Data Mining and Neurocomputational Modeling in the Neurosciences

he era of "big data" and the increasing focus on analytics is impacting most scientific disciplines, including research in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. The growth of complexity of experimental data sets has led to the need for increased emphasis on data reduction and data mining techniques. An important companion to data mining is neurocomputational modeling, which is increasing in importance in the neurosciences. Such techniques such as data mining and modeling require the use of technical computing applications such as MATLAB, which can create barriers for incorporating students into the research process. The present paper discusses the challenges faced in the big data era of neuroscience and provides some ideas for tools than can promote success by researchers, and their students, in facing such challenges.