Aldana M. González-Montoro, Ricardo Cao, Nelson Espinosa, Javier Cudeiro, Jorge Mariño
Plinio Andrade, Laura Rifo, Soledad Torres, Francisco Torres-Avilés
News
| Dec 01, 2015
To create mathematical models that represent the dynamics of complex networks, and predict their behavior, is a major challenge for scientists from different fields. In a broader conceptual framework, these models are part of what is called the theory of random graphs. "There is a worldwide effort to use this type of tool in modeling brain function, but the mathematical basis for this endeadvor is still weak. Our goal is to develop a new mathematics, that would serve as a language to express the problems of neurobiology," said Antonio Galves, professor at the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo (IME-USP) and coordinator of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics (NeuroMat), one of the RIDCs that are supported by FAPESP. Report by Karina Toledo, Agência FAPESP, 12/1/2015. (In Portuguese)
To make sense of neural connectivity is among the key challenges in neuroscience. This remains fundamentally a neuromathematical challenge, to the extent that the mathematical theory to understand patterns of connectivity is still to be made, but also also a communicational challenge, since it requires the bridging of relevant but still unconnected fields, such as experimental neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, functional imaging, probability, statistics and computer science. These two challenges are the core of the scientific project of FAPESP’s Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics (RIDC NeuroMat), which held from November 23 to 27 the workshop “Random Graphs in the Brain,” at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
NeuroMat's dissemination team members have led the project "Connecting Science and Public Schools," which involved the organizing of scientific projects in four public schools in São Paulo. The video was produced by Ivanir Ferreira, from USP Online, and published on November, 27. The original posting is available here.
