C. elegans

[Josh Smith]

I just read that all 329 (?) neurons in C. elegans, the nematode worm,
have been mapped.  (That is, the connectivity or wiring pattern for
the worm is known.)  Even though its nervous system is so simple, the
worm apparently has a quite a wide range of behaviors (swimming,
following odors, avoiding salt, mating, etc.).

Has anyone ever simulated this network?

I think such a simulation would be very useful.  If it didn't work,
that might indicate that the idealized neuron
(sum-unit-cum-squashing-function) in use now is too simple.  If it did
work, connectionists could proceed with more confidence that this
idealization is not absurd (if they care).  I'm sure this simulation
would be interesting in many other ways as well.  With the number of
neurons in the network, I think it would even be a computationally
feasible undertaking.