SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 2207.12750

SPAIC: A Spike-based Artificial Intelligence Computing Framework

Abstract

Neuromorphic computing is an emerging research field that aims to develop new intelligent systems by integrating theories and technologies from multi-disciplines such as neuroscience and deep learning. Currently, there have been various software frameworks developed for the related fields, but there is a lack of an efficient framework dedicated for spike-based computing models and algorithms. In this work, we present a Python based spiking neural network (SNN) simulation and training framework, aka SPAIC that aims to support brain-inspired model and algorithm researches integrated with features from both deep learning and neuroscience. To integrate different methodologies from the two overwhelming disciplines, and balance between flexibility and efficiency, SPAIC is designed with neuroscience-style frontend and deep learning backend structure. We provide a wide range of examples including neural circuits Simulation, deep SNN learning and neuromorphic applications, demonstrating the concise coding style and wide usability of our framework. The SPAIC is a dedicated spike-based artificial intelligence computing platform, which will significantly facilitate the design, prototype and validation of new models, theories and applications. Being user-friendly, flexible and high-performance, it will help accelerate the rapid growth and wide applicability of neuromorphic computing research.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Chaofei Hong, Mengwen Yuan, Mengxiao Zhang, Xiao Wang, Chegnjun Zhang, Jiaxin Wang, Gang Pan, Zhaohui Wu, Huajin Tang. 2022-07-26. SPAIC: A Spike-based Artificial Intelligence Computing Framework. https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.12750

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Breaking the Central Bias: Spatially Partitioned Experts for Coordinate-Based Neuroevolution

Evolvable-Substrate HyperNEAT (ES-HyperNEAT), a bio-inspired indirect encoding that determines neuron placement and connection weights from spatial coordinates, exhibits a failure mode on MNIST as a diagnostic benchmark. Because input pixels map to a coordinate space centered at the origin, evolved networks converge on a small central cluster of input pixels, a spatial-concentration bias; prior work observed only 21% mean accuracy in this regime. Is this bias an optimization artifact or an architectural ceiling? Inspired by Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) principles, we partition the input into non-overlapping spatial segments, each assigned to a separately evolved specialist network. With 13 such experts, this design reaches 43% mean accuracy, a 106% relative improvement over the baseline. The architectural gain does not depend on data-driven aggregation: equal-weighted averaging, which uses no validation data, already yields a 70% improvement; the gain comes from partitioning, not the weighting. Receptive-field analysis shows the mechanism: partitioning forces evolution to discover features across the entire image, expanding active pixel coverage from 4% to 79%. Absolute accuracy stays below gradient-trained baselines, but the relative gain points to central bias, not the evolutionary search. Two tools are designed to generalize beyond MNIST: a receptive-field diagnostic for silent input-coverage collapse, and a spatial-partitioning remedy that restores coverage.

cs.NE

A Bio-Plausible Visual Neural Network for Locust-Inspired Collision Perception

Locust visual systems have long served as an important biological paradigm for studying looming perception and collision avoidance. Numerous computational models have successfully reproduced the selective responses of Lobula Giant Movement Detector (LGMD) neurons to approaching objects, thereby emulating the fundamental functionality of the biological system. However, existing models remain limited in biological plausibility and robustness when operating in complex and dynamic visual environments. To address these limitations, we propose a biologically plausible neural network for locust-inspired looming detection. The proposed framework incorporates a spatially isotropic sampling strategy that mimics the ommatidial organization of the locust compound eye, a population-voting mechanism inspired by population coding in biological neural systems, and leaky integrate-and-fire neuronal dynamics to replace conventional sigmoid-based membrane activation. Systematic experiments on synthetic stimuli, laboratory sequences, and real-world driving scenarios demonstrate that the proposed model improves robustness under challenging visual conditions while preserving computational efficiency and enhancing biological fidelity. These results highlight the potential of biologically grounded neural computation for robust and efficient collision perception.

cs.NE

Structural Fusion of Bayesian Networks with Limited Treewidth Using Genetic Algorithms

This paper introduces an evolutionary computation approach for consensus in structural Bayesian Network (BN) fusion under the constraint of limited treewidth. The consensus BN aims to reconcile multiple input BNs into a single one that retains key structural features present in the original networks. Treewidth, a graph-based parameter associated with computationally tractable inference, is utilized to restrict the complexity of the resulting network. A genetic algorithm is proposed to look for a BN that codifies as much information about the unrestricted fusion as possible while ensuring the treewidth restriction. Experimental evaluation demonstrates the genetic algorithm's ability to obtain consensus BNs with limited treewidth, providing a valuable tool for aggregating information from diverse sources while returning a computationally actionable model.

cs.NE