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Juavinett A. Learning How to Code While Analyzing an Open Access Electrophysiology Dataset. JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION : JUNE : A PUBLICATION OF FUN, FACULTY FOR UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 19:A94-A104. [PMID: 33880096 PMCID: PMC8040835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Conducting neuroscience research increasingly requires proficiency in coding and the ability to manipulate and analyze large datasets. However, these skills are often not included in typical neurobiology courses, partially because they are seen as accessory rather than central, and partially because of the barriers to entry. Therefore, this lesson plan aims to provide an introduction to coding in Python, a free and user-friendly programming language, for instructors and students alike. In this lesson, students edit Python code in the Jupyter Notebook coding environment to interact with cutting-edge electrophysiology data from the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Students can run their own experiments with these data to compare cell types in mice and humans. Along the way, they gain exposure to Python coding and the role of coding in the field of neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Juavinett
- Division of Biological Sciences, Neurobiology Section, UC San Diego
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Dai K, Gratiy SL, Billeh YN, Xu R, Cai B, Cain N, Rimehaug AE, Stasik AJ, Einevoll GT, Mihalas S, Koch C, Arkhipov A. Brain Modeling ToolKit: An open source software suite for multiscale modeling of brain circuits. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008386. [PMID: 33253147 PMCID: PMC7728187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental studies in neuroscience are producing data at a rapidly increasing rate, providing exciting opportunities and formidable challenges to existing theoretical and modeling approaches. To turn massive datasets into predictive quantitative frameworks, the field needs software solutions for systematic integration of data into realistic, multiscale models. Here we describe the Brain Modeling ToolKit (BMTK), a software suite for building models and performing simulations at multiple levels of resolution, from biophysically detailed multi-compartmental, to point-neuron, to population-statistical approaches. Leveraging the SONATA file format and existing software such as NEURON, NEST, and others, BMTK offers a consistent user experience across multiple levels of resolution. It permits highly sophisticated simulations to be set up with little coding required, thus lowering entry barriers to new users. We illustrate successful applications of BMTK to large-scale simulations of a cortical area. BMTK is an open-source package provided as a resource supporting modeling-based discovery in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kael Dai
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Yazan N. Billeh
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Richard Xu
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Binghuang Cai
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Cain
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Atle E. Rimehaug
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences & University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Gaute T. Einevoll
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences & University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stefan Mihalas
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Christof Koch
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Anton Arkhipov
- Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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3
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Activity-dependent compensation of cell size is vulnerable to targeted deletion of ion channels. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15989. [PMID: 32994529 PMCID: PMC7524806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72977-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In many species, excitable cells preserve their physiological properties despite significant variation in physical size across time and in a population. For example, neurons in crustacean central pattern generators generate similar firing patterns despite several-fold increases in size between juveniles and adults. This presents a biophysical problem because the electrical properties of cells are highly sensitive to membrane area and channel density. It is not known whether specific mechanisms exist to sense membrane area and adjust channel expression to keep a consistent channel density, or whether regulation mechanisms that sense activity alone are capable of compensating cell size. We show that destabilising effects of growth can be specifically compensated by feedback mechanism that senses average calcium influx and jointly regulate multiple conductances. However, we further show that this class of growth-compensating regulation schemes is necessarily sensitive to perturbations that alter the expression of subsets of ion channel types. Targeted perturbations of specific ion channels can trigger a pathological response of the regulation mechanism and a failure of homeostasis. Our findings suggest that physiological regulation mechanisms that confer robustness to growth may be specifically vulnerable to deletions or mutations that affect subsets of ion channels.
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Hasselmo ME, Alexander AS, Hoyland A, Robinson JC, Bezaire MJ, Chapman GW, Saudargiene A, Carstensen LC, Dannenberg H. The Unexplored Territory of Neural Models: Potential Guides for Exploring the Function of Metabotropic Neuromodulation. Neuroscience 2020; 456:143-158. [PMID: 32278058 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The space of possible neural models is enormous and under-explored. Single cell computational neuroscience models account for a range of dynamical properties of membrane potential, but typically do not address network function. In contrast, most models focused on network function address the dimensions of excitatory weight matrices and firing thresholds without addressing the complexities of metabotropic receptor effects on intrinsic properties. There are many under-explored dimensions of neural parameter space, and the field needs a framework for representing what has been explored and what has not. Possible frameworks include maps of parameter spaces, or efforts to categorize the fundamental elements and molecules of neural circuit function. Here we review dimensions that are under-explored in network models that include the metabotropic modulation of synaptic plasticity and presynaptic inhibition, spike frequency adaptation due to calcium-dependent potassium currents, and afterdepolarization due to calcium-sensitive non-specific cation currents and hyperpolarization activated cation currents. Neuroscience research should more effectively explore possible functional models incorporating under-explored dimensions of neural function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Hasselmo
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Andrew S Alexander
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Alec Hoyland
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Jennifer C Robinson
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Marianne J Bezaire
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - G William Chapman
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Ausra Saudargiene
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Lucas C Carstensen
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Holger Dannenberg
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, United States
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Dai K, Hernando J, Billeh YN, Gratiy SL, Planas J, Davison AP, Dura-Bernal S, Gleeson P, Devresse A, Dichter BK, Gevaert M, King JG, Van Geit WAH, Povolotsky AV, Muller E, Courcol JD, Arkhipov A. The SONATA data format for efficient description of large-scale network models. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007696. [PMID: 32092054 PMCID: PMC7058350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing availability of comprehensive experimental datasets and of high-performance computing resources are driving rapid growth in scale, complexity, and biological realism of computational models in neuroscience. To support construction and simulation, as well as sharing of such large-scale models, a broadly applicable, flexible, and high-performance data format is necessary. To address this need, we have developed the Scalable Open Network Architecture TemplAte (SONATA) data format. It is designed for memory and computational efficiency and works across multiple platforms. The format represents neuronal circuits and simulation inputs and outputs via standardized files and provides much flexibility for adding new conventions or extensions. SONATA is used in multiple modeling and visualization tools, and we also provide reference Application Programming Interfaces and model examples to catalyze further adoption. SONATA format is free and open for the community to use and build upon with the goal of enabling efficient model building, sharing, and reproducibility. Neuroscience is experiencing a rapid growth of data streams characterizing composition, connectivity, and activity of brain networks in ever increasing details. Data-driven modeling will be essential to integrate these multimodal and complex data into predictive simulations to advance our understanding of brain function and mechanisms. To enable efficient development and sharing of such large-scale models utilizing diverse data types, we have developed the Scalable Open Network Architecture TemplAte (SONATA) data format. The format represents neuronal circuits and simulation inputs and outputs via standardized files and provides much flexibility for adding new conventions or extensions. SONATA is already supported by several popular tools for model building, simulations, and visualization. It is free and open for everyone to use and build upon and will enable increased efficiency, reproducibility, and scientific exchange in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kael Dai
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Juan Hernando
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yazan N. Billeh
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sergey L. Gratiy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Judit Planas
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andrew P. Davison
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience UMR, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Salvador Dura-Bernal
- State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, United States of America
| | - Padraig Gleeson
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrien Devresse
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin K. Dichter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Gevaert
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - James G. King
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Werner A. H. Van Geit
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arseny V. Povolotsky
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eilif Muller
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Denis Courcol
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anton Arkhipov
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Stimberg M, Brette R, Goodman DFM. Brian 2, an intuitive and efficient neural simulator. eLife 2019; 8:e47314. [PMID: 31429824 PMCID: PMC6786860 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Brian 2 allows scientists to simply and efficiently simulate spiking neural network models. These models can feature novel dynamical equations, their interactions with the environment, and experimental protocols. To preserve high performance when defining new models, most simulators offer two options: low-level programming or description languages. The first option requires expertise, is prone to errors, and is problematic for reproducibility. The second option cannot describe all aspects of a computational experiment, such as the potentially complex logic of a stimulation protocol. Brian addresses these issues using runtime code generation. Scientists write code with simple and concise high-level descriptions, and Brian transforms them into efficient low-level code that can run interleaved with their code. We illustrate this with several challenging examples: a plastic model of the pyloric network, a closed-loop sensorimotor model, a programmatic exploration of a neuron model, and an auditory model with real-time input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Stimberg
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la VisionParisFrance
| | - Romain Brette
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la VisionParisFrance
| | - Dan FM Goodman
- Department of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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