Summary
The striatum brain nucleus is central for motor and cognitive functions. We propose a large-scale biophysical network for this part of the brain, using a modified Hodgkin-Huxley dynamics for neurons and a connectivity which is informed by a detailed human atlas. In this complex slow-fast system different spatio-temporal activity patterns emerge during healthy and pathological states (neurological disorder), depending on the intensity of the cortical inputs. Using equation-free methods and diffusion maps, we are able to identify a macroscopic order parameter. The equation-free approach enables a numerical analysis of the macroscopic dynamics of the striatum network. This includes a numerical bifurcation and stability analysis. Finally, the effect of deep brain stimulation on the spatiotemporal pattern formation in the network is discussed.
