Work was conducted via 6 work packages (WP):
WP1 focused on gaining a mechanistic understanding of how different spatial ranges of electrical and chemical synaptic connectivity shape neuronal activity patterns of integrate-and-fire neuron models. After an extensive literature review of neuroanatomic connectivity, the researcher performed numerical simulations and bifurcation analyses of various neuron models arranged in spatially-structured networks.
WP2 extended WP1 by studying pattern formation due to different spatial ranges of electrical and chemical connectivity. During a secondment at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the researcher advanced numerical bifurcation analysis techniques to study emergent Turing patterns.
WP3 extended the Next-Generation Neural Field Model (NG-NFM) with electrical and chemical synapses, including additional degrees of biological realism. In various subprojects, the researcher established finite-dimensional descriptions for networks of spiking neurons, explored pulse shape-dependent synchronization, analyzed heterogeneous populations of Quadratic Integrate-and-Fire neurons, and incorporated spike-frequency adaptation.
WP4 centered on project management activities. The researcher executed the Career Development Plan, providing insights into career goals. Progress evaluations were conducted regularly, ensuring transparent reporting. Independently managing project finances, the researcher planned conferences and secondment stays efficiently. Active engagement in external collaborations expanded the project's scope. Administrative support facilitated integration into host and secondment institutions. The researcher showed collaborative and administrative prowess throughout WP4.
WP5 focused on training and career development. The researcher received individualized training on research objectives from host and secondment supervisors and by attending local seminars, scientific events, and tutorials. The researcher acted as an expert evaluator for scientific journals and organized scientific events, showcasing leadership and active public engagement.
WP6 centered on dissemination and communication. The researcher effectively disseminated research findings through 3 publications and 4 manuscripts in preparation, 9 talks at local seminars, and 14 presentations at international conferences and workshops, and engaged in social media and private websites.
The main results amount to:
1. The MSCA project identified and studied pattern formation mechanisms in neural networks, particularly focusing on the interplay between electrical and chemical synaptic connectivity.
2. The development of the NG-NFM extended the exact mean-field formalism for QIF neuron models, enabling a more systematic study of pattern formation in neural networks with structured chemical or electrical coupling.
3. The project successfully applied analytic and numerical bifurcation analysis to understand the dynamics of spiking neural networks, revealing mechanisms such as winner-take-all phenomena and spontaneous symmetry-breaking.
4. The results suggested potential implications for the role of electrical synapses in the brain, challenging existing assumptions and proposing novel targets for medical treatment in neurodegenerative disorders.
5. The Research Fellow actively engaged in training, evaluated scientific journals, organized conferences, and participated in ERC training sessions, contributing to personal and career development.
The MSCA project successfully advanced the understanding of neural network dynamics, proposed novel models, and engaged with the scientific community, while committing to transparency, open access, research integrity and accountability.
