Building on models—a perspective for computational neuroscience

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Abstract
Neural circuit models are essential for integrating observations of the nervous system into a consistent whole. Public sharing of well-documented codes for such models facilitates further development. Nevertheless, scientific practice in computational neuroscience suffers from replication problems and little re-use of circuit models. One exception is a data-driven model of early sensory cortex by Potjans and Diesmann that has advanced computational neuroscience as a building block for more complex models. As a widely accepted benchmark for correctness and performance, the model has driven the development of CPU-based, GPU-based, and neuromorphic simulators. On the 10th anniversary of the publication of this model, experts convened at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg Cultures of Research at RWTH Aachen University to reflect on the reasons for the model’s success, its effect on computational neuroscience and technology development, and the perspectives this offers for the future of computational neuroscience. This report summarizes the observations by the workshop participants.
Funding Information
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (491111487)
  • European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (800858)
  • Forschungszentrum Jülich (JINB33)
  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01IS19077B, 03ZU1106CA, 16ME0399)
  • Helmholtz Association’s Initiative and Networking Fund
  • Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (303359/2022-6)
  • São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics (2013/07699-0)
  • Canadian National Research Council (NSERC) and the government of Ontario
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/X011151/1, EP/S030964/1, EP/V052241/1, EP/P006094/1)
  • Helmholtz Platform for Research Software Engineering—Preparatory Study (LS-2022-GR-40-2648)
  • Priority Program SPP 2041 “Computational Connectomics” of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • European Research Council (268689)
  • European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (101147319)
  • Joint Lab “Supercomputing and Modeling for the Human Brain,” (945539, 785907, 720270)

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