Theoretical / model-based neuroscience: neural-network dynamics, learning rules, dimensionality, coding theory, mean-field analysis, attractor networks. Distinct from cognitive-, behavioural-, systems-neuroscience trees.
Computational Neuroscience
Hopfield attractor network
Hopfield 1982: recurrent network of N binary neurons stores ~0.14N memories as fixed-point attractors via Hebbian outer-product weight…
Hodgkin-Huxley network dynamics
Networks of HH-type spiking neurons reproduce cortical-rhythm regimes: asynchronous-irregular, synchronous-regular, gamma-oscillations. …
Efficient coding (Barlow-Attneave)
Barlow 1961 / Attneave 1954: sensory neurons encode natural-stimuli to maximise information / minimise redundancy under metabolic…
Population vector decoding (Georgopoulos)
Georgopoulos 1986: motor-cortex direction-tuned neurons collectively encode arm-movement direction via vector sum Σ f_i(θ) v̂_i where v̂_i…
Dimensionality reduction of neural data (PCA / dPCA / GPFA)
Cunningham-Yu 2014: large-scale recording yields N×T spike-count matrix; PCA / dPCA (demixed-PCA) / GPFA (Gaussian-Process Factor Analysis)…
Random recurrent network chaos (Sompolinsky-Crisanti-Sommers)
Sompolinsky-Crisanti-Sommers 1988: rate-network with iid-gaussian connectivity matrix shows transition to deterministic-chaos at gain g=1. …
Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP)
Markram-Sakmann 1997 / Bi-Poo 1998: synaptic weight change Δw depends on relative pre-/post-synaptic spike timing — LTP if pre→post ~10 ms,…
Balanced network (van Vreeswijk-Sompolinsky)
vV-S 1996: cortical excitation + inhibition dynamically balance to give asynchronous-irregular firing (CV ≈ 1) at ~1-10 Hz despite…
Predictive coding (Rao-Ballard)
Rao-Ballard 1999: hierarchical visual cortex implements predictive-coding — top-down feedback predicts bottom-up activity, only error…
Reservoir computing (Jaeger / Maass)
Jaeger 2001 ESN / Maass 2002 LSM: random recurrent network projects input into rich high-dimensional state-space; only readout-weights…
Free-energy / active inference (Friston)
Friston 2010 free-energy principle (also in cogn-neuro tree as framework): hierarchical-generative-model minimises variational free energy…
Ring attractor head-direction network
Skaggs-Knierim-Kudrimoti-McNaughton 1995 / Zhang 1996: head-direction cells form ring-attractor where activity-bump position encodes…
Hodgkin-Huxley (1952)
Hodgkin-Huxley 1952 squid-axon (Nobel 1963): C dV/dt = -g_Na m^3 h (V-E_Na) - g_K n^4 (V-E_K) - g_L (V-E_L); voltage-gated kinetics; basis…
STDP (Markram-Bi-Poo 1997-1998)
Markram-Sakmann 1997 + Bi-Poo 1998 spike-timing-dependent plasticity: pre-before-post -> LTP, post-before-pre -> LTD; Hebbian +…
Integrate-and-fire (Lapicque 1907)
Lapicque 1907: tau dV/dt = -(V-V_rest) + RI; spike at V_threshold + reset; predates Hodgkin-Huxley; LIF + EIF + AdEx generalizations;…
Wilson-Cowan neural-mass (1972)
Wilson-Cowan 1972 mean-field excitatory + inhibitory population: dE/dt = -E + (1-rE) S(c1 E - c2 I + P); foundation of EEG/MEG…
Efficient coding (Barlow 1961)
Barlow 1961 efficient-coding hypothesis: sensory neurons reduce statistical redundancy; Olshausen-Field 1996 sparse-coding -> Gabor-like V1…
Predictive coding (Rao-Ballard 1999)
Rao-Ballard 1999 predictive-coding cortical hierarchy: top-down predictions; bottom-up prediction-errors; explains end-stopping +…