Explore the intricacies of cortical networks and balanced neuron firing in this comprehensive lecture by Dr. Greg Morrison, Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Houston. Delve into the theoretical understanding of correlated dynamics in neural networks and their role in neural computation and diseases like schizophrenia. Examine how clustered connections in cortical networks lead to correlated activity and investigate the breakdown of the balanced state in networks with heterogeneous cluster sizes. Learn about the proposed solution to restore balance and the formal definition of a partially balanced neural network. Discover how these networks exhibit expected quiescent activity and respond to external stimulation. The lecture covers topics such as fMRI, model organisms, neuron structure, depolarization, neural network modeling, Poisson processes, communities and networks, balance, and hierarchy in brain function.