creators_name: Amit, Daniel J.
type: journalp
datestamp: 1998-08-25
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:53:38
metadata_visibility: show
title: SIMULATION IN NEUROBIOLOGY -- THEORY OR EXPERIMENT?
ispublished: pub
subjects: comp-neuro-sci
subjects: comp-neuro-sci
subjects: neuro-mod
subjects: neuro-physio
full_text_status: public
keywords: simulation, spiking neurons, methodology, recording
abstract: Investigation in neurophysiology usually involves measurements of large population average signals or small sample recordings. There is an underlying assumption that the observations express activity of large groups of similarly acting neurons that is the result of a bottom-up scenario in which individual cells, via their synaptic interactions, lead to the large scale phenomena. The connection between the levels must be provided by theory, which must also provide the relevant variables to observe. It is suggested that between the experiment and the full theory there is a creative, mixed role for simulation: both experimental and theoretical. A simulation presents complex dynamics and hence is an empirical board for testing theoretical tools, yet its controlled behavior can make predictions about the biological system.
date: 1998
date_type: published
publication: TINS
volume: 21
number: 6
pagerange: 231-237
refereed: TRUE
citation:   Amit, Daniel J.  (1998) SIMULATION IN NEUROBIOLOGY -- THEORY OR EXPERIMENT?  [Journal (Paginated)]     
document_url: http://cogprints.org/61/2/simu3.ps