Theoretical Neuroscience Podcast

Latest Episodes:

On central pattern generators in the spinal cord - with Henrik Lindén - #6 Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

Not all interesting network activity occurs in cortex. Networks in the spinal cord, the long thin tubular structure extending downwards from the neck, is responsible for setting up rhythmic motor activity needed for moving around.

How do these so-called central pattern generators work?

Today's guest has, together with colleagues in Copenhagen, developed a neuron-based network theory for how these rhythmic oscillations may arise even without pace-maker neurons driving the collective.

On how vision works - with Li Zhaoping - #5 Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

We know a lot about of how neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mammals respond to visual stimuli.

But how does the vast information contained in the spiking of millions of neurons in V1 give rise to our visual percepts?

The guest's theory is that V1 acts as a "saliency detector" directing the gaze to the most important object in the visual scene. Then V1 in collaboration with higher visual areas determines what this object is in an iterative feedforward-feedback loop.

On multi-area cortex models - with Sacha van Albada - #4 Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

A key goal of computational neuroscience is to build mathematical models linking single-neuron activity to systems-level activity.

The guest has taken some bold steps in this direction by developing and exploring a multi-area model for the macaque visual cortex, and later also a model for the human cortex, using millions of simplified spiking neuron models.

We discuss the many design choices, the challenge of running the models, and what has been learned so far.

On the neural code - with Arvind Kumar - #3 Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

It is widely thought that spikes (action potentials) are the main carrier of information in the brain.

But what is the neural code, that is, what aspects of the spike trains carry the information? The detailed temporal structure or maybe only the average firing rate? And is there information in the correlation between spike trains in populations of similar neurons?

The guest has thought about these and other coding questions throughout his career.

On biophysics of computation – with Christof Koch - #2 Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Starting from the pioneering work of Hodgkin, Huxley and Rall in the 1950s and 60s, we have a well-founded biophysics-based mathematical understanding of how neurons integrate signals from other neurons and generate action potentials.

Today's guest wrote the classic book "Biophysics of Computation" on the subject in 1998.

We discuss its contents, what has changed in the last 25 years, and also touch on his other main research interest: consciousness research.

On models of the mind - with Grace Lindsay - #1 Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

The book "Models of the Mind" published in 2021 gives an excellent popular account of the history and questions of interest in theoretical neuroscience.

I could think of no other person more suitable to invite for the inaugural episode of the podcast than its author Grace Lindsay.

In the podcast we discuss highlights from the book as well as recent developments and the future of our field.

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