How do you inform the design of a neural implant before you put it in a human head?

You need a virtual brain that can

simulate how the implant behaves in wet-ware
provide quantitative feedback on the implant's performance
speed up the development cycle

In the ensuing in-vivo testing (animal or human) this simulation framework will be crucial for

correct interpretation of experimental results
finding solutions to problems revealed by experiments
determining the most informative experiment to do next
design and optimization of calibration procedures after human implantation

Core technologies

We have developed a highly automated simulation workflow for rapid prototyping of brain models and the associated experimental context, as well as a toolkit for efficient exchange of results. Using this framework, we have developed the most comprehensive model of early visual system of higher-mammals. We have further extended this model to a detailed account of cortico-thalamic loop, and the first neural-based simulation of optogenetic visual prosthesis.

Team

We are neuroscientists/engineers who are driven by the belief that exploring the brain is the most urgent and important challenge of this century.

Domenico Guarino
Jan Antolik