25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

ALGORITHMIC AESTHETICS Computer Models for Criticism and Design in the Arts

We begin our investigation of aesthetics by postulating a structurefor algorithms for criticizing or designing works of art. Thisstructure fixes both the basic components of criticism algorithmsand design algorithms and the relations of these components. Issuesin aesthetics are investigated in terms of the structure postulatedfor criticism algorithms and design algorithms.The main aesthetic concepts used in the postulated structure forboth criticism algorithms and design algorithms are description,interpretation, and evaluation. Each of these concepts is given aprecise definition in terms of the components of the algorithms.Description, interpretation, and evaluation also play a centralrole in more traditional investigations of aesthetics such as Beardsley's.Beardsley is concerned with the classification of statementsmade by critics about works of art as "critical descriptions," "criticalinterpretations," and "critical evaluation