UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE
	    COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM

			   presents


	       "Computational Systems Neurobiology:
     Multi-scale Modelling of Single Neurons and Networks"

		       Dr. Volker Steuber
     (Royal Society / Wolfson BioComputation Research Lab,
		   University of Hertfordshire)


		     24 April 2013  (Wednesday)
			  1 pm -2 pm

		  Hatfield, College Lane Campus 
                 * * Lecture Theatre LC108  * *

		 Everyone is Welcome to Attend

		 Refreshments will be available

Abstract:

Research in the Biocomputation Group at the University of Hertfordshire
involves the development of computational models to understand biological
systems, and the application of biologically-inspired algorithms to real-world
problems. The development of our computational models is guided by a systems
biology approach and based on close interactions with experimental
laboratories. Much of our research in computational neuroscience investigates
synaptic plasticity, the activity-dependent strengthening and weakening of
connections between neurons in the brain. In this talk, I will summarize a
number of our current and recent projects that study computational functions,
and the underlying mechanisms, of synaptic plasticity. I will focus on the
functional roles and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum, a
brain structure that is important for the control of movements and motor
learning. Our results suggest that different forms of synaptic plasticity at
different  time scales can implement many diverse functions such as associative
memory, noise resistance, multiplicative operations and the transformation
between different types of neural code. Moreover, I will discuss the relation
between cerebellar synaptic plasticity and movement disorders that are based on
cerebellar dysfunction, and I will describe the application of machine learning
algorithms to analyse neuronal activity during epileptic seizures.

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