Brain Criticality – Optimizing Neural Computations
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Artem is my name. I am a student and researcher in computational neuroscience. This video discusses the concept of critical points – the way the brain can optimize information processing when it hovers near a phase change.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/artemkirsanov.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtemKRSV

OUTLINE:
00:00 Introduction.
01:11 — Transitions between phases in nature
05:05 – The Ising Model
09:33 — Long-range communication and correlation length.
13:14 — Scale free properties and power laws
20:20 — Neuronal avalanches.
25:00 — The branching-model
31:05 — Optimizing the transmission of information
34:06 — Brilliant.org.
35:41 — Recap & Outro

The book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262544030/the-cortex-and-the-critical-point/

REFERENCES (in no particular order):
1. Zimmern, V. Why brain criticality is clinically relevant: A scoping review. Front. Neural Circuits 14, 54 (2020).
2. Beggs, J. M. Local cortical networks and information processing: a criticality hypothesis. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 366329-343 (2008).
3. Beggs, J. M. Understanding the power of emergence: The cortex and critical point. The MIT Press, 2022).
4. Heffern, E. F. W.; Huelskamp H.; Bahar S. Proc. R. Soc. B. 288, 20211111 (2021).
5. Beggs, J. M. & Plenz D. Neuronal avalanches in neocortical circuits. J. Neurosci. 23, 11167-11177 (2003).
6. Avramiea A.-E. Masood A. Mansvelder H. D. and Linkenkaer Hansen K. Long Range Amplitude Coupling is Optimized for Networks that Function at Criticality. J. Neurosci. 42, 2221-2233 (2022).
7. O’Byrne, J. How critical is brain vitality? Trends in Neurosciences, 45820-837 (2022).
8. Haldeman, C. & Beggs J. M. Critical branching captures activity in living neural networks and maximizes the number of metastable states. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 058101 (2005).
9. Beggs J. M. Criticality and the brain. Frontiers in Physiology.

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