Experimental and computational electrophysiology

Neural transmission and processing in the Nervous System is made through electrical messages between neuron assemblies arranged in circuits. Their complexity, and the large amount and variability of data flow are required to code numerous physical variables in a continuous manner. Part of this activity is picked up by local field potentials (LFPs), and, in turn part of these are picked up in the surface EEG. Our team has developed a technique capable of reading the activity contributed by each different neuron population to LFPs/EEG. We use it to study (a) neural mechanisms of cognition and (b) their pathological alterations (migraine, brain stroke, neurodegeneration, epilepsy), with the purpose of detecting abnormal activity in early phases of brain illness, even ahead of external symptoms.

Ours is a team devoted to study brain electrophysiology and uses multidisciplinary approaches, and has accrued a variety of members with diverse background and training (biology, physics, mathematics, and informatics). We lean toward the biophysical mechanisms of neural processing and their abnormal manifestations in pathology.

Lines of research:

1. Transmission of normal and abnormal activity through cortico-hipocampal circuits: basal irregular or rhythmic activities in identified neuron populations and pathways.

2. Cellular and subcellular bases of LFPs and the EEG: contribution by diverse neuron generators (neuron subtypes and pathways).

3. Application to the electrophysiological study of neuropathology and brain dysfunction in general (Alzheimer, Ictus, Epilepsy, migraine).

4. Computational models of neurons and circuits.

Techniques:

• Electrophysiology (high density multielectrode recording, intracellular recording), math analysis (independent components), and computer modelling.

Keywords:

• LFP, EEG, neural sources, spontaneous activity, basal activity, abnormal activity, network oscillations, irregular activity, hippocampus, cortex, ictus, stroke, Alzheimer, migraine, epilepsy neuron models.