ASU-Barrow Neuro-Engineering & Computational Neuroscience Symposium

Distributed Models of Motor Cortical Activity

The usual way to describe brain function is by analogy to electronic circuits. Individual brain circuit components are depicted as boxes to represent discrete brain structures. Like parts in a machine, each structure has a different purpose. A connected set of boxes forms a circuit. Arrows, depicting fiber pathways, connect these boxes to show information routing between them. An arrow into a box is input, with exiting arrows signifying output. As in an elementary circuit analysis, the box transforms input to output. Positive signs represent excitatory input and vice versa for inhibition.

This entrenched modular framework has some descriptive value, especially for clinical disorders, and is attractive because causality is straightforward. However, this circuit-centric “boxology” has limited explanatory value and continues to impede progress toward understanding brain function. Neurons in the CNS receive synaptic input from widespread sources; how this input is integrated to propagate signals and perform functional operations is an unsolved and fundamental problem in neuroscience. This issue cannot be resolved anatomically, since each CNS neuron receives thousands of inputs, most of which are silent at any instant. Neurons in different structures can be driven by the same combination of inputs and are observed to fire in much the same way during behavioral tasks, essentially removing the boundaries between different structures. Even though assigning causal roles to different structures may have clinical relevance, it has limited scientific merit.

The motor cortex is a prime example of this problem. Neurons in this part of the primate brain are commonly labeled as “upper motoneurons” because they are thought to cause muscle contraction directly. Indeed, a portion of these neurons have direct anatomical connectivity to alpha motoneurons in the spinal cord. A cerebral stroke in this brain region can lead to paralysis. However, these seemingly straightforward construct is not well-supported by careful scientific studies. Instead of assumed modularity, recent studies recognize widespread collective patterns of correlated neural activiry during active behavior. These network-based studies do not rely on a priori assumptions of causality and provide a new way to describe functioning in neural systems. I will describe recent work using this approach to show how widespread common input can drive neurons in the motor cortex during reaching.

• Andreas Spanias, PhD – Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, ASU
• Andrew Yang, MD, MS – Neurosurgery; Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Antonia Papandreou-Suppappola, PhD – Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, ASU
• Ashley Stokes, PhD – Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Barbara Smith, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Bradley Greger, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Brian Smith, PhD – Neurobiology, ASU
• Gene Brewer, PhD – Psychology; Life Sciences, ASU
• Hamidreza Marvi, PhD – Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, ASU
• Jitendran Muthuswamy, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Jonathon Parker, MD, PhD – Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic
• Kevin King, MD, MSCS – Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Leon Iasemidis, PhD – Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Marco Santello, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Mark Preul, MD – Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Pavan Turaga, PhD – Arts Media and Engineering; Electrical, Computer, & Energy Engineering, ASU
• Richard Dortch, PhD – Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Rosalind Sadleir, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Shaopeng Wang, PhD – Biological and Health Systems Engineering, ASU
• Sharon Crook, PhD – Mathematical and Statistical Sciences; Neurobiology, ASU
• Stephen Foldes, PhD – Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Visar Berisha, PhD – Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering; Health Solutions, ASU
• William McCuddy, PhD – Clinical Neuropsychology; Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute
• Wonsuk Yoo, PhD – Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute

Who: Graduate students, post-docs, and research scientists whose home lab is at ASU, Barrow, or other academic institutions in Phoenix, and whose research is focused on neuro-engineering (BME, EE, CS, etc.), as well as quantitative/computational aspects of clinical, translational, and basic neuroscience/psychology.

Submission date: Due to space constraints, we are limited to approximately 25 posters. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until Thursday 3/14/24 12pm. 

Poster size: 36” x 48”. Poster size can be smaller than suggested, although it is best to keep the poster as big as possible so key details are visible. 

Template: We encourage you to use the template or format that works best for you. You are welcome to use your institution’s template. Some poster templates & examples:

• https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/students/graduate-students/scientific-poster-design
• https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2023/call-for-abstracts/presenter-resources/poster-presentations

How to Make: You can use free PowerPoint templates that are available online. General guidelines:

• Caption your presentation with its title and author(s). All printing should be large enough and bold enough to be read from three feet away. Titles should be readable from six feet. 
• Arrange material in sensible fashion. Try not to present so much material that your poster appears cluttered.

How to Print: There are 2 options for printing:

1. Free printing at Barrow. Email your poster as a .pdf file to Kolby.Kelly@CommonSpirit.org and list the cost center as the ASU-Barrow neuro-engineering symposium. Posters can be picked up at registration on the day of the symposium. You will need to send it BEFORE 7:00 AM on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 to allow time for printing. 
2. If you are not able to meet the above deadline for printing at Barrow, printing is the responsibility of the abstract author(s), including payment, timing, approval of poster, pick-up, etc. You can use Staples, FedEx, or any other printing services business. The closest FedEx location to Barrow is: https://local.fedex.com/en-us/az/phoenix/office-2306

Set up & presenting: Posters will be on display in the Marley Lobby (outside of the Goldman Auditorium) for the duration of the symposium (9:30 AM – 5:00 PM). The boards are carpet material, so pushpins will be provided to set up. 

Presenting author(s) must set up posters between 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM. The following times are designated for author(s) to present posters (8:30 – 9:30 AM; 11:00 – 11:30 AM; 12:30 – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 3:15 PM).

Awards: Two posters will be selected for abstract awards