Isao Yamaguchi
Corporate Research Center, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.The final goal of this study is to develop a database system for neuronal visual system (Visiome Platform). The Visiome Platform integrates mathematical models of various levels from molecules to networks with experimental data, references, related books and links to other internet resources. It will provide more than just a database of models, data and research tools. The Visiome Platform will realize a virtual environment for global collaborations by making available to researchers useful tools for simulation, analyzing experimental data, and facilitating hypothesis formulation.
To achieve this, the Visiome Platform has two major characteristic features. First, it will allow researchers to reuse the models and experimental data in the database. Researchers can see how the models work or compare their own results with other experimental data, improve or integrate models, and formulate their own hypothesis into a model. Second, it will provide novel indexes of research field in the visual system specially oriented to the model studies. The system's indexes will be based on neuronal and cognitive functions in the visual system that are important targets of model studies. The model-oriented indexes will help researchers to understand the visual system from the aspect of visual functions and to construct models formulating their own hypotheses. The Visiome Platform is expected to be a powerful tool for neuroscience researchers facilitating their research activities by providing an integrated environment for mathematical modeling.