Cited by 17Neural dynamics and brain functionTheoretical and Computational PhysicsNeural Networks and Applications

Lattice physics approaches for neural networks

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Bardella, Giampiero, Franchini, Simone, Pani, Pierpaolo, Ferraina, Stefano·2024·iScience

Abstract

Modern neuroscience has evolved into a frontier field that draws on numerous disciplines, resulting in the flourishing of novel conceptual frames primarily inspired by physics and complex systems science. Contributing in this direction, we recently introduced a mathematical framework to describe the spatiotemporal interactions of systems of neurons using lattice field theory, the reference paradigm for theoretical particle physics. In this note, we provide a concise summary of the basics of the theory, aiming to be intuitive to the interdisciplinary neuroscience community. We contextualize our methods, illustrating how to readily connect the parameters of our formulation to experimental variables using well-known renormalization procedures. This synopsis yields the key concepts needed to describe neural networks using lattice physics. Such classes of methods are attention-worthy in an era of blistering improvements in numerical computations, as they can facilitate relating the observation of neural activity to generative models underpinned by physical principles.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111390

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  • Lattice field theory has been adapted to model spatiotemporal neural dynamics by discretizing neural activity on a spacetime lattice.

    “In particular, lattice field theory, originally developed in quantum field theory and particle physics, has been adapted to model spatiotemporal neural dynamics by discretizing neural activity on a spacetime lattice [44].”
  • Lattice field theory-based approaches remain primarily theoretical and computational, providing a principled formalism rather than demonstrating biologically instantiated quantum processes.

    “Despite these promising features, it is important to emphasize that lattice field theory-based approaches remain primarily theoretical and computational. Their current contribution lies in providing a principled formalism for describing emergent spatiotemporal structure in neural activity, rather than in demonstrating biologically instantiated quantum processes.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [24]Penrose R. Emperor’s New Mind 1999 Oxford University Press UK
  2. [163]Hoover B. Liang Y. Pham B. Panda R. Strobelt H. Chau D.H. Zaki M.J. Krotov D. Energy transformer arXiv 2023 2302.07253

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Authors
Bardella, G., Franchini, S., Pani, P., & Ferraina, S.
Affiliations
Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Corresponding author
  • Bardella, Giampiero
  • Franchini, Simone
Venue
iScience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-12
Volume
27
Issue
12
Pages
111390
ISSN
2589-0042 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4404397493
Cited by
17
References
190
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 1
FWCI
1.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • iScience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • University of Rome La Sapienza (PH11715C823A9528, RM12117A8AD27DB1)
  • Università degli Studi di Pavia
  • European Commission (CUP B51E22000150006, IR0000011)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Condensed Matter Physics › Theoretical and Computational Physics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Neural Networks and Applications
Keywords
lattice field theory, artificial neural networks, renormalization, complex systems

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