The Journal of Neuroscience, October 31, 2007, 27(44):11807-11819; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3575-07.2007
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Symposia and Mini-Symposia
Neurotech for Neuroscience: Unifying Concepts, Organizing Principles, and Emerging Tools
Rae Silver,1,2,3
Kwabena Boahen,4
Sten Grillner,5
Nancy Kopell,6 and
Kathie L. Olsen7
1Psychology Department, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, 2Psychology Department, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, 3Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, 4Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, 5Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden, 6Department of Mathematics and Center for BioDynamics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, and 7National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Rae Silver, Columbia University, 1190 Amsterdam Avenue, 406 Schermerhorn Hall, MC 5501, New York, NY 10027. Email: qr{at}columbia.edu
The ability to tackle analysis of the brain at multiple levels simultaneously is emerging from rapid methodological developments. The classical research strategies of "measure," "model," and "make" are being applied to the exploration of nervous system function. These include novel conceptual and theoretical approaches, creative use of mathematical modeling, and attempts to build brain-like devices and systems, as well as other developments including instrumentation and statistical modeling (not covered here). Increasingly, these efforts require teams of scientists from a variety of traditional scientific disciplines to work together. The potential of such efforts for understanding directed motor movement, emergence of cognitive function from neuronal activity, and development of neuromimetic computers are described by a team that includes individuals experienced in behavior and neuroscience, mathematics, and engineering. Funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, explore the potential of these changing frontiers of research for developing research policies and long-term planning.
Key words: motor system; mathematical modeling; transformative research neuromorphic chips; hippocampal rhythms; behavior; cognition; engineering
Received Aug. 6, 2007;
revised Sept. 7, 2007;
accepted Sept. 9, 2007.
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Rae Silver, Columbia University, 1190 Amsterdam Avenue, 406 Schermerhorn Hall, MC 5501, New York, NY 10027. Email: qr{at}columbia.edu