Interrogating the ties that bind: Relationship between multi-level network connectivity and neural dynamics

Organizers

David Dahmen | Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
Yuxiu Shao | Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
Yue Kris Wu | Technical University of Munich, Germany

Abstract

There is a growing consensus that including experimentally identified connectivity constraints in computational models of neuronal networks is imperative to understand how brain computations are performed through emergent neural dynamics. However, how network connectivity, both at the microscopic level between individual neurons and at the macroscopic level between different cell types, shapes neural dynamics and is shaped by neural dynamics via activity-dependent plasticity mechanisms remains largely elusive. This workshop aims to bring together experts from experimental as well as theoretical neuroscience to discuss and address the following key aspects of network connectivity, dynamics and computation: 1. Recent advancements in quantifying microscopic motifs and macroscopic structure in neural circuits. 2. Impact of microscopic motifs and macroscopic structure on neural dynamics and computation. 3. Impact of synaptic plasticity mechanisms on microscopic and macroscopic circuit structure. As understanding how network connectivity at different levels affect neural dynamics and computation is crucial in neuroscience, we hope for a lively discussion at this workshop that will be of broad interest to both experimentalists and theorists.

Schedule (CEST)

Tuesday, Sept 26

14:00

Short welcome

14:15

Rainer Friedrich | Friedrich Miescher Institute, Switzerland
Computational functions of inhibition in a synaptically balanced olfactory memory network

14:50

Yuhan Chen | Beijing Normal University, China 
The different balance mechanisms across various levels in the complex brain connectome

15:25

Sacha van Albada | Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
Estimating the primate cortical mesoconnectome to predict resting-state activity via large-scale simulations

16:00

30 min coffee break

16:30

Laureline Logiaco | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
Architectural foundations of robust and flexible motor control in mammalian brains

17:10

Julijana Gjorgjieva | Technical University of Munich, Germany
Emergence and function of network connectivity motifs through synaptic plasticity

17:50

Discussion

18:30

End of first day

Wednesday, Sept 27

08:30

Short welcome

08:40

Yu Hu | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The covariance spectrum of population dynamics shaped by random recurrent connections and motifs.

09:20

Gabriel K. Ocker | Boston University, USA
Population activity of stochastic integrate-and-fire networks

10:00

30 min coffee break

10:30

David G. Clark | Columbia University, USA
Dimensionality and plasticity in random neural networks

11:10

Sadra Sadeh | Imperial College London, UK
Linking connectivity to coding by perturbing the dynamics of excitatory-inhibitory neuronal networks

11:50

Discussion

12:30

End