Workshop at CNS 2013, Paris

VALIDATING NEURO-COMPUTATIONAL MODELS OF NEUROLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Organiser and chair: Dr. Basabdatta Sen Bhattacharya, University of Lincoln, UK (BBhattacharya@lincoln.ac.uk)

Co-organiser: Prof. Fahmida Chowdhury, National Science Foundation, USA (fchowdhu@nsf.gov)

Co-Chair: Dr. Rosalyn Moran, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, USA (rosalynj@vtv.vt.edu)

http://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2013-workshops-program

Date: 18th July 2013, 9:00 to 17:30 hrs

Recent years have seen a widespread interest in applying computational models to underpin the neural correlates in neurological and psychiatric disorders, which is essential for drug discovery, disease prediction and better diagnostics. Neuro-computational models are abstractions of highly complex biological circuitry and/or phenomena at a level appropriate to the modeller’s target `problem’. An essential condition for models simulating real world phenomena to be ‘usable’ is to validate them in order to avoid erroneous understanding and potentially conflicting predictions. In other words, a model can be deemed useful as a tool to aid the understanding and treatment of disease conditions only if it is validated with experimental data. Currently, there is a rich repertoire of computational models, mimicking the functionalities and behaviour of various brain parts. However, the immense diversity in modelling and validation approaches across the globe makes it difficult to compare results, even for similar brain functionality. In addition, validation techniques as well as the experimental data used for validation are not ‘homogeneous’. Moreover, being a multidisciplinary field, a structured and co-ordinated approach to benchmark and/or set standards for validation methods and techniques is yet to be initiated. The aim of this workshop is to bring together Engineers and Scientists who work on modelling brain behaviour to discuss

(a) Potential methods of meaningful validation of neuro-computational models with experimental data.

(b) Ways of benchmarking validation of different modelling approaches towards a given goal (e.g. modelling anomalies in EEG), so that different models may be compared in meaningful ways.

(c) Potential new collaborations and leverage existing ones to advance the field.

The expected outcome is a report or white paper written by the group (including the speakers and any interested persons from the audience) to present their findings and a few action items.

Plan for the day