Synthetic Neurobiology Advait Patil Background Each cubic millimeter

Synthetic Neurobiology Advait Patil

Background -Each cubic millimeter of your brain contains over a hundred thousand cells and over a billion synapses -Synthetic Neurobiology is an approach to map the molecules and dynamics of the brain -Aims to understand the mechanisms of brain function

What is it (cont. )? -Synthetic Neurobiology creates tools for the systematic analysis of brain computations -Wants to yield new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders

Optogenetics -The main area of interest in Synthetic Neurobiology is optogenetics -Optogenetics is the use of light to stimulate cells, or in this case neurons

Optogenetics http: //video. mit. edu/watch/optogenetics-a-light-switch-for-neurons-7752/

Researchers Dr. Ed Boyden - Researcher at MIT -Pioneer in the field -Created a synthetic neurobiology group -Now directs a lab focused on this and optogenetics If you are interested, there is a TED Talk that he gave.

Research 3 Main Categories: -Tools for mapping brain computations -Analyzing and fixing brain computations -Tools for controlling brain computations Many of the tools developed are open-source and available on the web.

Further Links http: //www. g 2 conline. org/ (3 D Brain Model) http: //syntheticneurobiology. org (main website) http: //www. ted. com/talks/ed_boyden? language=en (TED Talk)

THANKS FOR WATCHING! Questio ns?