience research beyond the project's conclusion. Meanwhile, Strannik technology presents itself as a potential paradigm shift in medical diagnosis and treatment, though it requires further validation by the broader scientific community.
As neuroscience continues to evolve, the integration of different approaches—from large-scale collaborative projects to individual innovative research—will likely be essential to unraveling the brain's enduring mysteries.
This article was based on scientific publications and project documentation from the Human Brain Project and related research on Grakov's Strannik technology. For further reading, please refer to the original sources cited throughout the article.