TitleCombining hypothesis- and data-driven neuroscience modeling in FAIR workflows.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsEriksson O, Bhalla USingh, Blackwell KT, Crook SM, Keller D, Kramer A, Linne M-L, Saudargienė A, Wade RC, Kotaleski JHellgren
JournalElife
Volume11
Date Published2022 07 06
ISSN2050-084X
KeywordsNeurosciences, Workflow
Abstract

Modeling in neuroscience occurs at the intersection of different points of view and approaches. Typically, hypothesis-driven modeling brings a question into focus so that a model is constructed to investigate a specific hypothesis about how the system works or why certain phenomena are observed. Data-driven modeling, on the other hand, follows a more unbiased approach, with model construction informed by the computationally intensive use of data. At the same time, researchers employ models at different biological scales and at different levels of abstraction. Combining these models while validating them against experimental data increases understanding of the multiscale brain. However, a lack of interoperability, transparency, and reusability of both models and the workflows used to construct them creates barriers for the integration of models representing different biological scales and built using different modeling philosophies. We argue that the same imperatives that drive resources and policy for data - such as the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles - also support the integration of different modeling approaches. The FAIR principles require that data be shared in formats that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Applying these principles to models and modeling workflows, as well as the data used to constrain and validate them, would allow researchers to find, reuse, question, validate, and extend published models, regardless of whether they are implemented phenomenologically or mechanistically, as a few equations or as a multiscale, hierarchical system. To illustrate these ideas, we use a classical synaptic plasticity model, the Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro rule, as an example due to its long history, different levels of abstraction, and implementation at many scales.

DOI10.7554/eLife.69013
Alternate JournalElife
PubMed ID35792600
PubMed Central IDPMC9259018
Grant ListR01 MH106674 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 DC019278 / DC / NIDCD NIH HHS / United States