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Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter July 17, 2018

Brain stem modeling at a system level – chances and limitations

  • Dariusz Mikolajewski EMAIL logo and Włodzisław Duch

Abstract

The topic of brain stem computational simulation still seems understudied in contemporary scientific literature. Current advances in neuroscience leave the brain stem as one of the least known parts of the human central nervous system. Brain stem lesions are particularly damaging to the most important physiological functions. Advances in brain stem modeling may influence important issues within the core of neurology, neurophysiology, neurosurgery, and neurorehabilitation. Direct results may include both development of knowledge and optimization and objectivization of clinical practice in the aforementioned medical areas. Despite these needs, progress in the area of computational brain stem models seems to be too slow. The aims of this paper are both to recognize the strongest limitations in the area of computational brain stem simulations and to assess the extent to which current opportunities may be exploited. Despite limitations, the emerging view of the brain stem provided by its computational models enables a wide repertoire of functions, including core dynamic behavior.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Employment or leadership: None declared.

  4. Honorarium: None declared.

  5. Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Received: 2018-05-27
Accepted: 2018-06-15
Published Online: 2018-07-17

©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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