Modeling the brain

Question 1

Why do we need mathematical models

Answer 1

-”word models” sound reasonable but equations force a model to be precise, complete,
and self-consistent
-Fast way to generate and vet ideas prior to full experimental testing.
-The key test of the value of a theory is not necessarily whether it predicts something new,
but whether it produces concepts that generalize to other systems and provide valuable
new ways of thinking

Question 2

What is a good model

Answer 2

Just enough complexity to understand the phenomena you want to describe
-if it produces emerging properties, properties of the system that are not explicitly
modeled in the individual components but arise from interaction of the different
elements

Question 3

What biological aspects do we need to model if we want to stimulate the brain

Answer 3

Depends on what aspect you want to model, choose
the right level of complexity.
-molecular level
-cellular level
-network level
-systems level

Brain models:
-Excitability (AP generation)
-Synaptic transmission and plasticity
-AP propagation
-Connectivity
-Morphology

Question 4

How do we model the brain part1

Answer 4

1. Decide what aspects of the brain you want to simulate.
2. Choose the right level of complexity
3. Define a set of rules that might explain your observations
4. Formulate these rules in mathematical formulas or physics
   equations

Question 5

How do we model the brain pt 2

Answer 5

5. Implement these in software or hardware
6. Run simulations to compare with real data
7. Make testable predictions with the model
8. Test model predictions with experiments