Newcastle University

Research Interests

Theoretical and computational neuroanatomy
Construction of local cortical circuits
Computational theories of local cortical circuits

Current Work

Technological scaling constantly increases the speed of computing hardware and reaches the point were the accurate simulation of a small mouse brain becomes feasible (e.g. BlueBrain, FACETS, SyNAPSE, SpiNNaker). However, this does not mean that we now know how to actually build a functioning brain that is able to make complex decisions based on complex sensory data. Here are some key questions in Neuroscience that still need an answer:

• What are the relevant computational principles for cortical information processing?
• What are appropriate circuit architectures to implement these computations?
• What are the interconnect principles for fast, robust and energy efficient signal routing in massively distributed systems?

I use realistic anatomical circuit modeling to find solutions to these answers. In this approach, detailed cortical circuit architectures are modeled based on the 3-d branching structure of reconstructed neurons. These circuits are then investigated using graph theory, dynamic system theory and computer simulations.

Esteem Indicators

Conferences and Workshops (invited):

• The Capo Caccia Workshop toward Cognitive Neuromorphic Engineering, Sardinia, 2009
• The Capo Caccia Workshop toward Cognitive Neuromorphic Engineering, Sardinia, 2008
• Bayesian Workshop. Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH, 2007.
• SECO Introductory meeting. Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH, 2007.
• FACETS/DAISY meeting. Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH, 2007.
• INE-INI Workshop: Processing and generation of temporal signals in neuronal and neuromorphic systems. Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH, 2005.
• DAISY meeting, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich, CH, 2005
• New Perspectives on Visual Cortex. Tobermory, Isle of Mull, UK, 2004.

Funding

I am involved in the following grants:

• EU Grant DAISY: Neocortical Daisy Architectures and Graphical Models for Context-Dependent Processing
• EU Grant SECO: Self-Reconstructing Computing Systems

Undergraduate Teaching

• PSY2011 Methods in Psychology B (module leader)
• PSY3096/3097 3rd year Research Projects
• NEU8003 MRes module Sensory Systems and Imaging (Lecture 'Cortical Circuits' and Neuroanatomy practical)

• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. Topology and dynamics of the canonical circuit of cat V1. Neural Networks 2009, 22(8), 1071-1078.
• Binzegger T. The secret language of siblings (News and Views). Nature Neuroscience 2009, 12(5), 532-534.
• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. Stereotypical bouton clustering of individual neurons in cat primary visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience 2007, 27(45), 12242-12254.
• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. An axonal perspective on cortical circuits (to appear). 2008.
• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. Axons in cat visual cortex ere topologically self-similar. Cerebral Cortex 2005, 15(2), 152-165.
• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. Cortical architecture. In: Brain, Vision, and Artificial Intelligence: First International Symposium.2005,Naples, Italy:Springer
• Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. A quantitative map of the circuit of cat primary visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience 2004,24 39 8441-8453.
• Anderson JC, Binzegger T, Douglas RJ, Martin KAC. Chance or design? : Some specific considerations concerning synaptic boutons in cat visual cortex. Journal of Neurocytology 2002, 31(3-5), 211-229.
• Anderson J.C., Binzegger T., Kahana O., Martin K.A.C., Segev I. Dendritic asymmetry cannot account for directional responses of neurons in visual cortex.. Nat Neurosci 1999, 2(9), 820-824.
• Anderson J.C., Binzegger T., Martin K.A.C., Rockland K.S. The connection from cortical area V1 to V5: a light and electron microscopic study.. J Neurosci 1998, 18(24), 10525-10540.