
WORKSHOP:
From a Cortical Column towards functional processing pathways in silico
MOTIVATION:
During the past five years, great progress in reconstructing an average cortical column in the barrel cortex of rats has been achieved. Determination of the number and 3D distribution of neurons and excitatory or inhibitory neuron types, reconstruction of more than 100 complete dendrite and 30 complete axon morphologies from all cortical layers and different thalamic nuclei, measurements of whisker response and thalamocortical activation of cortical neurons in vivo, interactive 3D visualization, full-compartmental network modeling or high-speed two-photon imaging combined, allow to approach the next step in modeling the pathway of whisker-evoked sensory signals, beyond a single cortical column.
At this internal workshop and hence in an informal atmosphere, we would like to summarize and evaluate the current status of the “cortical column in silico” project, discuss recent findings and progress, plan the next steps and speculate about future directions and needs.
As the ultimate long-term goal, we are aiming to reconstruct and model all inter- and intracortical, thalamocortical, corticothalamic and subcortical circuits that are involved in information processing of single or multiple whisker input in the anesthetized or awake rat.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
9:00 – 10:00
Opening remarks and summary of the current status of the “Cortical Column in silico” by Marcel Oberlaender (Max Planck Florida Institute)
Session 1: Latest news from reconstructing neuron and network anatomy
CHAIR: Marcel Oberlaender (Max Planck Florida Institute)
9:45 – 10:30
Reconstruction of a cortical column on EM level – the first cell by Panos Drouvelis (Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing) and Thorben Kurz (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology)
10:45 – 11:30
Reconstruction of neuronal circuits from SBFSEM by Moritz Helmstädter (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research)
11:30 – 12:15
The neglected part: towards integration of inhibitory networks by Hanno S. Meyer (Max Planck Florida Institute)
Session 2: Latest news from neuron and network function
CHAIR: Bert Sakmann (Max Planck Florida Institute)
14:00 – 14:45
The cortical column: butterflies versus fireflies by Christiaan P.J. de Kock (VU University, Amsterdam)
14:45 – 15:30
Neuromodulators and network effects: model parameters as moving targets by Randy M. Bruno (Columbia University)
16:00 – 16:45
Discrimination of interneuron subtypes for functional two-photon imaging by Dominik Langer (University of Zurich)
17:00 – 18:00
Tour of Max Planck Florida Institute and Department of Digital Neuroantomy
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010
Session 3: Advanced techniques for modeling, visualizing and validating in silico simulations
CHAIR: Hans-Christian Hege (Zuse Institute Berlin)
9:00 – 9:45
Fast optical probing of neuronal population activity in the intact brain by Benjamin Grewe (University of Zurich)
9:45 – 10:30
Assembling standalone cortical models to integrated behavioral brain units within NeuroDUNE by Stefan Lang (Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing)
11:00 – 11:45
Visual computing for reconstruction and analysis of neuronal networks by Vincent J. Dercksen (Zuse Institute Berlin)
11:45 – 12:00
Summary and closing of sessions 1-3 by Marcel Oberlaender (Max Planck Florida Institute)