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BI 141 Carina Curto: From Structure to Dynamics
FromBrain Inspired
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Length:
92 minutes
Released:
Jul 12, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Check out my free video series about what's missing in AI and Neuroscience
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Carina Curto is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at The Pennsylvania State University. She uses her background skills in mathematical physics/string theory to study networks of neurons. On this episode, we discuss the world of topology in neuroscience - the study of the geometrical structures mapped out by active populations of neurons. We also discuss her work on "combinatorial linear threshold networks" (CLTNs). Unlike the large deep learning models popular today as models of brain activity, the CLTNs Carina builds are relatively simple, abstracted graphical models. This property is important to Carina, whose goal is to develop mathematically tractable neural network models. Carina has worked out how the structure of many CLTNs allows prediction of the model's allowable dynamics, how motifs of model structure can be embedded in larger models while retaining their dynamical features, and more. The hope is that these elegant models can tell us more about the principles our messy brains employ to generate the robust and beautiful dynamics underlying our cognition.
Carina's website.The Mathematical Neuroscience Lab.Related papersA major obstacle impeding progress in brain science is the lack of beautiful models.What can topology tells us about the neural code?Predicting neural network dynamics via graphical analysis
0:00 - Intro
4:25 - Background: Physics and math to study brains
20:45 - Beautiful and ugly models
35:40 - Topology
43:14 - Topology in hippocampal navigation
56:04 - Topology vs. dynamical systems theory
59:10 - Combinatorial linear threshold networks
1:25:26 - How much more math do we need to invent?
Support the show to get full episodes and join the Discord community.
Carina Curto is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at The Pennsylvania State University. She uses her background skills in mathematical physics/string theory to study networks of neurons. On this episode, we discuss the world of topology in neuroscience - the study of the geometrical structures mapped out by active populations of neurons. We also discuss her work on "combinatorial linear threshold networks" (CLTNs). Unlike the large deep learning models popular today as models of brain activity, the CLTNs Carina builds are relatively simple, abstracted graphical models. This property is important to Carina, whose goal is to develop mathematically tractable neural network models. Carina has worked out how the structure of many CLTNs allows prediction of the model's allowable dynamics, how motifs of model structure can be embedded in larger models while retaining their dynamical features, and more. The hope is that these elegant models can tell us more about the principles our messy brains employ to generate the robust and beautiful dynamics underlying our cognition.
Carina's website.The Mathematical Neuroscience Lab.Related papersA major obstacle impeding progress in brain science is the lack of beautiful models.What can topology tells us about the neural code?Predicting neural network dynamics via graphical analysis
0:00 - Intro
4:25 - Background: Physics and math to study brains
20:45 - Beautiful and ugly models
35:40 - Topology
43:14 - Topology in hippocampal navigation
56:04 - Topology vs. dynamical systems theory
59:10 - Combinatorial linear threshold networks
1:25:26 - How much more math do we need to invent?
Released:
Jul 12, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
BI 005 David Sussillo: RNNs are Back!: Mentioned in the show: David’s Twitter account Papers we discuss: Sussillo, D.S. & Abbott, L. F. (2009). Generating Coherent Patterns of Activity from Chaotic Neural Networks. Neuron 63(4). Sussillo, D. (2014) Neural circuits as computational by Brain Inspired