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.
Selective attention promotes the perception of brain to outside world and coordinates the allocation of limited brain resources. It is a cognitive process which relies on the neural activities of attention-related brain network. As one of the important forms of brain activities, neural oscillations are closely related to selective attention. In recent years, the relationship between selective attention and neural oscillations has become a hot issue. The new method that using external rhythmic stimuli to influence neural oscillations, i.e., neural entrainment, provides a promising approach to investigate the relationship between selective attention and neural oscillations. Moreover, it provides a new method to diagnose and even to treat the attention dysfunction. This paper reviewed the research status on the relationship between selective attention and neural oscillations, and focused on the application prospects of neural entrainment in revealing this relationship and diagnosing, even treating the attention dysfunction.