About Dr. Arvind Kumar

Research 

I am studying dynamics and information processing in neuronal networks. Specifically, I am investigating how neuronal networks distributed over the brain communicate information with spikes and what role do the network structure, correlations, oscillations and other such dynamical properties play in information transfer. One of the goals of my research is to extend the understanding of the neuronal network dynamics towards mathematical models of brain diseases (e.g Parkinson's diseases, epilepsy, anxiety), which can be described a disease of dynamics. Therefore, I am also neuralizing the control system theory and developing tools to control the dynamics of neuronal networks by external stimulations methods.

Projects

• Spiking activity propagation in recurrent networks
• Dynamics of basal-ganglia network (D2 & D8)
• Neural circuitry of fear conditioning (D10)
• Entorhinal-hippocampal interaction in epilepsy (C1)

Please see also: https://www.bcf.uni-freiburg.de/people/details/kumar and https://www.kth.se/profile/arvindku/

Fellowships, Awards and Honours

2013            Senior Fellowship Wellcome Trust Dept. of Biotechnology India Alliance (declined)
2012            Member, Teaching and training committee of the International Neuroinformatics Coordination Facility (until today)
2008            Associated Faculty member F1000 (until today)
2000            Senior research fellowship (Indian Medical Research Council) (until 2002)
1993            National Merit Fellowship (until 1997)

5 Selected Publications

Hahn G, Bujan AF, Fregnac Y, Aertsen A, Kumar A (2014) Communication through resonance in spiking neuronal networks. PLoS Comput Biol 10(8): e1003811. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003811

Kumar A., Vlachos I., Aertsen A., Boucsein C. (2013) The challenges of understanding brain function by specific manipulation of neuronal sub-populations. Trends Neurosci., pii: S0166-2236(13)00126-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2013.06.005. [Epub ahead of print]

Vlachos I., Aertsen A., Kumar A. (2012) Implications of network structure on neural activity: Beyond statistical significance. PLoS Comput Biol., 8(1): e1002311. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002311.

Kumar A., Cardanobile S., Rotter S., and Aertsen A. (2011) Role of inhibition in generating and controlling Parkinson’s disease related oscillations in the basal ganglia. Front. Syst. Neurosci., 5:86. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2011.00086.

Vlachos I., Herry C., Luethi A., Aertsen A., and Kumar A. (2011) Context dependent encoding of fear and extinction memories in a large-scale network model of the basal amygdala. PLoS Comput. Biol., 7(3): e1001104. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1001104.