<p>There is no difference between "computational neuroscience" and "theoretical neuroscience" in practice.  The two are almost always used interchangeably.</p>

<p>Neuroinformatics, like bioinformatics, is more about managing data and designing analysis software (that's always somehow integrated with data storage and management).  Generally, it is informational specialists that work in neuroinformatics, as it is basically applied information science (applied to neuroscience, specifically).  In some ways, neuroinformatics can serve as a bridge between experimentalist and theoretician.  Experimentalists use neuroinformatic software to analyze and save their data and store their results... then the theoreticians can take that and make a model, then informatics can design a new program that incorporates the model to help experimentalists analyze their data.  This is a very ideal simplification, but it gives an idea of how the three play off each other.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-18T20:36:15.720Z
2014-03-18T20:36:15.720Z
Keegan Keplinger
<p>In particular, theoretical and computational neuroscience seem to be synonymous with each other. Neuroinformatics at least seems to deal somewhat more with solving things numerically and the usage and creation of algorithms and programs.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-13T22:22:23.617Z
I'm not much of a neuroscientist, but does all theoretical neuroscience involve computation? I assume at least all computational neuroscience does...
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-14T15:38:36.043Z
Computation as in at least manipulation of equations, yes. This [Moldakarimov paper](http://www.cns.upf.edu/jclub/Moldakarimov_et_al_2005.pdf) is an example that I think represents what a typical theoretical neuroscience paper looks like -- establish some equations, demonstrate fit of equations to data, etc.
potpie
<neuroscience><theoretical-neuroscience><computational-modeling>
What is the difference between computational neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience, and neuroinformatics (if there is one)?
potpie
# What is the difference between computational neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience, and neuroinformatics (if there is one)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-13)

In particular, theoretical and computational neuroscience seem to be synonymous with each other. Neuroinformatics at least seems to deal somewhat more with solving things numerically and the usage and creation of algorithms and programs.

**Tags:** neuroscience, theoretical-neuroscience, computational-modeling

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not much of a neuroscientist, but does all theoretical neuroscience involve computation? I assume at least all computational neuroscience does...  
> **username_0**: Computation as in at least manipulation of equations, yes. This [Moldakarimov paper](http://www.cns.upf.edu/jclub/Moldakarimov_et_al_2005.pdf) is an example that I think represents what a typical theoretical neuroscience paper looks like -- establish some equations, demonstrate fit of equations to data, etc.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-18. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

There is no difference between "computational neuroscience" and "theoretical neuroscience" in practice. The two are almost always used interchangeably.

Neuroinformatics, like bioinformatics, is more about managing data and designing analysis software (that's always somehow integrated with data storage and management). Generally, it is informational specialists that work in neuroinformatics, as it is basically applied information science (applied to neuroscience, specifically). In some ways, neuroinformatics can serve as a bridge between experimentalist and theoretician. Experimentalists use neuroinformatic software to analyze and save their data and store their results... then the theoreticians can take that and make a model, then informatics can design a new program that incorporates the model to help experimentalists analyze their data. This is a very ideal simplification, but it gives an idea of how the three play off each other.


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