Hybrid Systems to Investigate the Computational Properties of Neuronal Assemblies in the Brain

Call for Papers

Behaviors require interaction with the environment and the contribution of different brain areas depending on the activation of large neuronal assemblies. Understanding how neuronal networks process incoming stimuli and how information is encoded as a function of the network organization is a necessary step to be able to interact with the nervous system and, consequently, design and implement hybrid systems, where living and simulated neuronal networks are continuously interfaced.

The possible scientific results span not only in the field of basic science, but also in the field of applied sciences, in particular in the field of neuroprostheses and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). We welcome original research articles, where innovative methodologies to dynamically interface living neuronal assemblies (both in vitro and in vivo) to artificial systems (e.g., in silico network models, artificial robots, controllers, etc.) are used to control/move the dynamical states of the network, as well as to infer coding strategies. Review articles are also welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Electrophysiological experiments of closed-loop systems
• Mathematical neuronal network models as a tool to deduce computational properties of neural circuits
• Hybrid systems: living networks coupled to artificial ones
• Software and hardware strategies to manipulate and control neuronal dynamics

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cmmm/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/cmmm/cpna/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Paolo Massobrio, Neuroengineering and Bio-Nano Technology Lab (NBT), Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Guest Editors

• Michela Chiappalone, Neuroscience and Brain Technology (NBT), The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genoa, Italy
• Danny Eytan, Network Biology Research Laboratories, The Lorry I. Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Pediatrics A, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
• Paul Tiesinga, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands