Main description:

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the incredible advances achieved in the study of in vitro neuronal networks for use in basic and applied research. These cultures of dissociated neurons offer a perfect trade-off between complex experimental models and theoretical modeling approaches giving new opportunities for experimental design but also providing new challenges in data management and interpretation. Topics include culturing methodologies, neuroengineering techniques, stem cell derived neuronal networks, techniques for measuring network activity, and recent improvements in large-scale data analysis. The book ends with a series of case studies examining potential applications of these technologies.

Contents:

Section I: In vitro neuronal cultures: experimental models and preparation procedures
1. Primary cultures from different brain areas and co-cultures methodologies (G. J. Brewer - TheHenry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA - UNCONFIRMED)2. Stem cells (M. Frega - Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands - CONFIRMED)3. From 2D to 3D and beyond (S. Narkilahti, J. Tanskanen - Tampere University of Technology,Tampere, Finland - CONFIRMED)4. Engineered neuronal networks (Bruce Wheeler -University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USa -CONFIRMED)5. Pathology models (J. Le Feber - University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands - CONFIRMED)
Section II: Recording methods
1. Historical perspective on MEA methodology (S. Martinoia - University of Genova, Genova, Italy -CONFIRMED)2. High Density MEAs (U. Frey, A. Hierlemann - ETH Zurich, Switzerland - CONFIRMED)3. Multi-site intracellular recordings (M. Spira - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel -CONFIRMED)4. Organic transistor-based MEAs (A. Bonfiglio, A. Spanu - University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy -CONFIRMED)5. Application of polydimethylsiloxane microchannel technology to MEA (A. Blau, R. Habibey, A.Golabchi - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy - CONFIRMED)
Section III: Data analysis methods
1. Spike detection methodologies for in vitro systems (M. Hennig - The University of Edinburgh, UK- CONFIRMED)2. Burst detection methods (E. Cotterill, S. J. Eglen - University of Cambridge, UK - CONFIRMED)3. Functional connectivity (P. Massobrio, V. P. Pastore - University of Genova, Genova, Italy -CONFIRMED)4. Spatio-temporal pattern analysis (V. Pasquale - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy -CONFIRMED)5. Algo suites (M. Mahmud, S. Vassanelli - University of Padova, Padova, Italy - CONFIRMED)6. Calcium imaging recording and analysis (P. Bonifazi - Ikerbasque, Bilbao, Spain - CONFIRMED)
Section IV: Applications (case studies)
1. Neurotoxicology (T. J. Shafer - US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC,USA - CONFIRMED)2. Assessment and simulation on developing networks from embryonic stem cells and primaryneurons (J. Hyttinen, E. Kapucu - Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland -CONFIRMED)3. Structure, function and dynamics of cultured networks (T. De Marse - UNC School of Medicine,Chapel Hill, NC, USA - CONFIRMED)4. Information processing in mammalian axons (M. Radivojevic, D. Bakkum - ETH Zurich,Switzerland - CONFIRMED)5. Long-term activity dynamics of single neurons and networks (S. Reinartz - SISSA, Trieste, Italy -CONFIRMED)6. Sleep in a dish or sleep in vitro? (M. Tafti - University of Lausanne, Switzerland - CONFIRMED)7. Electrical and optical closed-loop systems (M. Giugliano - University of Antwerp, Belgium -CONFIRMED)8. Neuronal cultures with new nano-carbon materials (M. Bramini, F. Cesca, F. Benfenati - IstitutoItaliano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy - CONFIRMED)