• action potential
• brain dynamics
• cerebral cortex
• connectivity
• electrophysiological activity
• intermittency-driven-complexity
• long-range temporal correlation
• multielectrode array
• network burst
• neuronal avalanche
• power law
• self-organized criticality
• stem cells

The brain is a complex system with interacting regions contributing to memory, cognition, and perception. Despite advancements in neuroscience, our understanding of the brain's dynamical processes remains incomplete, especially concerning electrophysiological activity and inter-regional connectivity. This thesis explores the electrophysiological activity and connectivity of neural networks derived from mouse embryonic stem cells.
We used multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) with 4096 electrodes to record local field potentials (LFPs) from neural cultures differentiated into hippocampus, isocortex, and entorhinal cortex, also exploring the interaction among them. Neurogenesis and development were managed by neurobiologists at the Bio@SNS laboratory, CNR of Pisa. Much of the work involved setting up the experimental apparatus to record spontaneous neural activity, and developing data collection and analysis protocols using Python and Fortran codes. We analyzed MEA recordings from 5 cultures, with 3 biological replicates each. All cultures exhibited tonic activity from the first days in vitro, with some developing synchronized activity patterns. We studied spiking and bursting activity and collective synchronization events using the center of activity trajectory to quantify spatial and temporal propagation. These behaviors suggest enhanced information transmission and storage, indicating self-organization. Then, we studied these features in the Self-Organized Criticality framework and Intermittency-Driven Complexity framework using the Event Driven Diffusion Scaling method. This thesis underscores the importance of examining electrophysiological and connectivity profiles to understand brain dynamics. Differences in synchronization levels and criticality among neural cultures provide insights into brain functions and implications for treating learning and neurological disorders.