SEMINARI:The fascinating world of in vitro neuronal cultures: complex networks, engineering, and biological computation

Speaker: Prof. Jordi Soriano, Universitat de Barcelona
Date and place: Wednesday May 31, 2023, 12 hs. Conference Room Edifici Gaia, Rambla St. Nebridi 22, UPC Campus Terrassa

Title: The fascinating world of in vitro neuronal cultures: complex networks, engineering, and biological computation
Abstract: Biological neurons grown in the laboratory in the form of neuronal cultures are one of the most compelling examples of a complex system, in which an ensemble of initially disconnected neurons is able to reconnect and form a de novo complex network within days. This network may exhibit different forms of collective activity that depend on the underpinned connectivity between neurons. By using resources from neuroengineering, one can control this connectivity and build in vitro systems that mimic key organizational features of the brain such as modularity. Such systems are useful not only to understand the emergence of collective behavior in neuronal assemblies, but also to design brain-on-chip models to explore and treat neurological disorders in a controlled manner. In this talk I will review the strategies that we have implemented in my laboratory at the University of Barcelona to prepare and analyze neuronal cultures for both the physics and medical communities. I will also introduce recent developments in the context of biological computation on biohybrid devices, where electronic and biological circuits interact with one another.