Work

Why Are Computational Neuroscience and Systems Biology So Separate?

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Despite similar computational approaches, there is surprisingly little interaction between the computational neuroscience and the systems biology research communities. In this review I reconstruct the history of the two disciplines and show that this may explain why they grew up apart. The separation is a pity, as both fields can learn quite a bit from each other. Several examples are given, covering sociological, software technical, and methodological aspects. Systems biology is a better organized community which is very effective at sharing resources, while computational neuroscience has more experience in multiscale modeling and the analysis of information processing by biological systems. Finally, I speculate about how the relationship between the two fields may evolve in the near future.

Source: PLoS Computational Biology

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000078

Author: Erik De Schutter

Institutions: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, University of Antwerp

Language: English

Topic: Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration

Subfield: Information Systems and Management

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043

Funders: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Vlaamse regering