David Barrett

david.barrett@ens.fr

 

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the École Normale Supérieure, Paris and the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon. The goal of my research is to discover how computations are implemented in neural networks. My approach is to study computation and network dynamics together, to ask: what do computations tell us about network properties, and what do networks tell us about difficult computations?

 

Education

Ph.D, Computational Neuroscience, University College London, 2007 - 2012

M.Sc, Mathematical Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, 2006 - 2007

B.A. (Mod) in Theoretical Physics, Trinity College Dublin, 2002 - 2006

 

 

Publications:

Firing rate predictions in optimal balanced networks

D.G.T. Barrett, S. Denève, C.K. Machens

Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 26 (NIPS 2013), in press

 

Learning Optimal Spike-based Representations

R. Bourdoukan*, D.G.T. Barrett*, C.K. Machens, S. Denève

Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 25 (NIPS 2012), pdf

*authors contributed equally

 

Computation in Balanced Networks

D.G.T. Barrett

Ph.D Thesis, University College London (2012)

 

Fisher Information in Balanced Networks

D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham

in preparation

 

Sparse Coding of Birdsong and Receptive Field Structure in Songbirds

G. Greene, D.G.T. Barrett, K. Sen and C.J. Houghton,

Network:Computation in Neural Systems 20:(3)162-177 (2009) pdf

 

Taking Plateau into Microgravity: The Formation of an Eightfold Vertex in a System of Soap Films

D.G.T. Barrett, S. Kelly, E.J. Daly, M.J. Dolan, W. Drenckhan, D. Weaire and S. Hutzler

Microgravity Science and Technology 20:17-22 (2008) pdf

 

Sparse Coding: from natural sounds to music

D.G.T. Barrett

M.Sc Thesis, Trinity College Dublin (2007)

 

Sequential Deposition on Close Packed Structures

D.G.T. Barrett

Dissertation, Trinity College Dublin (2006)

 

Conference Presentations:

Spiking Networks Learning to Balance Excitation and Inhibition Develop an Optimal Representation,  R. Bourdoukan, D.G.T. Barrett, C.K. Machens, S. Denève Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2013), talk

Quadratic programming of tuning curves: from spiking dynamics to function,  D.G.T. Barrett,  S. Denève,  C.K. Machens Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2013)

A Framework for Tuning Curve Diversity, D.G.T. Barrett, C.K. Machens, S. Denève Champalimaud Neuroscience Symposium (2012)

A Computational Role for Noise in the Cortex, D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham, Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2012)

Differentiation in balanced networks, D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham, Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2011)

Fisher Information in a Balanced Network, D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham, Society for Neuroscience 40th Annual Meeting (SFN), November (2010)

Fisher Information in Correlated Networks, D.G.T Barrett, P.E. Latham, Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2010)

Fisher Information in Asynchronous Networks, D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham, Spike Train Metric Workshop (2010)

The Statistics of Brain Activity, D.G.T. Barrett, Joint Irish Mathematical Society/British Mathematical Colloquium (2009) (talk)

Computing Correlations Analytically, D.G.T Barrett, P.E. Latham, Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (CoSyNe) (2009)

Computing Correlations Analytically, D.G.T. Barrett and P.E. Latham, Mathematical Neuroscience Meeting, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (2009)

Sparse Coding of Zebra Finch Song, D.G.T. Barrett, C Houghton, K. Sen, Young Physiologists Symposium (2008)

The Formation of an Eightfold Vertex in a System of Soap Films, D.G.T. Barrett, S. Kelly, E.J. Daly, M.J. Dolan, British Association Science Festival (2005)

 

Invited Talks:

École Normale Supérieure, Paris, “Information in Balanced Networks” (2012)

Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, “Information in Balanced Networks” (2012)

Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, “Information in Balanced Networks” (2011)

Mathematical Neuroscience Lab, Trinity College Dublin, “Information in Asynchronous Networks” (2010)

School of Mathematics Internship Program, Trinity College Dublin, “Applied Mathematics: from physics to neuroscience” (2010)

HUJ/Columbia/Gatsby Annual Meeting, University College London “Computing Correlations Analytically” (2009)

Mathematical Society of Trinity College Dublin, “Music and the Brain” (2008)

University of Limerick Mathematics Consortium, “Sparse Coding of Zebra Finch Song” (2007)

European Space Agency Research and Technology Centre, Netherlands, “Foam Experiments in Microgravity “ (2005)

 

Other Publications:

TCD Students Perform Experiments in Microgravity

D.G.T. Barrett

Science Spin Ireland 11 (2005)

 

 

Teaching:

Summer Student Supervision, Gatsby, UCL 2011

Theoretical Neuroscience, Gatsby, UCL 2009-2010 link

Calculus, TCD School of Mathematics, 2006-2007

Advanced Mechanics, TCD School of Mathematics 2005-2006 link

Undergraduate Mathematics, TCD School of Mathemates 2005-2007 link

 

 

Contact Address:

Group for Neural Theory

Labortoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (LNC)

29, rue d'Ulm

75005 Paris

France

Last updated September 2013