On the philosophy of simplification in computational neuroscience - with Mazviita Chirimuuta and Terrence Sejnowski - #29

Computational neuroscientists rely on simplification when they make their models. But what is the right level of simplification?

When should we, for example, use a biophysically detailed model and when a simplified abstract model when modelling neural dynamics? What are the problems of simplifying too much, or too little?

This was the topic of the panel discussion between a science philosopher (MC), author of the recent book “The Brain Abstracted”, and an experienced modeler (TS) at the FENS Regional Meeting in Oslo in June 2025.