Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience
Dynamics of thalamocortical networks
Department of Integrative and Computational Neuroscience
(ICN),
Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroPSI),
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
(CNRS)
91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Version française
The research conducted in Alain Destexhe's laboratory stands at the
interface between several disciplines, such as biophysics, physics,
computer science and neuroscience. The themes investigated (see Research below) range from the
microscopic (single neurons) to the macroscopic (networks or
populations of neurons) aspects of the central nervous system
function. At the single cell level, we use theoretical methods and
computer-based simulation techniques to explore the complex
behavior of cortical and thalamic neurons and understand their
integrative properties. At the network level, we try to understand
the collective behavior of neuronal populations, and how
information is processed and represented. We also study the
genesis of sleep rhythms, their physiological role and their
perversion into pathological rhythms such as epileptic seizures.
We use different physical frameworks (such as electromagnetism
theory) to understand the genesis of different brain signals, such
as the extracellular electric potentials (LFP, EEG) or magnetic
fields. Finally, we use theoretical frameworks (such as stochastic
dynamical systems) to conceive methods to deduce hidden information
in experimentally-recorded signals. This research is only possible
through a very tight collaboration with experimentalists recording
single cells (intracellular measurements) and network behavior
(EEG, MEG, LFP and optical imaging). We actively collaborate with
experimental groups in Europe, in USA as well as within the ICN
(see Publications). We encourage
students to follow mixed projects combining both experimental and
theoretical/computational components.
Our group also created and is animating the European Institute for Theoretical
Neuroscience (EITN) in Paris and Gif sur Yvette. This
institute is jointly financed by the Human Brain Project and
the CNRS. The EITN is meant to be an incubator of ideas in
theoretical neuroscience, through organizing workshops and hosting
visitors, postdocs and students (see the EITN web site for more information).
CLICK HERE FOR RECENTLY
PUBLISHED PAPERS
Positions available at the ICN
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List of lab members, permanent, postdocs and students
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Description of the current research themes and projects, plus references
and links to more detailed information.
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Publications from the laboratory. Downloadable
information about published work or papers in press. Both
abstracts and complete copies of the articles can be
accessed. |
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Computer-generated animations of models developed in
the laboratory. These animations are a good complement to
the articles above, and in many cases, they illustrate the
dynamics of the system much better than any of the
published figures! |
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Demos and source codes of the programs that
generated some of the figures of the published articles.
These demos are running on publically-available NEURON simulator, PYTHON or
MATLAB. They can be used as tutorials to learn how to use
NEURON, or for teaching or didactic purposes. |
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Cellular morphologies of thalamic and cortical neurons,
to be used with the NEURON
simulator. The original papers in which these cells were used
are also included. |
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Music created from recordings of cortical neurons. The activity is
compared to Poisson stochastic processes.
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Various links to useful web pages in Computational Neuroscience and
Neuroinformatics |
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The Journal of Computational
Neuroscience (Editors-in-Chief: Alain Destexhe and Jonathan
Victor) and Springer Series in Computational
Neuroscience (Editors: Alain Destexhe and Romain
Brette)
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Research supported by the CNRS
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), the ANR (Agence Nationale de la
Recherche), the EC (European
Commission), the NIH (National
Institutes of Health) and the HFSP
(Human Frontier Science Program); click
here for details about these projets.
For more information, please contact:
Department of Integrative and Computational Neuroscience (ICN)
Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroPSI),
CNRS, Bat 33,
1 Avenue de la Terrasse,
91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Tel: 33-1-69-82-34-35
Fax: 33-1-69-82-34-27
URL:
http://cns.iaf.cnrs-gif.fr
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