#4: On multi-area cortex models – with Sacha van Albada

A key goal of computational neuroscience is to build mathematical models linking single-neuron activity to systems-level activity.

The guest, a professor leading the Theoretical Neuroanatomy Group in FZ Jülich, has taken some bold steps in this direction. She is developing and exploring a multi-area model for the macaque visual cortex, and later also a model for the human cortex, using millions of simplified spiking neuron models.

We discuss the many design choices, the challenge of running the models, and what has been learned so far.

Links to papers mentioned in the podcast:

Schmidt et al: “A multi-scale layer-resolved spiking network model of resting-state dynamics in macaque visual cortical areas”, PLoS Computational Biology, 2018

Pronold et al.: “Multi-Scale Spiking Network Model of Human Cerebral Cortex”, bioRxiv, 2023

Home page of Sacha van Albada

The podcast was recorded on October 9, 2023 and lasts 1 hour and 32 minutes.

To see the video version and get the transcript of the episode, become a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheoreticalNeurosciencePodcast .

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