Topic: neural criticality

Advanced assemblies of hardware, software, and synthetic biology (wetware) have resulted in new methods to embody neural systems into simulated environments to elicit dynamic goal-directed activity (Kagan et al., 2023, Biotechnology Advances.). Evidence of learning from in vitro neurons was established in a simplified game of Pong through closed-loop real-time electrophysiological recordings and patterned stimulations via a system called DishBrain (Kagan et al., 2022. Neuron.). Analysis of dynamic activity changes within these networks revealed key correlates associated with the appearance of

Theoretical studies show that, operating at criticality maximises both the information processing and storage capabilities of neural systems. Experimental indications that the brain might operate in this way come in the form of: (1) power law distributions of avalanches and (2) non-Gaussian fixed points that appear in phenomenological renormalization group analysis. Despite theoretical benefits and experimental findings, it remains highly debated whether neural criticality is functionally relevant. Firstly, it is hard to confirm if avalanches follow true power laws. Secondly, recent studies in