The seminars held in the context of the “Neuroscience and Neuromodeling” course are open to anyone who is interested in these topics. Please check the details below and feel free to show up, however, due to capacity constraints, please drop me an email to Alexandre Andrade (aandrade@fc.ul.pt) if you are planning to go. Thanks!
/Alexandre Andrade
"Integrating Network Science and Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience and Medicine"
Nov 14th, 13:00, room 8.2.15
Speaker: Prof. Sérgio Pequito, LaSEEB, ISR, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
Bio:
Sérgio Pequito is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, and a principal investigator in the Evolutionary Systems and Biomedical Engineering Lab at the Institute for Systems and Robotics in Lisbon. Pequito's research consists of understanding the global qualitative behavior of large-scale systems from their structural or parametric descriptions and provides a rigorous framework for the design, analysis, optimization, and control of large-scale systems. His interests span neuroscience and biomedicine, where dynamical systems, control theory, and artificial intelligence can be leveraged to develop new analysis tools for brain dynamics toward effective personalized medicine and improve bidirectional interfaces. Pequito is an IEEE senior member and was awarded the best student paper finalist in the 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (2009) and the 2016 O. Hugo Schuck Award in the Theory Category by the American Automatic Control Council.
Abstract: This presentation tackles the challenge of decoding the brain's intricate structures and its connection to neurological disorders and human behavior. It underscores the transformative role of network science and dynamical systems theory in analyzing and interpreting neuroimaging data, such as fMRI and EEG, proposing a paradigm shift in neuroscience and medicine through the advancement of brain-computer and brain-machine-brain interfaces. These innovations hold the potential to introduce new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches, ultimately enhancing patient care and quality of life.
The first section of the presentation investigates the link between blood oxygenation level-dependent correlations (functional connectivity) and the brain’s anatomical structure (structural connectivity). It introduces a methodology capable of accurately predicting functional connectivity, emphasizing the critical influence of indirect structural pathways.
The second section explores the dynamic aspects of brain function, applying fractional dynamical network models to capture the memory processes underlying brain activities. This approach reveals varying levels of memory dependencies across different brain regions, providing deeper insights into brain function in both health and disease states, and paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
Finally, the talk outlines future challenges and the potential of this research to drive revolutionary changes in neuroscience and medical diagnostics, promising impactful progress in treating neurological conditions and improving patient outcomes.