Going from Neuroscience to Data Science: An insight into Neural Networks

Is there something that connects Neuroscience with Data Science apart from the word "science"? Neuroscience explains and studies, how the brain works and Data Science uses algorithms to generate insights into large amounts of data.

Is there any way possible that insights of the brain can help in Data Science or that algorithms can be used in the better understanding of our brain? The answer is yes and it was first proposed by the neurophysiologist Cajal and the creation of the perceptron, a model of neuron that is now used in Machine Learning methods and more specifically Deep learning. 

To understand the perceptron and how it works, it was first clear how the neuron works, the building block of the nervous system. Neurons make connections with each other in different ways where one receives multiple inputs from others, then the information gets processed and a specific output is created that goes to another neuron.

Using the "artificial" neurons for Deep Learning Αpplications

The understanding of how the brain works and its neural circuits was used as an idea for Cajal to create the perceptron and the Artificial Neural Network. These networks consist of artificial neurons that work exactly like neurons and acquire knowledge through learning. New knowledge is acquired based on prior knowledge in the form of algorithms that are used to train the artificial neurons. The physiology of the neuron, therefore, helped in the creation of a Machine Learning method that is now extensively used in Deep Learning applications, where a specific algorithm is used to process inputs received from other artificial neurons and a specific output is generated.

Deep Learning, in the form of Artificial Neural Network (ANN), is becoming more and more common; it is used in Face and Speech Recognition as well as content recommendation. A database of faces or voices is used to create an algorithm that is then used as an ANN and allows recognition to take place. Similarly, ANN can receive as inputs different decisions that users make, such as movie selection or hotel search and be able to give to the user similar suggestions.

Deep Learning is a very important Machine Learning application to be used in every business that handles big databases that will allow fast and accurate predictions of its customers and how to improve themselves.