Download Stability properties of equilibirum sattes in simplified cortical network

Mathematical modelling of the brain
Gaute T. Einevoll
Institutt for matematiske realfag og teknologi
Universitetet for miljø- og biovitenskap, Ås
A striking development in today’s science is the increased used of mathematical modelling in
biological sciences. Good mathematical descriptions of signal processing in single nerve cells
have been developed, and as a consequence computational neuroscience has become a
particularly active discipline. A single nerve cell is not particularly smart, however. Our
amazing mental capabilities arise from interactions between millions and billions of neurons
connected in complex neural networks. A main challenge is to understand this network
behaviour and to establish connections between properties at the microscopic level (single
nerve cells) and measurements of network activity in the brain at the macroscopic systems
level using various brain imaging techniques (MEG, EEG, PET, or fMRI).
In the seminar several examples of computational neuroscience projects from our group at the
Norwegian University of Life Sciences will be presented. Particular emphasis will be given
on
 a modelling project of the signal processing of visual stimuli in the early visual
pathway (retina-thalamus-primary visual cortex), and
 a project aimed at bridging the gap between the microscopic and macroscopic levels
by combined experimental and modelling studies of the brain at the intermediate level,
that is, at the level cortical microcircuits involving ~10-100.000 nerve cells.