Section: Overall Objectives

Overall Objectives

MathNeuro focuses on the applications of multi-scale dynamics to neuroscience. This involves the modelling and analysis of systems with multiple time scales and space scales, as well as stochastic effects. We look both at single-cell models, microcircuits and large networks. In terms of neuroscience, we are mainly interested in questions related to synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability, in particular in the context of pathological states such as epileptic seizures and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer.

Our work is quite mathematical but we make heavy use of computers for numerical experiments and simulations. We have close ties with several top groups in biological neuroscience. We are pursuing the idea that the "unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" can be brought, as it has been in physics, to bear on neuroscience.

Modeling such assemblies of neurons and simulating their behavior involves putting together a mixture of the most recent results in neurophysiology with such advanced mathematical methods as dynamical systems theory, bifurcation theory, probability theory, stochastic calculus, theoretical physics and statistics, as well as the use of simulation tools.

We conduct research in the following main areas:

1. Neural networks dynamics

2. Mean-field and stochastic approaches

3. Neural fields

4. Slow-fast dynamics in neuronal models

5. Modeling neuronal excitability

6. Synaptic plasticity