Objective
The aim of the proposal is to model the coupled neuron behaviour within a single cortical module and code the collective activity of previous modules through suitable indicators. This would be a contribution toward a dynamically rooted Theoretical Neuroscience, complementary to other approaches.
The collaboration of scientists from different fields as Physics, Biology, Neuroscience and Psychology, will contribute to interdisciplinary aspects of the proposed project, being however, focused on the common problem: the understanding of the brain functioning.
According to the above description of the problem we establish the following research lines: study of dynamics of homoclinic chaos (HC) and synchronization of HC arrays, exploring higher cognitive functions as decision making and neural computation, study of time limited psychophysical tasks, study of neurobiology of plants and applications to development of bio-robots inspired by plants (plantoid).
The research method mainly will consist on numerical work, carried both on differential equations and coupled map lattices. A new line of analog programmable chips is being prepared to assist the numerics with fast preliminary results.
Furthermore a two-way interaction with experimentalists is planned in order to formulate appropriate models with meaningful parameter values and vice-versa what suggest laboratory implementations of theoretical conjectures.
The objectives of the proposal are the following: selection of the optimal neuron dynamical model, compare neuron array coupling and synchronization with pattern formation in reaction-diffusion media, start exploring quantum implications and corresponding parallelism in brain computation, define collective indicators and find the psycho-physical counterpart, apply the above strategy to plant neurons, to explore the yet unknown facts related to plant neuron coupling and coding.
Fields of science
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European FellowshipsCoordinator
FLORENCE
Italy