UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE            
       COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM       
                                                  
                     presents   
					                   
      "Computational modelling of neural development: 
	  from basic principles to functional circuits"             
                      				                        
                Dr. Roman Bauer                 
                                                  
         (Department of Computer Science,
		 University of Surrey)           
                                                  
                2 December 2020                  
                                                  
                  13:00 - 14:00                   
                                                  
                   Over Zoom          
		 
Abstract

The development of the brain is a highly complex process, involving various mechanisms on different spatial and temporal scales. While technological advances have allowed us to extract valuable information from the brain, the complex nature of these data renders it often challenging to compare and validate theoretical concepts. However, a better understanding of changes during brain development could shine light on the organisation of the brain, as well as its function. Moreover, it could help develop a better understanding of the mechanism involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as give rise to potential treatment strategies.

Here, I will present some lines of work where computational modelling and analysis is used to study changes in neural tissue during brain development and self-organisation. These changes range from axonal arborizations on the single neuron level to inter-areal fibre tracts on the scale of large populations of neurons. Notably, this approach can account for various experimental observations and produce experimentally verifiable predictions. Moreover, several characteristics associated with pathological conditions can be reproduced, establishing a quantitative framework for the study of neural development.