Terrence C. Stewart
- tcstewar@uwaterloo.ca
-
c.v./resume (as of May, 2018)
-
I am one of the researchers behind Spaun, the first biologically realistic brain simulation that can perform multiple tasks.
- I am one of the developers behind Nengo, an open-source software package for developing simulated brains.
Bio
I am an Associate Research Officer at National Research Council Canada.
Previously I was a post-doctoral research associate working with Chris Eliasmith at
the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the Universit of Waterloo.
My initial training was as an engineer (B.A.Sc. in Systems Design
Engineering, University of Waterloo, 1999), my masters involved applying
experimental psychology on simulated robots (M.Phil. in Computer Science and
Artificial Intelligence, University of Sussex, 2000), and my Ph.D. was on
cognitive modelling (Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, Carleton University, 2007).
I am also a co-founder of Applied Brain Research,
a research-based start-up company based around using low-power hardware (neuromorphic
computer chips) and adaptive neural algorithms.
Research Interests
I believe that making progress in understanding any phenomenon as complex as
cognition requires the construction of computational models. The primary role
of these models is to test theories: as theories become more complex, we need
computational models to let us determine the quantitative predictions of these
theories. These models should also be mechanistic. That is, they should be
process models where the behaviour of the overall system is caused by the
interaction of internal components over time. These components should then
correspond to the components of the real system. To achieve this, my main
research interests are in the development of modelling tools to support large-
scale cognitive models. This has involved both high-level cognitive
architectures (such as ACT-R) and detailed neural models (such as the Neural
Engineering Framework). Of particular interest is models involving cognitive
reasoning, experience-based learning, and reinforcement learning to interact
with a complex environment. In concert with this, I have worked on statistical
tools for comparing modelling results with empirical results, and how such
results should be interpretted. In particular, instead of the standard
approaches of finding best-fit parameter settings based on minimizing the mean
squared error, I advocate finding a range of parameter settings for which the
model and reality are not statistically significantly different.
Publications
Books and Book Chapters
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2012)
Compositionality and biologically plausible models.
In Wolfram Hinzen, Markus Werning, and Edouard Machery, editors, Oxford Handbook of Compositionality. Oxford University Press.
Abstract
PDF
Journal Articles
-
Nicole Sandra-Yaffa Dumont,
Andreas Stöckel,
P. Michael Furlong,
Madeleine Bartlett,
Chris Eliasmith,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2023)
Biologically-Based Computation: How Neural Details and Dynamics Are Suited for Implementing a Variety of Algorithms.
Brain Sciences, 13(2):245.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Yexin Yan,
Terrence Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Bernhard Vogginger,
Johannes Partzsch,
Sebastian Hoeppner,
Florian Kelber,
Chris Eliasmith,
Steve Furber,
Christian Mayr
(2021)
Comparing Loihi with a SpiNNaker 2 Prototype on Low-Latency Keyword Spotting and Adaptive Robotic Control.
Neuromorphic Computing and Engineering.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Aaron R. Voelker,
Peter Blouw,
Xuan Choo,
Nicole Sandra-Yaffa Dumont,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2021)
Simulating and Predicting Dynamical Systems With Spatial Semantic Pointers.
Neural Computation, 33(8):2033-2067.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Andreas Stöckel,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2021)
Connecting Biological Detail with Neural Computation: Application to the Cerebellar Granule-Golgi Microcircuit.
Topics in Cognitive Science, 13(3):515-533.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Chris Eliasmith,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2020)
Scaling, Low Power Needed for a Neuromorphic Future.
eeTimes.
Abstract
External link
-
Alexander Neckar,
Sam Fok,
Ben V. Benjamin,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Nick N. Oza,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Chris Eliasmith,
Rajit Manohar,
Kwabena Boahen
(2019)
Braindrop: A Mixed-Signal Neuromorphic Architecture With a Dynamical Systems-Based Programming Model.
Proceedings of the IEEE, 107:144–164.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Ivana Kajić,
Tobias Schröder,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Paul Thagard
(2019)
The Semantic Pointer Theory of Emotion: Integrating Physiology, Appraisal, and Construction.
Cognitive Systems Research.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Florian Mirus,
Cristian Axenie,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Jorg Conradt
(2018)
Neuromorphic sensorimotor adaptation for robotic mobile manipulation: From sensing to behaviour.
Cognitive Systems Research.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Valentin Senft,
Terrence C Stewart,
Trevor Bekolay,
Chris Eliasmith,
Bernd J Kröger
(2018)
Inhibiting Basal Ganglia Regions Reduces Syllable Sequencing Errors in Parkinson’s Disease: A Computer Simulation Study.
Frontiers in computational neuroscience, 12:41.
Abstract
External link
-
Ivana Kajić,
Jan Gosmann,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Thomas Wennekers,
Chris Eliasmith
(2017)
A Spiking Neuron Model of Word Associations for the Remote Associates Test.
Frontiers in Psychology, 8:99.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Peter Duggins,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Chris Eliasmith
(2017)
Effects of Guanfacine and Phenylephrine on a Spiking Neuron Model of Working Memory.
Topics in Cognitive Science.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Travis DeWolf,
Terrence C Stewart,
Jean-Jacques Slotine,
Chris Eliasmith
(2016)
A spiking neural model of adaptive arm control.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Abstract
DOI
-
Terrence C Stewart,
Travis DeWolf,
Ashley Kleinhans,
Chris Eliasmith
(2015)
Closed-Loop Neuromorphic Benchmarks.
Frontiers in neuroscience.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2014)
Large-Scale Synthesis of Functional Spiking Neural Circuits.
Proceedings of the IEEE, 102(5):881–898.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Trevor Bekolay,
James Bergstra,
Eric Hunsberger,
Travis DeWolf,
Terrence C Stewart,
Daniel Rasmussen,
Xuan Choo,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Chris Eliasmith
(2014)
Nengo: A Python tool for building large-scale functional brain models.
Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Jorg Conradt,
Francesco Galluppi,
Terrence C Stewart
(2014)
Trainable sensorimotor mapping in a neuromorphic robot.
Robotics and Autonomous Systems.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Bruce Bobier,
Terrence C Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2014)
A unifying mechanistic model of selective attention in spiking neurons..
PLoS computational biology, 10(6):e1003577.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Terrence C Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2013)
Realistic neurons can compute the operations needed by quantum probability theory and other vector symbolic architectures.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
Abstract
DOI
External link
-
Terrence C. Stewart
(2012)
The Neural Engineering Framework.
AISB Quarterly, pages 2-7.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Trevor Bekolay,
Chris Eliasmith
(2012)
Learning to select actions with spiking neurons in the basal ganglia.
Frontiers in Decision Neuroscience.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Chris Eliasmith,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Trevor Bekolay,
Travis DeWolf,
Yichuan Tang,
Daniel Rasmussen
(2012)
A large-scale model of the functioning brain.
Science, 338:1202-1205.
Abstract
PDF
Poster
DOI
External link
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Yichuan Tang,
Chris Eliasmith
(2011)
A Biologically Realistic Cleanup Memory: Autoassociation in Spiking Neurons.
Cognitive Systems Research, 12:84-92.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Trevor Bekolay,
Chris Eliasmith
(2011)
Neural Representations of Compositional Structures: Representing and Manipulating Vector Spaces with Spiking Neurons.
Connection Science, 22:145-153.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Bryan Tripp,
Chris Eliasmith
(2009)
Python scripting in the Nengo simulator.
Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
Conference and Workshop Papers
-
P Michael Furlong,
Katherine Simone,
Nicole Dumont,
Madeline Bartlett,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Jeff Orchard,
Chris Eliasmith
(2024)
Biologically-plausible Markov Chain Monte Carlo Sampling from Vector Symbolic Algebra-encoded Distributions.
In ICANN.
Abstract
PDF
-
Madeline Bartlett,
Katherine Simone,
Nicole Dumont,
P Michael Furlong,
Chris Eliasmith,
Jeff Orchard,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2023)
Improving Reinforcement Learning with Biologically Motivated Continuous State Representations.
In Proceedings of the International Conference on Cognitive Modeling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Peter Duggins,
Terrence C Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2022)
Reinforcement Learning, Social Value Orientation, and Decision Making: Computational Models and Empirical Validation.
In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, volume 44.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Andreas Stöckel,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2020)
A Biologically Plausible Spiking Neural Model of Eyeblink Conditioning in the Cerebellum.
In 42nd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 1614–1620. Toronto, ON. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
Poster
-
Andreas Stöckel,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2020)
Connecting Biological Detail with Neural Computation: Application to the Cerebellar Granule-Golgi Microcircuit.
In 18th Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Cognitive Modelling, 277–282. Toronto, ON. Society for Mathematical Psychology.
Abstract
PDF
-
Joost de Jong,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Hedderik van Rijn,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2019)
Flexible Timing with Delay Networks – The Scalar Property and Neural Scaling.
In 17th Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Cognitive Modelling (ICCM).
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Joost de Jong,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Hedderik van Rijn,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2019)
A Neurocomputational Account of Ecologically Plausible, Flexible Timing with Legendre Memory.
In 2nd Annual Conference of the Timing Research Forum. Querétaro, México.
Abstract
Poster
External link
-
Florian Mirus,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Jorg Conradt
(2019)
A Mixture-of-Experts Model for Vehicle Prediction Using an Online Learning Approach.
In International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, 456–471. ICANN.
Abstract
External link
-
Andreas Stöckel,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2019)
A Geometric Interpretation of Feedback Alignment.
In 41nd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 3366. Montreal, QC. Cognitive Science Society. Abstract.
Abstract
PDF
Poster
-
Florian Mirus,
Peter Blouw,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Jorg Conradt
(2019)
Predicting vehicle behaviour using LSTMs and a vector power representation for spatial positions.
In European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks, 113–118. ESANN.
Abstract
PDF
-
Chad Peters,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Robert L. West,
Babak Esfandiari
(2019)
Dynamic Action Selection in OpenAI using Spiking Neural Networks.
In The 32nd International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference. FLAIRS.
Abstract
External link
-
Kate Fischl,
Adam Cellon,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Timothy K. Horiuchi,
Andreas G. Andreou
(2019)
Socio-Emotional Robot with Distributed Multi-Platform Neuromorphic Processing.
In 53rd Annual Conference on Information Sciences and Systems. CISS.
Abstract
External link
-
Brent Komer,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Chris Eliasmith
(2019)
A neural representation of continuous space using fractional binding.
In 41st Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. Montreal, QC. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Alexander Neckar,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Ben V. Benjamin,
Kwabena Boahen
(2019)
Optimizing an Analog Neuron Circuit Design for Nonlinear Function Approximation.
In IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems. ISCAS.
Abstract
PDF
-
Juan Camilo Vasquez Tieck,
Sandro Weber,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Arne Roennau,
Rudiger Dillman
(2018)
Triggering robot hand reflexes with human EMG data using spiking neurons.
In 15th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems. IAS.
Abstract
External link
-
Sverrir Thorgeirsson,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2018)
Analysis of Learning Action Selection Parameters in a Neural Cognitive Model.
In International Conference on Cognitive Modelling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Jelmer P. Borst,
Sean Aubin,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2018)
Effective Computing in the Brain: A Whole-Task Spiking Neural Network Model of Associative Recognition.
In Cognitive Computing 2018. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cognitive Computing.
Abstract
External link
-
Benjamin Morcos,
Terrence C Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Nachiket Kapre
(2018)
Implementing NEF Neural Networks on Embedded FPGAs.
In International Conference on Field-Programmable Technology (FPT), 25-32. IEEE.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Sverrir Thorgeirsson,
Chris Eliasmith
(2018)
Supervised Learning of Action Selection in Cognitive Spiking Neuron Models.
In 40th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, 1086–1091. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Stefan Ulbrich,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Igor Peric,
Arne Roennau,
J. Marius Zollner,
Rudiger Dillman
(2017)
Model-based Polynomial Function Approximation with Spiking Neural Networks.
In IEEE Conference on Cognitive Informatics and Cognitive Computing.
Abstract
External link
-
Eric Kauderer-Abrams,
Andrew Gilbert,
Aaron R. Voelker,
Ben V. Benjamin,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Kwabena Boahen
(2017)
A Population-Level Approach to Temperature Robustness in Neuromorphic Systems.
In IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS). Baltimore, MD. IEEE.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Mariah Martin Shein,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2017)
Parameter exploration of a neural model of state transition probabilities in model-based reinforcement learning.
In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Cognitive Modelling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Marcie Penner,
Rylan J. Waring,
Michael L. Anderson
(2017)
A Common Neural Component for Finger Gnosis and Magnitude Comparison.
In Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. London, UK. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Przemyslaw Nowak,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2017)
A Spiking Model of Desert Ant Navigation Along a Habitual Route.
In International Conference on Soft Computing.
Abstract
External link
-
Aaron R. Voelker,
Ben V. Benjamin,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Kwabena Boahen,
Chris Eliasmith
(2017)
Extending the Neural Engineering Framework for Nonideal Silicon Synapses.
In IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS). Baltimore, MD. IEEE.
Abstract
PDF
Poster
External link
-
Taylor S Clawson,
Terrence C Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Silvia Ferrari
(2017)
An adaptive spiking neural controller for flapping insect-scale robots.
In IEEE Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence (SSCI), 1–7. IEEE.
Abstract
External link
-
Ivana Kajić,
Jan Gosmann,
Brent Komer,
Ryan W. Orr,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2017)
A Biologically Constrained Model of Semantic Memory Search.
In Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. London, UK. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Ivana Kajić,
Jan Gosmann,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Thomas Wennekers,
Chris Eliasmith
(2016)
Towards a Cognitively Realistic Representation of Word Associations.
In 38th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 2183–2188. Austin, TX. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Sugandha Sharma,
Brent J. Komer,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2016)
A Neural Model of Context Dependent Decision Making in the Prefrontal Cortex.
In 38th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 1122–1127. Austin, TX. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Trevor Bekolay,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Travis DeWolf,
Yichuan Tang,
Daniel Rasmussen,
Jan Gosmann,
Chris Eliasmith
(2015)
Spaun: A biologically realistic large-scale functional brain model.
In Ontario and Canada Research Chairs Symposium. Council of Ontario Universities.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Peter Blouw,
Chris Eliasmith
(2015)
Explorations in Distributed Recurrent Biological Parsing.
In International Conference on Cognitive Modelling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Andrew Mundy,
James Knight,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Steve Furber
(2015)
An efficient SpiNNaker implementation of the Neural Engineering Framework.
In IJCNN.
Abstract
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Chris Eliasmith
(2014)
Sentence processing in spiking neurons: A biologically plausible left-corner parser.
In 36th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, 1533–1538. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Francesco Galluppi,
Christian Denk,
Matthias Meiner,
Terrence C Stewart,
Luis Plana,
Chris Eliasmith,
Steve Furber,
Jorg Conradt
(2014)
Event-based neural computing on an autonomous mobile platform.
In Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). Hong Kong.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2013)
Parsing Sequentially Presented Commands in a Large-Scale Biologically Realistic Brain Model.
In 35th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, 3460–3467. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
Poster
-
Trevor Bekolay,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Travis DeWolf,
Yichuan Tang,
Daniel Rasmussen,
Chris Eliasmith
(2013)
Spaun: A Large-Scale Model of the Functioning Brain.
In Cheriton Symposium. David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science.
Abstract
PDF
-
Sergio Davies,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Steve Furber
(2013)
Spike-based learning of transfer functions with the SpiNNaker neuromimetic simulator.
In International Joint Conference on Neural Networks.
Abstract
PDF
-
Chris Eliasmith,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2012)
Nengo and the Neural Engineering Framework: From Spikes to Cognition.
In Cognitive Science Society, 22-23.
Abstract
PDF
-
Swadesh Choudhary,
Steven Sloan,
Sam Fok,
Alexander Neckar,
Eric Trautmann,
Peiran Gao,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Kwabena Boahen
(2012)
Silicon Neurons that Compute.
In International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, volume 7552, 121-28.
Abstract
PDF
-
Francesco Galluppi,
Sergio Davies,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith,
Steve Furber
(2012)
Real Time On-Chip Implementation of Dynamical Systems with Spiking Neurons.
In IJCNN.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Chris Eliasmith
(2012)
Spaun: A Perception-Cognition-Action Model Using Spiking Neurons.
In Cognitive Science Society, 1018-1023.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2011)
Neural Cognitive Modelling: A Biologically Constrained Spiking Neuron Model of the Tower of Hanoi Task.
In Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX.
Abstract
PDF
-
Julie Dethier,
Paul Nuyujukian,
Chris Eliasmith,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Shauki A. Elassaad,
Krishna Shenoy,
Kwabena Boahen
(2011)
A Brain-Machine Interface Operating with a Real-Time Spiking Neural Network Control Algorithm.
In Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) 24.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Bruce Bobier,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2011)
The attentional routing circuit: receptive field modulation through nonlinear dendritic interactions.
In Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience. Salt Lake City, UT.
Abstract
PDF
-
Bruce Bobier,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2010)
Dynamic Routing Model for Visuospatial Attention.
In Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience. Poster from COSYNE 2010.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Chris Eliasmith
(2010)
Symbolic Reasoning in Spiking Neurons: A Model of the Cortex/Basal Ganglia/Thalamus Loop.
In Stellan Ohlsson and Richard Catrambone, editors, 32nd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 1100–1105. Portland, Oregon. Cognitive Science Society.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Xuan Choo,
Chris Eliasmith
(2010)
Dynamic Behaviour of a Spiking Model of Action Selection in the Basal Ganglia.
In 10th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2009)
Spiking neurons and central executive control: The origin of the 50-millisecond cognitive cycle.
In 9th International Conference on Cognitive Modelling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Yichuan Tang,
Chris Eliasmith
(2009)
A biologically realistic cleanup memory: Autoassociation in spiking neurons.
In 9th International Conference on Cognitive Modelling.
Abstract
PDF
-
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2008)
Building production systems with realistic spiking neurons.
In Cognitive Science Conference. Washington, DC.
Abstract
PDF
Technical Reports and Preprints
-
P. Michael Furlong,
Andreas Stöckel,
Terrence C. Stewart,
Chris Eliasmith
(2022)
Learned Legendre Predictor: Learning with Compressed Representations for Efficient Online Multistep Prediction.
Technical Report, Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience.
Abstract
PDF
External link
-
Aaron R. Voelker,
Jan Gosmann,
Terrence C. Stewart
(2017)
Efficiently sampling vectors and coordinates from the n-sphere and n-ball.
Technical Report, Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience, Waterloo, ON.
Abstract
PDF
DOI
External link
-
Terrence C. Stewart
(2012)
A Technical Overview of the Neural Engineering Framework.
Technical Report, Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience.
Abstract
PDF