Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience (Aug 2022)

Reproducing a decision-making network in a virtual visual discrimination task

  • Alessandra Trapani,
  • Francesco Jamal Sheiban,
  • Elisa Bertone,
  • Serena Chiosso,
  • Luca Colombo,
  • Matteo D'Andrea,
  • Francesco De Santis,
  • Francesca Fati,
  • Veronica Fossati,
  • Victor Gonzalez,
  • Alessandra Pedrocchi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.930326
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

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We reproduced a decision-making network model using the neural simulator software neural simulation tool (NEST), and we embedded the spiking neural network in a virtual robotic agent performing a simulated behavioral task. The present work builds upon the concept of replicability in neuroscience, preserving most of the computational properties in the initial model although employing a different software tool. The proposed implementation successfully obtains equivalent results from the original study, reproducing the salient features of the neural processes underlying a binary decision. Furthermore, the resulting network is able to control a robot performing an in silico visual discrimination task, the implementation of which is openly available on the EBRAINS infrastructure through the neuro robotics platform (NRP).

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