UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE
	     COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM

			    presents


       "Closed Loop Computational Models to Explore Dynamic
     Structure-Function-Environment Interactions in the Brain"

			Dr. Peter Hellyer
   (Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology,
	       and Neuroscience, King's College London)


		    15 February 2018 (Thursday)

			   1 - 2 pm


		  Hatfield, College Lane Campus
		     Lecture Theatre A161

		  Everyone is Welcome to Attend

		  Refreshments will be available


Abstract:


In recent years, there have been many computational simulations of
spontaneous neural dynamics of the brain at rest. Here, we describe a
simple work-in-progress model of spontaneous neural dynamics. Using simple
simulated neural activity-to-behavior mappings, these spontaneous neural
dynamics control an agent moving in a simple virtual environment. These
dynamics generate interesting brain-environment feedback interactions
that rapidly destabilize neural and behavioral dynamics demonstrating
the need for homeostatic mechanisms. We investigate roles for homeostatic
plasticity both locally (local inhibition adjusting to balance excitatory
input); as well as macroscopic regulation ("task negative" activity
that compensates for "task positive", sensory input in another
region) balancing neural activity and leading to more stable behavior
(trajectories through the environment). Our results suggest complementary
functional roles for both local and macroscale mechanisms in maintaining
neural and behavioral dynamics. These findings suggest a novel functional
role for frequently reported macroscopic "task-negative" patterns
of activity (e.g., the default mode network).




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Hertfordshire Computer Science Research Colloquium
http://cs-colloq.cs.herts.ac.uk