Cel Recent studies have explored the advantages brought by lamination, in the cortex, to the ability of neuronal populations to code distinct features in sensory stimuli. In fact, the results of extensive simulations suggest that the emergence of cortical layers favours the analysis of two independent attributes of an object, its identity (what) and its position (where). Yet, an analytical treatment yielding a more precise characterization of these advantages in terms of the model parameters is still lacking. A separate study, by the applicant, has shown that the information carried by a population of N neurons with respect to a set of continuous+ discrete stimuli can be evaluated analytically, at least in the limit case of large noise. Moreover, studies by the proposed host group have shown that the competition between short and long range interactions in attractor network models leads to a deformation of the phase diagram, novel phases and other effects. The plan is to combine these approaches, aiming at the analytical evaluation of the information carried by the output stage of a layered network, in the presence of competing short and long-range interactions, with respect to continuous discrete stimuli. This analysis will help to clarify the functional role of cortical lamination, while leading to a deeper understanding of the effects of competition between long and short range interactions, which has been shown to be crucial both in neural and in other biologicalsystems. The applicant will be familiarised with a range of sophisticated mathematical methods, at which the host group is expert, which complement and extend those she has mastered during her Ph.D. In addition, she will learn about the application of similar models to other biological problems, e .g. protein folding, explored by the same research group. Dziedzina nauki natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsprotein folding Program(-y) FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002 Temat(-y) 1.1.1.-9. - Neurosciences Zaproszenie do składania wniosków Data not available System finansowania RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships) Koordynator KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Wkład UE Brak danych Adres STRAND WC2R 2LS LONDON Zjednoczone Królestwo Zobacz na mapie Koszt całkowity Brak danych