Using the computer to imitate the neural oscillations of the brain is of great significance for the analysis of brain functions. Thalamocortical neural mass model (TNMM) reflects the mechanisms of neural activities by establishing the relationships between the thalamus and the cortex, which contributes to the understanding of some specific cognitive functions of the brain and the neural oscillations of electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms. With the increasing complexity and scale of neural mass model, the performance of conventional computer system can not achieve rapid and large-scale model simulation. In order to solve this problem, we proposed a computing method based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware in this study. The Altera's DSP Builder module combined with MATLAB/Simulink was used to achieve the construction of complex neural mass model algorithm, which is transplanted to the FPGA hardware platform. This method takes full advantage of the ability of parallel computing of FPGA to realize fast simulation of large-scale and complex neural mass models, which provides new solutions and ideas for computer implementation of neural mass models.

Citation： LIANGZhenhu, ZHOUJingliang, LIXiaoli. Thalamocortical Neural Mass Model Simulation and Study Based on Field Programmable Gate Array. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 2016, 33(4): 616-625. doi: 10.7507/1001-5515.20160103 Copy