DBI 9808738; Jacobs, Gwen; Montana State University
NeuroSys is a prototype database developed under prior NSF funding which contains information about the anatomy and functional attributes of neurons. NeuroSys also contains information about measured and hypothetical relations between neurons. In addition an advanced visualization program for dynamic synthesis and animation of ensemble activity patterns has been integrated into this database environment. Finally, an advanced neural simulation program has also been integrated with this environment. Through the use of these advanced query and analysis tools, it is now possible to formulate queries which predict dynamic activity patterns of large neuronal ensembles across multiple processing stages within an animal's nervous system. These features elevate the utility of the database far beyond that of a sophisticated data repository, and provide an enabling tool for the formulation of hypotheses related to neural computation, plasticity and development. The general goals of this work are to extend the capabilities, transportability and general utility of this prototype system, and to distribute this system to all interested researchers in the neuroscience community. Specific aims are as follows:
Ñ The functionality of the graphical user interface and its links to data analysis programs will be enhanced by modification of the architecture to accommodate distributed data and new software tools more effectively, and to allow users to conduct complex queries without affecting the data of other users.
Ñ The data acquisition, analysis and query tools will be enhanced to accommodate several new data types, including a) Voxel-based representations of individual neurons and/or objects as density clouds derived from confocal microscope images, b) time-series data generated from single and multi-electrode recordings, and c) surface-rendered and vol- ume-rendered structures derived from microscope images of objects traced from sec- tioned tissue samples.
Ñ A link will be created between the database/workspace environment and three popular neural modeling programs.
Ñ New software tools will be implemented to facilitate the configuration of the system for other users. Those tools will include a program to generate and customize the query interface/GUI, and a program to generate database tables from a set of user-defined inputs
Ñ The user base will be extended to the general neuroscience research community. As part of this process, the system will be validated through a beta test program, the stabil- ity and transportability of the tools across several hardware and software platforms will be increased, and an interface will be developed for web-based access and data entry.
Ñ The current multi-disciplinary training environment for bioinformatics at Montana State University will be supported and extended, through directed and independent research projects based on aspects of the project. A set of coursework modules will then be
Ñ developed for classroom use via a Java-based web interface to the database and tools. These modules will be used in a number of courses locally, and will be made available to the general public via the web.
This project will be carried out as a coordinated effort between two sets of neuroscience and computer science researchers: one group at MSU and the other group at UCSD. This project is a core component in the NPACI Neuroscience Thrust Area, and will leverage on a wealth of technical expertise and computer resources at the San Diego center.
