Neuronal cultures: The brain’s complexity and non-equilibrium physics, all in a dish

Abstract

Neuronal networks—and the brain in particular—are out of equilibrium systems in which neurons are the interacting elements. These cells are coupled through physical connections and complex biochemical processes. Moreover, they are capable of self-organization and shape a rich repertoire of spatiotemporal patterns and dynamic states. An elegant yet powerful experimental tool to investigate and describe the features of neuronal networks is neuronal cultures, in which neurons are extracted from brain tissue, dissociated, and cultured in an appropriate environment. Here we introduce the difficulties in understanding the complexity of the brain and its dynamics. We then present the fundamental concepts—from a statistical and non-linear physics viewpoint— needed to describe neurons and networks. These concepts lay the foundations needed to discuss recent models of brain dynamics. We then introduce neuronal cultures, highlighting their enormous potential as accessible and controllable living neuronal networks. Finally, we show how neuronal cultures, and their physical modeling, constitute a remarkable platform to investigate fascinating questions in the non-equilibrium physics of the brain and to provide new insights to advance the treatment of neurological disorders. [Contrib Sci 11(2):225-235 (2015)]