...In addition, the researchers say the work has implications for neuroscience. Barth believes that the change in pruning rates from adolescence to adulthood could indicate that there are different biochemical mechanisms that underlie pruning.
“Algorithmic neuroscience is an approach to identify and use the rules that structure brain function,” Barth said. “There’s a lot that the brain can teach us about computing, and a lot that computer science can do to help us understand how neural networks function.”
As the birthplace of artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, Carnegie Mellon has been a leader in the study of brain and behavior for more than 50 years. The university has created some of the first cognitive tutors, helped to develop the Jeopardy-winning Watson, founded a groundbreaking doctoral program in neural computation, and completed cutting-edge work in understanding the genetics of autism. Building on its strengths in biology, computer science, psychology, statistics and engineering, CMU recently launched BrainHubSM, a global initiative that focuses on how the structure and activity of the brain give rise to complex behaviors. 
