Bio-realistic multiscale modeling of cortical circuits*

A central question in neuroscience is how the structure of brain circuits determines their activity and function. To explore this systematically, we developed a 230,000-neuron model of mouse primary visual cortex (area V1). The model integrates a broad array of experimental data:

 

·       Distribution and morpho-electric properties of different neuron types in V1;

·       Connection probabilities, synaptic weights, axonal delays, and dendritic targeting rules;

·       And a representation of visual inputs into V1 from the lateral geniculate nucleus.

 

Simulations of neural activity in the model match experimental recordings in vivo on a number of metrics, such as firing rates, direction selectivity, and others. We will discuss applications of our V1 model at different levels of resolution to problems of broad interest:

·       Understanding how architecture of brain circuit gives rise to the observed functional activity;

·       Learning of behavioral and computational tasks in biological and artificial networks;

·       Generation of the extracellular electric potential due to synaptic activity in the cortex.

 

The model is shared freely with the community via brain-map.org, as are the datasets it is based on.