May 2015 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Reminder: NCCD-2015 registration deadline

by pedro goncalves

New early registration deadline: June 4th. The list of oral and poster presentations can be found at http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/nccd/nccd15/abstracts/ *********************************************************** Neural Coding, Computation and Dynamics (NCCD) August 30 - September 2, 2015 Bilbao, Spain http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/nccd/nccd15/ The goal of this workshop is to bring together experimentalists and theoreticians who seek to understand how circuit dynamics underlies representation and function in the nervous system, and to foster real discussion. This year the workshop will focus on the interplay between excitation (E) and inhibition (I) in cortical circuits. The balance between E and I, an idea proposed twenty years ago to account for the stochastic nature of cortical activity, has been seminal in the understanding of basic principles of neural network dynamics. We are seeking talks that, building on this paradigm, present recent findings on topics such as neuronal variability and stochastic dynamics, the role of the different subtypes of interneurons, plasticity and structure in EI networks, brain state and network dynamics, etc. The workshop will be limited to about 70 people, the hope being to foster real interaction and discussion. Important dates: May 15: Abstracts due (there will be posters and contributed talks) June 4th: Early registration due Confirmed invited speakers: Dean Buonomano, University of California at Los Angeles Jess Cardin, Yale School of Medicine Sophie Denève, ENS Brent Doiron, University of Pittsburgh Andrea Hasenstaub, UCSF Mike Hausser, UCL Carl Petersen, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne Karel Svoboda, Janelia Farm Tim Vogels, University of Oxford Fred Wolf, University of Gottingen Best, Peter Latham Jaime de la Rocha Maneesh Sahani Pedro Goncalves Co-organizers

May 31, 2015

Neural Metrics 2.0 : Deadline approaching (June 15th)

by Marcel van Gerven

Neural Metrics 2.0 : Connectomics & Large-Scale Methods The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour/Radboud University is organizing a summer school on neural metrics with the aim to get participants acquainted with the quantitative analysis of neural organisation and function. In Neural Metrics 2.0 we will build on the success from the previous year, focussing on methods for understanding brain networks such as connectomics as well as large scale and Bayesian methods, with world class speakers, hands-on tutorials, student projects and an interactive debate. The topics covered range from cellular connectomics to human functional connectomics. The course is designed for PhD students and starting postdoctoral researchers working at the interface between cognitive neuroscience and the application of advanced methods. Please consult the Radboud Summer school website (http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/ <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/>) for details on the program, social events and registration. Further details for the Neural Metrics Summer School can be found below and on the website (http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/courses/brain-behaviour/@972443/neural… <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/courses/brain-behaviour/@972443/neural…>). Dates : Monday 10 August - Friday 14 August 2015 (1 week) Application Deadline : 15 June 2015 Course leaders : Bernhard Englitz, Marcel van Gerven, Fleur Zeldenrust, Tansu Celikel Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour & Radboud University Participant profile : This course was developed for PhD students and early postdoctoral researchers working at the interface between cellular and cognitive neuroscience requiring advanced methods of analysis. This includes research in the field of Neuroscience with an MSc in Biology, Computer Science, Psychology, Physics, Al, Mathematics, Engineering or a similar major. Admission requirements : As part of the admission procedure, we ask you to send us your CV and a brief motivation letter in which you explain your interest in our course. Course fee : 600 Euros The course fee includes the registration fee, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities. Accommodation is available for the course participants (additional charges apply). For details please see http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/practical-matters/housing/ <http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/practical-matters/housing/> Discounts : • 15% discount for students and PhD candidates from Radboud University and partner universities, Confirmed Speakers (alphabetical): > Misha Ahrens (HHMI, Janelia) > Matthias Bethge (University Tübingen) > Vincent Bonin (VIB, Leuven) > Romain Brette (Institut de la Vision, Paris) > Kevin Briggman (NIH, Bethesda) > Tansu Celikel (Donders Institute, Nijmegen) > Moritz Helmstädter (MPI for Brain Research, Frankfurt) > Henry Kennedy (INSERM, Lyon) > Timm Lochmann (TU Berlin) > David Norris (Donders Institute, Nijmegen) > Rémi Proville (Donders Institute, Nijmegen) > Andrew Reid (FZ Jülich) > Jan Schnupp (Oxford University) > Alessandro Treves (SISSA, Trieste) > Fleur Zeldenrust (Univ. Amsterdam)

May 29, 2015

Machine Learning & Auditory Processing Position at TU Berlin

by Ivo Trowitzsch

Technische Universitaet Berlin, department of Neural Information Processing, offers a position in an international collaborative project set in auditory processing and modeling, robotics and machine learning. The successful candidate will develop and apply machine learning and signal processing techniques in an active computational model of auditory perception in order to detect and annotate acoustic events in an auditory scene analysis and an quality of experience setting. Project and position are part of the TWO!EARS project which is funded through the EU FET Open scheme (see brief description below). Starting date: Immediate Salary level: E-13 TV-L The position is until the end of 2016. Candidates should hold a recent PhD-degree or Diplom-/Master- degree, should have excellent programming skills in an object-oriented language (MATLAB will be used) and good knowledge in the machine learning field. Research experience in machine learning or applications to auditory processing is an asset. Application material (CV, list of publications, abstract of PhD thesis (if applicable), abstract of Diplom-/Master/Thesis, copies of certificates and two letters of reference -- but those can also be handed in later) should be sent to: Prof. Dr. Klaus Obermayer MAR 5-6, Technische Universitaet Berlin, Marchstrasse 23 10587 Berlin, Germany http://www.ni.tu-berlin.de/ email: oby(a)cs.tu-berlin.de preferably by email. TUB seeks to increase the proportion of women and particularly encourages women to apply. Women will be preferred given equal qualification. Disabled persons will be preferred given equal qualification. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consortium Summary: TWO!EARS replaces current thinking about auditory modeling by a systemic approach in which human listeners are regarded as multi-modal agents that develop their concept of the world by exploratory interaction. The goal of the project is to develop an intelligent, active computational model of auditory perception and experience in a multi-modal context. Our novel approach is based on a structural link from binaural perception to judgment and action, realized by interleaved signal-driven (bottom-up) and hypothesis-driven (top-down) processing within an innovative expert system architecture. The system achieves object formation based on Gestalt principles, meaning assignment, knowledge acquisition and representation, learning, logic-based reasoning and reference-based judgment. More specifically, the system assigns meaning to acoustic events by combining signal- and symbol-based processing in a joint model structure, integrated with proprioceptive and visual percepts. It is therefore able to describe an acoustic scene in much the same way that a human listener can, in terms of the sensations that sounds evoke (e.g. loudness, timbre, spatial extent) and their semantics (e.g. whether the sound is unexpected or a familiar voice). Our system will be implemented on a robotic platform, which will actively parse its physical environment, orientate itself and move its sensors in a humanoid manner. The system has an open architecture, so that it can easily be modified or extended. This is crucial, since the cognitive functions to be modeled are domain and application specific. TWO!EARS will have significant impact on future development of ICT wherever knowledge and control of aural experience is relevant. It will also benefit research in related areas such as biology, medicine and sensory and cognitive psychology. -- Ivo Trowitzsch Research Assistant @ Neural Information Processing Group, TU Berlin

May 28, 2015

CFP EUCOG 2015

by Prof. Dr. Jordi Vallverdú

*Call for Papers* EUCOG2015 Annual Meeting of the European Society of Cognitive Systems (Meeting of the EUCognition Network) 25-26.09.2015 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ORGANISERS: Jordi Vallverdú & Vincent C. Müller http://www.eucognition.org/index.php?page=eacs-barcelona-2015-gen-info Program Commitee: Varol Akman, Bilkent University, Ankara Istvan Berkeley The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ron Chrisley Sussex University David Casacuberta Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Mark Coeckelbergh University of Twente Eric Dietrich Binghamton University James Fetzer University of Minnesota, Duluth Stefano Franchi Texas A&M University Antoni Gomila Universitat Illes Balears Claudius Gros Institute for Theoretical Physics Lorenzo Magnani University of Pavia, Italy Klaus Mainzer Technische Universität München Gualtiero Piccinini University of Missouri - St. Louis Oron Shagrir Hebrew University Mark Sprevak University of Edinburgh Ioannis Votsis Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf Tom Ziemke University of Skövde Max Talanov Kazan Federal University Manuel Bedia Universidad de Zaragoza Bruno Lara Universidad de Cuernavaca ========================================= ABSTRACTS We request anonymous abstracts of 600-1000 words (plus references) in plain text or PDF, plus a short abstract of up to 120 words. Accepted papers will be presented at the conference (orally or as posters) and published in the proceedings. (We plan to provide a copy of the proceedings to the corresponding author.) We foresee slots of at least 20 minutes per talk. All submissions will be reviewed double-blind by at least two members of the programme committee. Submission online at EasyChair: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=eucog2015 Technical note: The EasyChair system will ask you for an "abstract" and a "paper". For us, "abstract" refers to the short abstract (up to 120 words) in plain text, while "paper" refers to the long abstract (600-1000 words), which can be submitted as a PDF or plain text. Accordingly, please do not use the check-box "Abstract Only". (The abbreviation "Corr. Auth." stands for "corresponding author".) *Send to:* https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=eucog2015 ========================================= DATES & DEADLINES May 10th, 2015 Call For Papers, abstract submission opens June 1st, 2015 Congress registration opens July 1st, 2015 Deadline for submission of abstracts July 15th, 2015 Notifications of acceptance August 30th, 2015 Deadline for early registrations September 25th-26th EUCOG2015 ========================================= THEMES "Cognitive systems" is to be broadly understood as an interlinked research of natural and artificial cognitive systems. We welcome participants from all disciplines that are relevant for fundamental issues of present and future robotics and AI, especially cognitive science, computer science, neuroscience and philosophy. We are especially interested in bioinspired techniques, models and methods. • AI and cognitive science • autonomous vehicles • cognitive systems in industry • communication (verbal and non-verbal) • dynamical systems • embedded, situated, distributed cognition • embodiment, enaction, morphology • social impact of AI and robotics • goals, emotions, values, free will • grounded cognition • hybrid systems, cyborgs • interactive systems • learning, evolution • neuroscience and cognitive systems • multi-agent systems • perception, sensing • performance and intelligence testing • real-world systems • robotics • robustness and adaptability • ... ========================================= PUBLICATION Details on the publication for 2015 are not yet finalized but we will publish a volume of proceedings to include all accepted papers, planned to be published within 6 months of the event. Submission and presentation at the conference do not entail an obligation of the author(s) to publish in the conference proceedings. ========================================= Prof. Dr. Jordi Vallverdú, B. Phil, B. Mus, M.Sci, Ph.D. Room B7/104, Philosophy Dept. UAB 08193 Bellaterra (BCN) CATALONIA ------------------- FULL CV/Publications: https://uab.academia.edu/JordiVallverdu <https://uab.academia.edu/JordiVallverd%C3%BA> ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-7780 ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/K-5536-2014 Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jordi_Vallverdu

May 28, 2015

Save the date! Next GDR Multielectrode/NeuralNet Conference and Minischool: Jan 5-8, 2016

by Blaise Yvert

Dear colleagues, This is the first announcement that the next conference of the GDR Multielectrode - becoming soon (hopefully) GDR NeuralNet - will be held in Grenoble on January 6-8, 2016. We chose to delay a bit this edition in order to organize the conference in the Vercors mountain (http://www.escandille.com/) The conference will start on Jan 6 late afternoon and end on Jan 8 afternoon. Not sure there will be snow at this period, but we hope the calm of Vercors will foster creative thinking and interactions! Because lodging will be provided on site, a (reasonable) registration fee will be asked to cover the corresponding cost and secure the organization. The minischool preceding the conference will take place in downtown Grenoble on January 5-6 (lodging not provided). The program and registration organization is under preparation, but please save already these dates to make this new event as rich as possible ! Looking forward welcoming you all, Kind regards, Blaise on behalf of the organizing committee: Tetiana AKSENOVA Julien BASTIN Florent BOCQUELET Olivier DAVID Cécile DELACOUR Antoine DEPAULIS Samuel GARCIA Philippe KAHANE Sandrine MAUBERT Gaëlle OFFRANC PIRET Christophe POUZAT Anne QUESNEL-HELLMANN Blaise YVERT -- Blaise Yvert. Inserm Research Director Clinatec Laboratory UA01 Biomedical Research Center Edmond J Safra CEA-INSERM-UJF-CHU Grenoble Minatec Campus 17 rue des Martyrs 38054 Grenoble cedex 09 Tel. +33 4 38 78 91 38 / +33 6 32 88 75 90 Fax. +33 4 38 78 53 55 http://www.clinatec.fr (under construction)

May 28, 2015

postdoctoral position in human connectomics

by Olaf Sporns

*Postdoctoral/Assistant Research Scientist Position in Human Connectomics* Indiana University is making a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment to create and expand the infrastructure for research and training in network science through the establishment of the Indiana University Network Science Institute (IUNI – http://iuni.iu.edu ). IUNI seeks applicants for a postdoctoral position as Assistant Research Scientist in the area of Human Connectomics. This position will be appointed for a two-year term with the possibility of renewal based on exemplary performance and continued funding. The position involves close collaboration with the Computational Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (www.indiana.edu/~cortex <http://www.indiana.edu/%7Ecortex> – Head: Olaf Sporns) and the Indiana University Center for Neuroimaging (http://neuroimaging.medicine.iu.edu/ - Director: Andrew J. Saykin). Research goals focus on the application of sophisticated network analysis and modeling methods to multimodal human neuroimaging data sets, including advanced diffusion imaging, structural MRI and resting-state fMRI, in both healthy and clinical populations. A major application focus is on prodromal stages of Alzheimer’s disease and many other clinical populations, including TBI, non-CNS cancer and psychosis, are also being investigated.In addition to close collaboration with Drs. Sporns, Saykin and colleagues, the successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with IU’s growing community of network scientists. A full position description and instructions for how to apply can be found at: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/hr/postings/1490 For informal inquiries please contact Olaf Sporns at osporns(a)indiana.edu <mailto:osporns@indiana.edu> -- Olaf Sporns -- @spornslab Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Programs in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405

May 27, 2015

20 scholarships: TIM-Telecom Italia and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna - Master in Digital Life & Smart Living

by Calogero Oddo

Call for scholarship applications within the Master "Digital Life & Smart Living (SMART)" 2015-2016 (www.sssup.it/smart) 20 scholarships are offered to European citizens by TIM-Telecom Italia in partnership with Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa. 2 scholarships are reserved for non European Union citizens. All admitted students will receive a total gross amount of € 12.000 scholarship payment to cover transportation and accommodation expenses. All Master tuition fees are covered by TIM-Telecom Italia. This Master is a post-graduate university programme designed for students that own a Master of Science degree. It trains students for a potential hiring in one of the most innovative new-technology multinationals in the world, TIM-Telecom Italia. 80% of participants to the first edition of the Master have been employed by TIM. Application is on-line: www.sssup.it/smart/application Submission deadline: June 18, 2015 The main goal of the Master is to train young graduate talented students who will acquire the competence to design, develop and manage communication systems and "Smart" innovative technologies. The graduated will have the capacity to manage and control advanced technologies in ICT, Robotics and Biorobotics, Software Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering, for the design and management of Smart Solutions. The 20 Master students will attend intensive and exciting series of lessons taught in English, alternating with laboratory experiments, company case-study experiences and seminars (600 hours). In the final stage, an internship at TIM-Telecom Italia will be provided in order to gain direct experience in the fields of business and technologies (750 hours). Total time commitment: Sept. 7, 2015 - Sept. 5, 2016 The Master Degree programme has been developed by TIM-Telecom Italia and faculty members of The BioRobotics Institute, the Institute of Management, and The Institute of Communication, Information and Perception Technologies of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy. For more information: www.sssup.it/smart www.santannaschool.eu Secretariat contacts: Federica Faldella Mail: master-smart(a)sssup.it Phone: +39 050 88 2671 Best regards, Calogero Oddo and Paolo Dario -- Calogero M. Oddo Assistant Professor of Biomedical Robotics Head of the Human Machine Nexus Laboratory, Neuro-robotics Area The BioRobotics Institute Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Polo Sant'Anna Valdera Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera (Pisa) - Italy email: calogero.oddo(a)sssup.it http://sssa.bioroboticsinstitute.it/user/102 -- Paolo Dario Professor of Biomedical Robotics IEEE Fellow Director, The BioRobotics Institute Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Polo Sant'Anna Valdera Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera (Pisa) - Italy email: paolo.dario(a)sssup.it http://sssa.bioroboticsinstitute.it/

May 27, 2015

Available Slot for Intensive Talks at CNS 2015 Workshop on "Rate vs. Temporal Coding"

by Milad Lankarany

The workshop on "Rate vs. Temporal Coding: Mutually Exclusive or Cooperatively Co-existing <https://sites.google.com/site/cnsworkshop2015ratevstime/>" will be held at CNS 2015 (Prague), on July 22nd. Our workshop hosts 8 prestigious speakers, presenting their recent researches in 30 minutes, as well as a few number of intensive talks, each lasting 10-12 minutes. Honestly speaking, this is a new schedule for our workshop that we want to try, for the first time, a workshop comprising larger talks (30 mins) + short intensive talks (10-12 mins). As the intensive talks are short, we would like to invite more speakers. So, any scientist that participates in CNS 2015 and is interested in our workshop can send me his/her request and the title of the presentation. Email: milad.lankarany(a)sickkids.ca. Many thanks, Milad Lankarany, Ph.D. <https://sites.google.com/site/miladlankarani/> Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Prescott Lab, Neuroscience & Mental Health, Peter Gilgan Center for Research & Learning, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Toronto, Ontario, Canada

May 26, 2015

15 PhD positions for PACE, an EU funded Innovative Training Network for understanding Perception and Action in Complex Environments

by Laurent Perrinet

Dear colleagues, PACE (Perception and Action in Complex Environments) is an Innovative Training Network funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie program of the European Union starting on April 1st, 2015. The network involves 10 academic and private full partners, from 6 European and associated countries (France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, UK, Israel), plus 5 associated partners (private companies and public organizations). The network gathers a broad range of expertise from experimental psychology, cognitive neurosciences, brain imaging, technology and clinical sciences as well as transferable skills. The PACE network promotes interdisciplinary research and training in the field of human movement sciences with a strong emphasis on perception-action coupling in complex environments. We focus on changes of this coupling across lifespan and in pathological diseases affecting the nervous system. The goal is to train PhD students through collaborative research projects, international courses and workshops. -> 15 PhD positions, starting next fall, are offered across the different network sites. You can find a short description of the proposed PhD projects at the following link: http://www.int.univ-amu.fr/IMG/pdf/PACE_Table_positions.pdf Applications are welcome immediately and until the end of May (but some specific timing constraints may be enforced in some of the partners' sites: please get more information from local contacts). You will find further general information (sections 1 to 3), eligibility and application conditions (section 4) here: http://www.int.univ-amu.fr/-ITN-Marie-Curie-network-PACE Thanks for distributing this announcement to potential candidates, Laurent -- Laurent Perrinet - INT (UMR 7289)/CNRS http://invibe.net/LaurentPerrinet

May 25, 2015

open PhD position at INT-Marseille, France: Predicting and selecting sensory events: inference for smooth eye movements

by Laurent Perrinet

Dear colleagues, Applications are welcome immediately and until the end of May for a PhD position at INT-Marseille, France: Predicting and selecting sensory events: inference for smooth eye movements In everyday life, we constantly need to track relevant moving targets in complex environments with our eyes such as, for instance, when we try to catch someone running in the crowd. However, this seemingly simple task demands to deal with several dynamic sources of uncertainty, related to intrinsic, target-related properties or to external, environment-related factors. In addition, one single object has to be selected at a time for accurate visual processing and ocular tracking in presence of a multitude of competing signals. The PhD project aims at understanding the /dynamic inference and decision processes underlying smooth eye movements/. The PhD fellow will conduct psychophysics and oculomotor recordings on healthy subjects, as well as modeling work, in order to elucidate the effects of sensory uncertainty on the accuracy and the dynamics of visuomotor decisions. Bayesian Inference will provide a general and solid framework for behavioral models. Oculomotor decision times, such as those characterizing the dynamic switch between smooth pursuit and saccades during motion tracking, or transitions between two alternative tracking solutions, will be modeled and benchmarked against the predictions of current models of choice reaction times ("accumulation-to-threshold" models). A potential development of the project, through the PACE European network’s collaborations and secondments (http://www.int.univ-amu.fr/-ITN-Marie-Curie-network-PACE) is to compare dynamic inference for smooth eye movements with other types of movements such as reaching, hitting or manual tracking.To obtain further information or send applications (including a full CV, a letter of motivation, 2 reference names), please contact: Anna.Montagnini(a)univ-amu.fr, Laurent.Perrinet(a)univ-amu.fr or Guillaume.Masson(a)univ-amu.fr. Applications are welcome immediately and until the end of May 2015. Site: InVIBE Team (Inference in Vision and Behavior) - Institut de Neuroscience de la Timone, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille FRANCE – http://www.int.univ-amu.fr/ PhD Supervisors: Guillaume Masson, Anna Montagnini and Laurent Perrinet Position details: This position is funded by the Marie Skodowska-Curie program of the H2020 European Union program, as part of the Innovative Training Network PACE (Perception and Action in Complex Environments). Eligibility : Applicants must hold a Master Degree in Neurosciences or Psychology, or equivalent. Application from students with a background in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Sciences and willing to shift towards neurosciences are encouraged. Under-graduate students from Medicine are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must not have carried out Research activities for more than 4 years after their Master degree (or equivalent) and must not already hold a PhD degree. *EU Conditions of Mobility of Early-Stage Researchers:* Applicants can be of any nationality. They must comply with the rule for trans-national mobility: at the time of recruitment by the host organization, students must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Microsoft Word - ESR1_Description_new.doc Thanks for distributing this announcement to potential candidates, Laurent -- Laurent Perrinet - INT (UMR 7289)/CNRS http://invibe.net/LaurentPerrinet

May 25, 2015