[Hplusroadmap] Fwd: [neuro] Connectionists: Modeling the impact of astrocyte-neuron metabolic interactions on neural activity

[Bryan Bishop]

Astrocyte-neuron metabolic interactions has an important relation to the 
metabolic constraints found in autistic brains. Answering "why" the 
brain is organized in this manner would be interesting, but it was my 
understanding that we're still poking around regarding the how. Maybe 
not?

http://heybryan.org/intense_world_syndrome.html

Also, I find it amusing that the requirements for the masters student:

- Strong theoretical background (mathematics, physics or equivalent).
- Knowledge of the Python programming language, MATLAB an asset.
- Basic knowledge of biology and neuroscience.
- Interested in combining theoretical tools with in vivo experiments to 
address key questions in neuroscience.
- Fluent in English.

are practically the description of the majority of people on this list. 

- Bryan

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: [neuro] Connectionists: Open position for a MSc student :: 
Modeling the impact of astrocyte-neuron metabolic interactions on 
neural activity
Date: Thursday 05 June 2008
From: Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org>
To: neuro at postbiota.org

----- Forwarded message from Renaud Jolivet 
<rjolivet at pharma.uzh.ch> -----

From: Renaud Jolivet <rjolivet at pharma.uzh.ch>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 10:20:06 +0200
To: connectionists at cs.cmu.edu, comp-neuro at neuroinf.org
Subject: Connectionists: Open position for a MSc student :: Modeling the
 impact of astrocyte-neuron metabolic interactions on neural activity
X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro WebUser v5.1.11

Apologies for cross postings.

The group of Prof Bruno Weber (University of Zurich, Institute of 
Pharmacology and Toxicology) is looking for a talented and motivated 
Masters student for a computational neuroscience project aimed at 
understanding the energetic constraints of neuronal activity.

The brain uses glucose as its primary energy substrate. Surprisingly 
however, neurons use lactate – a glucose derivative – rather than 
glucose has their main energy fuel. Lactate is being produced in 
astrocytes from blood-borne glucose and is then shuttled to neurons 
instantiating a metabolic connection between astrocytes and neurons. 
Since this mechanism was originally postulated in 1994, its existence 
has been the subject of a much heated controversy. We have recently 
demonstrated using mathematical analysis that this lactate shuttle does 
take place in vivo, is of significant importance and is regulated by 
the activity of excitatory neurons as originally postulated. This 
leaves open the question as to why brain energetic is organized in this 
fashion. This question is being addressed in the group at the moment 
using a combination of in vivo experiments and modeling. With this 
project, we wish to open a new line of research focusing on the role of 
this lactate shuttle in the regulation of neuronal activity, a 
mechanism recently described in vitro.

The project will consist of developing, simulating and analyzing a 
network model containing different neuronal and astrocytic 
subpopulations. Energetic constraints and regulatory mechanisms will be 
integrated in the network by progressively increasing the complexity of 
astrocyte–neuron metabolic interactions.

This project will make use of the newly developed Brian simulation tool 
(http://brian.di.ens.fr/) and will be run in collaboration with Dr 
Romain Brette at Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris who developed Brian.

Requirements

- Strong theoretical background (mathematics, physics or equivalent).
- Knowledge of the Python programming language, MATLAB an asset.
- Basic knowledge of biology and neuroscience.
- Interested in combining theoretical tools with in vivo experiments to 
address key questions in neuroscience.
- Fluent in English.

Contact

Please contact Dr Renaud Jolivet by e-mail at rjolivet at pharma.uzh.ch or 
by phone at +41 44 255 3632. Further information about the group can be 
found at http://www.pharma.uzh.ch/research/functionalimaging.html

--
Dr Renaud Jolivet
Roche Research Fellow
University of Zurich
Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology

University Hospital Zürich
Nuclear Medicine
Rämistrasse 100
CH-8091 Zürich

Tel: +41 76 437 9798

rjolivet at pharma.uzh.ch
http://www.pharma.uzh.ch/research/functionalimaging/members/jolivet.html

----- End forwarded message -----
-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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