Principal Investigator Mriganka Sur
Specific rules underlie the generation and maintenance of cortical networks. These include principles of balanced excitation and inhibition, homeostasis or regulation of total drive, and synaptic plasticity based on patterns of input and output activity. We are examining several of these rules in isolation or in combination. The experiments utilize novel materials and technologies to grow networks in vitro, in which we can control the size, neuronal density, linkage, or the efficacy of synaptic connections.