David Halliday - Home Page

Computational Neuroscience & Neural Computing.

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Research
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Overview

Welcome to the home page for David Halliday, describing research in Computational Neuroscience and Neural Computing. Topics include:

Multivariate statistical signal processing for analysis of neural signals
Spiking neural networks (SNNs)
Spiking astrocyte-neuron networks (SANNs)
Neuromorphic computing

Background to Computational Neuroscience

Founding of the Neuron Doctrine

Figure shows drawing of individual neurons by Santiago Ramón y Cajal. Different neurons types are labelled with different letters.

"Against a clear background stood black threadlets, some slender and smooth, some thick and thorny ... All was sharp as a sketch with Chinese ink on transparent Japanese paper ... A look was enough - dumfounded I could not take my eye from the microscope."

The words of Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934) in 1887, when he looked through a microscope at a section of neural tissue stained with a silver preparation which had been developed by Camillo Golgi in 1873.

Cajal was the first to propose the view that the nervous system consists of billions of independent neurons. Cajal's work resulted in the formulation of the “Neuron Doctrine”, and the founding of the modern era in neuroscience. Cajal and Golgi shared the 1906 Nobel prize in Medicine for their work.

What is Computational Neuroscience?

Computational Neuroscience aims to understand the structure and function of the nervous system through mathematical analysis of neural signals, and modelling of the electrical activity in single neurons and networks of neurons. It in an interdisciplinary area involving the physical sciences (Engineering, Computing, Mathematics, Statistics) and life sciences (Neuroscience, Psychology, Neurophysiology).

"It is these boundary regions of science which offer the richest opportunities to the qualified investigator" (Norbert Wiener, In: Cybernetics, MIT 1948)

Use the tabs above to explore our work in this area.

Statistical signal processing for neural signals

Figure shows 2 seconds of EEG recorded over the motor cortex of an individual making a wrist extension after 0.5s. The random nature of this signal is characteristic of neural signals, there are no obvious features in the EEG. Statistical signal processing techniques are needed to detect interesting features. We make extensive use of time and frequency methods using the discrete Fourier transform.

"The frequency approach, which leads to the spectrum, has been the principal method of opening the black boxes of nature." Richard Hamming.

We use a range of approaches: Spectra, coherence and phase, multivariate analysis using partial spectra and partial coherence. Non stationary analysis using analytic wavelets and single trial analysis using multiwavelets. For analysis over long time scales we have developed an efficient method for spectral tracking using Kalman filtering of spectra and coherence. Non linear analysis using higher order spectra. Time domain measures include cumulant/covariance and partial cumulant. We have developed an empirical approach for directional decomposition of coherence: Non-parametric directionality (NPD) which decomposes coherence into forward, reverse and zero lag components. Multivariate methods include graphical network analyses using partial coherence and NPD.

Applications areas include control of movement and electrophysiological signal analysis.

Spiking neural networks and neuromorphic computing

Many of our statistical signal processing techniques can be applied to neural spike train data, providing a framework within which to characterise and quantify the behaviour of spiking neural networks (SNNs).

Spiking astrocyte neuron networks

The SPANNER project (Self-rePAiring spiking Neural NEtwoRk) explored how spiking-astrocyte neural networks can be used to develop fault tolerant neurmorphic computing.

An overview of the SPANNER project is here.
Results from SPANNER are available here.

For further reading on these topics see publications tab.

See external links for full lists of publications. Below are selected publications for different research areas.

Neural signal processing:

Invited reviews in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology: DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Pooled coherence analysis: DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Partial coherence analysis: DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Invited book chapters: Citations, PDF1, PDF2.
Non parametric directionality (NPD):
DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2; DOI3, PDF3.
Brain network inference using phase lag index (PLI): DOI, PDF.
Wavelet methods: DOI, PDF,
Multiwavelet single trial analysis: DOI, PDF.
Optimal spectral tracking using Kalman filering: DOI, PDF.

Control of movement:

Coherence analysis of single motor units during voluntary contractions: DOI, PDF.
First publication of corticomuscular coherence in humans:

Using MEG: DOI, PDF.
Using EEG: DOI, PDF.

Neurogenic components of physiological tremor: DOI, PDF.
Functional modulation of motor unit coupling during gait: DOI, PDF.
Developmental profile of corticospinal coherence: DOI.
Changes in corticospinal drive following stroke: DOI.
Relationship between arm swing and gait: DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Spinal cord injury: DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2; DOI3, PDF3.

Electrophysiological studies:

Male-female differences in learned fear expression:
DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Effects of early life adversity on cognitive-emotional interactions in adulthood: DOI1, DOI2.
Coexistence of gamma and high-frequency oscillations in hippocampus: DOI, PDF.
Rhythmogenesis in cortico-basal ganglia circuits of the parkinsonian rat: DOI, PDF.

SNNs and Neuromorphic computing:

Generation of correlated spike trains: DOI, PDF.
Modulation of neural bandwidth by correlated inputs: DOI, PDF.
Hippocampus inspired spatial navigation SNNs:
DOI1, PDF1; DOI2, PDF2.
Fault tolerant SNNs - SPANNER publications are here.

Software and Downloads

NeuroSpec is an archive of MATLAB routines for multivariate Fourier analysis of time series point process data. It has been designed for analysis of neural time series, including EEG, MEG, EMG, Local Field Potential (LFP), kinematic (e.g. tremor) and single unit data. The techniques have broad applicability, so will be suited to other types of time series or event data. Neurospec (previously at https://www.neurospec.org/) is at: https://github.com/dmhalliday/NeuroSpec

Modeling in the Neurosciences

The data that accompanies chapter 20 of the book "Modeling in the Neurosciences" is available as MATLAB and text files.

  ReadMe file is here (txt)
  MATLAB file is here (ZIP, 921Kb)
         Text file is here (ZIP, 1492Kb)

Citation: Halliday, DM (2005) Spike-train analysis for neural systems. In: Modeling in the Neurosciences (2nd edition), Eds: Reeke GN et al. CRC Press, Ch 20, pp 555-579, ISBN 0415328683.