# Biological Basis of the Code The code provided is part of a computational neuroscience model that simulates interactions between two brain regions: the Frontal Eye Field (FEF) and the Lateral Intraparietal Area (LIP). These regions are implicated in oculomotor control and attention. ## Key Biological Concepts ### Brain Areas - **Frontal Eye Field (FEF)**: This area of the prefrontal cortex is involved in voluntary eye movement and visual attention. It plays a crucial role in the control of eye movements and visual selective attention. - **Lateral Intraparietal Area (LIP)**: Located in the parietal cortex, the LIP is associated with spatial attention, eye movements, and the integration of sensory information relevant to attention and decision-making processes. ### Neuronal Interactions - **Synaptic Conductance**: The parameter `gLIP_FEFv` in the code suggests the presence of synaptic connections between the LIP and FEF's visual modules. Synaptic conductance (`msiemens * cm^-2`) models how efficiently electrical signals are transmitted across synapses, affecting the flow of information and interaction strength between FEF and LIP neurons. - **Inhibition and Decay Times**: The simulation involves two types of inhibitory neurons, SOM (somatostatin-expressing) and FS (fast-spiking, typically parvalbumin-expressing), indicated by lists `liste_t_SOM` and `liste_t_FS`. These neurons modulate the activity of excitatory neurons and control network oscillations, crucial for functions like working memory, attention, and gating of sensory inputs. ### Temporal Dynamics - **Theta Phase**: The variable `theta_phase` set to 'mixed' suggests that the model considers theta oscillations, which are rhythmic fluctuations in neuronal activity. These oscillations are key in coordinating neural activity across different regions of the brain, like the FEF and LIP, to achieve phase synchronization necessary for cognitive tasks. ### Simulation of Visual Attention - **Target Presentation**: The parameter `target_presentation` is likely used to simulate scenarios where a visual stimulus is or isn't present. This models the process of visual attention, where the FEF and LIP interact to detect, attend to, and process visual targets. - **Simulation Durations**: The `liste_target_time` defines various time points at which a target may be presented. This relates to investigating how the timing and duration of stimulus presentations affect neural dynamics and attentional processes. ### Parallel Execution - **Multiple Simulations**: The model performs a large number (`N=50`) of simulations for each target time. This reflects the need for statistical reliability and exploring variability in neural responses due to inherent biological noise. ## Summary In summary, the code models the interaction between two critical brain regions involved in visual attention and eye movement control, leveraging synaptic conductances and inhibitory dynamics. It explicitly considers the temporal dynamics of neural oscillations and synchronizations, reflecting the complex, time-dependent nature of neural processing and attention mechanisms in the brain.