Circuit-level neural function: cortical microcircuits, thalamocortical loops, central pattern generators, sensory maps. Bridge between cellular neuroscience and cognition/behaviour.
systems-neuroscience
Cortical microcircuit
Canonical 6-layer column with stereotyped connectivity: L4 input, L2/3 feed-forward, L5 output, L6 thalamocortical feedback. Inhibitory…
Thalamocortical loop
Bidirectional information flow between cortex and thalamic relay nuclei (LGN for vision, VPL for somatosensation). Supports attention,…
Central pattern generator (CPG)
Neural circuit producing rhythmic motor output (locomotion, breathing, swallowing) without sensory drive. Half-centre oscillator of…
Place and grid cells
Hippocampal CA1 place cells fire in specific locations; entorhinal-cortex grid cells form hexagonal firing lattices. Together implement an…
Brain atlas / parcellation
Consensus partition of brain into anatomically and functionally distinct regions (Brodmann 1909, Allen Mouse Brain Atlas, HCP Multimodal…
Receptive field
Region of sensory space whose stimulation modulates a neuron's firing. V1 simple cells have oriented Gabor-like RFs (Hubel-Wiesel 1981…
Population coding
Stimulus encoded across the joint activity of many neurons (not individuals). Decoded by tuning-curve overlap (motor cortex movement…
Neural oscillations
Rhythmic synchronous activity in bands: delta (1–4 Hz, sleep), theta (4–8 Hz, memory), alpha (8–12 Hz, idle cortex), beta (15–30 Hz,…