Topic: neuronal connections

Simply put, the goal of my research is to describe the neuronal circuitry of the retina. The organization of the mammalian retina is certainly complex but it is not chaotic. Although there are many cell types, most adhere to a relatively constant morphology and they are distributed in non-random mosaics. Furthermore, each cell type ramifies at a characteristic depth in the retina and makes a stereotyped set of synaptic connections. In other words, these neurons form a series of local circuits across the retina. The next step is to identify the simplest and commonest of these repeating neural c

The human brain is a complex network of neuronal connections. The precise arrangement of these connections, otherwise known as the topology of the network, is crucial to its functioning. Recent efforts to understand how the complex topology of the brain has emerged have used generative mathematical models, which grow synthetic networks according to specific wiring rules. Evidence suggests that a wiring rule which emulates a trade-off between connection costs and functional benefits can produce networks that capture essential topological properties of brain networks. In this webinar, Professor