Information Processing in Cortical Networks

Call for Papers

Brain research progressed tremendously over recent decades, but understanding how cortical networks encode and decode information is still an open issue, and the ultimate question of information processing in our brains eludes us. Being highly multidisciplinary in nature, research into information processing in cortical networks (IPCNs) should combine vast amounts of heterogeneous data and information to provide theories and conclusions. A fruitful synergy has evolved between computational neuroscience and neurobiology; computational models are employed to predict in vivo measurements and to study the functioning of brain structures.

For research on neuronal models in vitro, microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been developed to record the electrical activities of ensembles of neurons. Such large parallel recordings are important for improving our understanding of neural codes and interactions between neurons on a microscopic scale. However, MEA data is complex from an analytic point of view.

Cortical-like networks created in vitro by stem cell technology constitute a valuable innovative tool to study mature neuronal microcircuits. These networks are more accessible for research than their in vivo counterparts and inherently more suitable for studying the emergence of networks and information processing than in vitro brain slices. Networks of stem cell-derived neuronal cells may become spontaneously active after a few days of culturing, and their electrical functioning can be monitored with MEAs over several weeks or months. Network self-organization and information processing therein are still open issues.

This special issue will bring together the various experimental fields by concentrating on the leitmotif information processing in cortical and cortical-like networks and the understanding of the basic principles of their functioning. The emphasis will be on information processing in networks comprising a few or up to tens of thousands of neurons.

Manuscripts presenting either original research or reviews will be considered. The special issue will become an international forum for researchers to summarize the most recent developments and ideas in thefield, with a special emphasis on the technical and observational results achieved over the last five years. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Coherent stimulation and readout of MEAs
• Pattern-induced learning
• Comodeling the nets: reservoir computing
• Finding polysynaptic paths by Granger causality
• Motif search by concept cells
• Synchronous activity of oscillating networks
• Spike-timing-dependent plasticity and temporal coding
• Minicolumn processing
• Theories on information encoding and processing
• Future strategies

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cin/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/cin/ipcn/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Frank Klefenz, Bio-Inspired Computing Department, Fraunhofer IDMT, Ilmenau, Germany

Guest Editors

• Jarno M. A. Tanskanen, Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, Tampere University of Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland
• Andriy Oliynyk, Section of Human Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapy, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy