Computational Neuroscience

Prof. Markus Diesmann’s group develops mathematical models of the brain. As in other natural sciences, these models comprise detailed information about both structure and dynamics: neuroscientists generate models based on physiological data about brain components, e.g. neurons and their connections (synapses), anatomical data on larger neuronal networks as well as on knowledge of brain activity. Given the brain’s immense complexity, such models have to be simulated on the world’s largest supercomputers. The comparison with experimental data allows for an evaluation of the hypothesized relationship between network architecture and brain activity.

Besides predicting the brain’s functionality from computer simulations, Prof. Diesmann’s group focuses on theoretical foundations of neural activity and plasticity. On the more technical side, the scientists develop simulation technology for the field of computational neuroscience. Prof. Diesmann and his group are members of the NEST initiative (www.nest-initiative.org), which develops one of the world’s leading simulation codes (NEST) which is also used in the EU Flagship Human Brain Project. In close collaboration with the Simulation Lab Neuroscience at Forschungszentrum Jülich, NEST is adapted for the next generation of supercomputers.

Prof. Diesmann is the director of the Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6), Computational and Systems Neuroscience, and the Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6), Theoretical Neuroscience at Forschungzentrum Jülich. He is leading the Computational Neurophysics working group. The collaboration with RWTH Aachen University is supported by JARA BRAIN. Prof. Diesmann is one of the three directors of the JARA-BRAIN Institute "Structure function relationship".

Publications of Professor Markus Diesmann Ph.D.