Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience

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Mathematical and numerical models play a very important role in our understanding of biophysical processes in the nervous system. With the advent of high-speed graphics workstations and new mathematical and numerical methods for describing complex dynamical systems, many difficult problems in neuroscience can now be addressed. Coupled with the explosion in experimental neurobiological data, these new developments have lead to the emergence of the rapidly growing field of computational neuroscience which represents a remarkable coalition of interrelated disciplines: neurobiology, computer science, biochemistry, artificial intelligence, molecular biology, mathematics, psychology, physics, and philosophy. The project lays the foundation for a Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience at Wesleyan University. Because of the new computer technologies and new theoretical and numerical methods for describing complex systems, this exciting interdisciplinary field should be both accessible and appealing to undergraduate students. The proposed facility will provide the foundation for both undergraduate courses and research opportunities in the modelling of neurobiological processes from the electrophysiological behavior of single neurons to the spatio-temporal patterns of activity in neural networks. In addition, these facilities will also be available for the further development of courses and research projects in other interdisciplinary areas of computational science.