508555 - NEURAL MODELLING AND COMPUTATION

The course aims at offering knowledge in the field of computational neuroscience. Neural models able to describe, represent and interpret the reality. In particular, the focus will be on computational models correlated to behavioral features, within a neurobiological framework. There will be presented principles to build these neural models of brain structures, able to embed multi-scale information, from single neuron functional mechanism to microcircuits, till the generation of high-level functional behaviors. In view of applications, the models represent powerful tools to understand the complex operations underlying perception, actions and memory, in both physiological and pathological states. This multi-scale and multi-disciplinary approach is the key of challenging international projects, as Human Brain Project and EBRAINS.

To understand principles to build computational neural models, able to embed multi-scale information, from mechanisms of single neurons and synapses, to functional microcircuits with specific connectivity and plasticity, till the generation of high-level functional behaviors. Examples relative to specific brain structures. To acquire methods and tools to reconstruct, simulate and validate these models. To analyze the applications of such models in understanding the complex operations underlying perception, actions and memory, in both physiological and pathological states.