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SUMMARY:Physiologically Based Brain Modeling and Verification: Theory\, Ex
 perimental Tests\, and New Directions. - Peter Robinson\, Brain Dynamics G
 roup\, University of Sydney\, Australia
DTSTART:20111101T110000Z
DTEND:20111101T120000Z
UID:TALK37482@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mikail Rubinov
DESCRIPTION:A key requirement of brain modeling that goes beyond isolated 
 applications is that it should interrelate stimuli\, neural activity\, and
  measurements in diverse situations and be testable by multiple experiment
 s. This requires dynamics at many scales to be incorporated simultaneously
 \, and the results to be integrated into a unified framework. Thus\, integ
 rative models need to combine salient features of physiology\, anatomy\, a
 nd dynamics at various temporal and spatial scales.\n\nA fruitful approach
  to integrative modeling is via neural field theory in which microscopic n
 eural properties are approximated in a way that enables quantitative predi
 ctions for comparison with experiment\, plus interpretations of real data 
 in terms of physiology and anatomy. In particular\, neural field approache
 s provide unified theories of multiple phenomena\, and make quantitative p
 redictions of many types of experimental observations. This enables such t
 heories to be tested against multiple data sets\, and strongly constrains 
 their parameters and characteristics in ways that cannot be done with theo
 ries of just\none or a few phenomena.\n\nThis talk outlines the main ideas
  of neural field theories that span from synapses to the whole brain\, and
  are parameterized in terms of measurable physiological quantities. A sele
 ction of quantitative applications will then be reviewed\, including compa
 risons with EEG spectra\, evoked responses\, seizures\, arousal dynamics\,
  and fitting of predictions to data to infer brain states and physiologica
 l parameters. Finally\, several very recent directions will be discussed\,
  selected from areas including new hybrid methods that combine spiking-neu
 ron and field-theoretic approaches\, and study of cortical waves\, plastic
 ity\, and networks.\n
LOCATION:Sir William Hardy Building on Downing Site
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