January 2019 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

FENS SfN Summer School 2019 on brain reading and writing: new perspectives of neurotechnology

by FENS Schools

Dear Colleagues, This year's FENS-SfN neuroscience summer school on *Brain reading and writing: new perspectives of neurotechnology <https://www.fens.org/Training/FENS-Schools/Summer-School-2019/> *will take place on 2-8 June in Bertinoro, Italy. We would like to invite you to have a look at the programme below. *Scientific chairs* *Dr. Pieter Roelfsema, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands <https://nin.nl/research/researchgroups/roelfsema-group/>* *Dr. <http://motorlab.neurobio.pitt.edu/schwartz.php>Andrew B. Schwartz, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh,USA <http://motorlab.neurobio.pitt.edu/schwartz.php>* *School Programme Description* During this school, we will discuss the intracortical methods being developed for reading from, and writing to, the brain. A set of international lectures will provide an overview of the emerging therapeutic applications made possible with this technology. In addition to being exposed to new hardware, students will learn about, and apply new computational approaches to facilitate brain-device communication. We will discuss some of the interesting ethical ramifications of a neuro-technologically assisted future. *Faculty members* Matteo Carandini <https://www.carandinilab.net/>, Cortexlab, UCL, UK Xinyan Tracy Cui <https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/cui/>, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, USA Tim Harris <https://www.janelia.org/lab/harris-lab>, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, USA Karin Jongsma <https://www.umcutrecht.nl/en/Research/Researchers/Jongsma-Karin-KR>, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands Jason Kerr <https://www.caesar.de/en/our-research/behavior-and-brain-organization/direc…>, Department of Behavior and Brain Organization, Research Center caesar, Bonn, Germany Stephanie Lacour <https://cnp.epfl.ch/Lacourlab>, Center for Neuroprosthetics, EPFL, Switzerland Antonio Regalado <https://www.technologyreview.com/profile/antonio-regalado/>, MIT Technology Review, USA José-Alain Sahel <http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/our-people/faculty-staff-bios/jose-alain-sahel-md/>, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA Eilon Vaadia <https://elsc.huji.ac.il/index.php?q=vaadia/home>, Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Israel Anna Wang <http://www.ziint.zju.edu.cn/index.php/Index/index.html> Roe <http://www.ziint.zju.edu.cn/index.php/Index/index.html>, Zhejiang University Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology (ZIINT), China Byron Yu <https://users.ece.cmu.edu/~byronyu/>, Electrical & Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, USA Application form: http://www.fens.org/Training/FENS-Schools/Summer-School-2019/Application-Fo… Deadline: 4 February 2019 Further information about the school and available stipends can be found here <https://www.fens.org/Training/FENS-Schools/Summer-School-2019/>. Feel free to share this enriching opportunity with your professional network. Best regards, FENS Schools Administration

Jan. 22, 2019

Error-driven learning at the Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling

by Jelmer Borst

Update: New tutorial on Error-driven learning Fourth Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling – ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs, & Error-driven learning– Date: April 8-12, 2019 Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Fee: € 250 (late fee after February 15 will be € 300) More information and registration: www.cognitive-modeling.com/springschool <http://www.cognitive-modeling.com/springschool> As briefly announced earlier, this year we will be offering a new tutorial on error-driven learning during the spring school. Error-driven learning (also called discrimination learning) allows to simulate the time course of learning. It can be applied for all domains in cognitive science, but is especially useful for modeling language processing and language learning. More information about this simple and elegant approach can now be found on our website <http://www.cognitive-modeling.com/springschool/home/error-driven-learning/>. As in previous years, the Spring School will also cover the ACT-R, Nengo, and PRIMs paradigms. A preliminary version of the program can now be found on our website. The early registration deadline ends on February 15, so make sure to sign up before then. Please let us know if you have any questions or check out our website for more information. Best regards, the spring school team Please feel free to forward the information to anyone who might be interested in the Spring School. ______________ Error-driven learning Teachers: Jacolien van Rij and Dorothée Hoppe (University of Groningen) Error-driven learning (also called discrimination learning) allows to simulate the time course of learning. It is based on the Rescorla-Wagner model (Rescorla & Wagner, 1972) for animal cognition, which assumes that learning is driven by expectation error, instead of behaviorist association (Rescorla, 1988). The equations formulated by Rescorla and Wagner have been used to investigate different aspects of cognition, including language acquisition (e.g., Hsu, Chater, and Vitányi, 2011; St. Clair, Monaghan, and Ramscar, 2009), second language learning (Ellis, 2006), and reading of complex words (Baayen et al, 2011). Although error-driven learning can be applied for all domains in cognitive science, in this course we will focus on how it could be used for modeling language processing and language learning. ACT-R Teachers: Jelmer Borst & Katja Mehlhorn (University of Groningen) Website: http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu <http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/>. ACT-R is a high-level cognitive theory and simulation system for developing cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction time experiments to driving a car, learning algebra, and air traffic control. ACT-R can be used to develop process models of a task at a symbolic level. Participants will follow a compressed five-day version of the traditional summer school curriculum. We will also cover the connection between ACT-R and fMRI. Nengo Teacher: Terry Stewart (University of Waterloo) Website: http://www.nengo.ca <http://www.nengo.ca/> Nengo is a toolkit for converting high-level cognitive theories into low-level spiking neuron implementations. In this way, aspects of model performance such as response accuracy and reaction times emerge as a consequence of neural parameters such as the neurotransmitter time constants. It has been used to model adaptive motor control, visual attention, serial list memory, reinforcement learning, Tower of Hanoi, and fluid intelligence. Participants will learn to construct these kinds of models, starting with generic tasks like representing values and positions, and ending with full production-like systems. There will also be special emphasis on extracting various forms of data out of a model, such that it can be compared to experimental data. PRIMs Teacher: Niels Taatgen (University of Groningen) Website: http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/actransfer.html <http://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/actransfer.html> How do people handle and prioritize multiple tasks? How can we learn something in the context of one task, and partially benefit from it in another task? The goal of PRIMs is to cross the artificial boundary that most cognitive architectures have imposed on themselves by studying single tasks. It has mechanisms to model transfer of cognitive skills, and the competition between multiple goals. In the tutorial we will look at how PRIMs can model phenomena of cognitive transfer and cognitive training, and how multiple goals compete for priority in models of distraction.

Jan. 22, 2019

PhD positions at the Univ. of Leicester (for UK/EU candidates only)

by Quian Quiroga, Rodrigo (Prof.)

Fully Funded PhD Studentships (for UK/EU candidates only) Centre for Systems Neuroscience, University of Leicester, UK. www.le.ac.uk/csn The Centre for Systems Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, UK, offers a fully funded (stipend plus fees) PhD position for UK/EU candidates, to study single cell recordings in humans – performed in epileptic patients for curative surgery. The project will investigate concept cells (a.k.a. Jennifer Aniston neurons) – that means, neurons in the hippocampus and surrounding areas that selectively fire to specific concepts, like different pictures and the written or spoken name of a particular person (e.g. Quian Quiroga et al, Nature 2005; Quian Quiroga Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2012), which are involved in declarative memory functions. For more details see: www.le.ac.uk/csn Successful candidates will contribute to performing recordings with patients in collaborating hospitals and the analysis of the data to investigate the role of these neurons in memory. They should have very good quantitative skills (data processing, and programing e.g. in Matlab) and a strong background or interest in neuroscience. They should be able to work both independently and as part of a research team within the Centre for System Neuroscience at Leicester and with our external collaborators. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Paula Warrington, Research Centre Manager, csn(a)le.ac.uk. Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae and a brief description of their scientific interests to Paula Warrington (csn(a)le.ac.uk) The closing date for the applications is 1st March 2019. Interviews are anticipated to take place on the 8th March 2019. Cheers, Rodrigo Rodrigo Quian Quiroga Centre for Systems Neuroscience University of Leicester www.le.ac.uk/csn

Jan. 22, 2019

PhD position in vision rehabilitation and multi-data modelling in Switzerland

by Paul Matusz

Institute of Information Systems at HES-SO in Valais is looking for 1 PhD student interested in (eye) health and neuroscience, and modelling relationships between sensory/ perceptual - brain - cognitive processes. Our project aims to assess the potential of virtual reality games in the rehabilitation of the most common pediatric vision disorder - amblyopia ("lazy eye"). The recovery potential is assessed at the level of both the usual, basic vision skills (visual acuity or 3D vision) and functional "visual" skills, like age-appropriate literacy skills. The project likewise aims to establish the role therein of different selective attention systems (visual, multisensory), as studied with rigorous experimental paradigms combined with the advantages of EEG and multi-variate EEG/ERP analyses (eg. Murray et al. 2008 BTOP; Tivadar & Murray 2018 ORM tinyurl.com/y8uxonnf ). The project is well-suited for students interested in modelling multi-modal clinical and/or pediatric data and change in the areas of medicine, neuroscience and/or cognition. More details here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=19Wj5TjIk_Rid9js30g2lOhuhq01x113g . Paul (Pawel) Matusz, Ph.D. Junior Group Leader Institute of Information Systems, HES-SO – Radiology, University Hospital Centre & University of Lausanne, Sierre – Lausanne, Switzerland Adjunct Assistant Professor Hearing & Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA https://groupforrealworldneuroscience.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/paweljmatusz +41 213141547

Jan. 21, 2019

Post-doctoral position Memory Dynamics Lab, Donders Institute Nijmegen

by Francesco Battaglia

One post-doctoral position is available for a max. duration of 4 years (preferred start: first half 2019) , funded by a Dutch NWO VIDI grant to Lisa Genzel. The researcher will carry out large scale ensemble electrophysiology to research the neural basis of memory and memory consolidation. Extensive experience (e.g. at the PhD level) with ensemble recording (tetrode recording, silicon probes) and behavioral approaches would be considered a plus. The researchers will be embedded in the Memory Dynamics Lab (co-leaders, FP Battaglia and L Genzel), a rapidly growing group active in the exploration of mechanisms of memory, and will have access to large datasets from behavioral neurophysiology experiments (large scale ensemble ) from the group, currently further funded by a Marie Sklodowska Curie “M-GATE” Doctoral Network coordinated by FP Battaglia, a NWO VIDI grant to L Genzel and other public and private grants, and counting eight core members active in experimental and computational work (to be increase to 12 in 2019). To apply, please send a CV, a letter of motivation (2 page max. length) and the name and contact info for two possible referees to l.genzel(a)donders.ru.nl Applications reaching us before February, 14th 2019 will be given full consideration.

Jan. 21, 2019

PhD position, Computational models of task dependent object-based visual attention

by Obermayer, Klaus, Prof. Dr.

Dear moderator, would you be so kind to post the job offer below on the mailing list? Thank you very much! Best regards Klaus Obermayer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research Assistant (PhD position) Neural Information Processing Group Technische Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany Computational models of task dependent object-based visual attention Salary level: TV-L 13 (100%) Duration: 3 years Starting date: October 1st, 2019 Application deadline: February 15th, 2019 Working field The successful candidate will explore the hypothesis that object-level attentional units are essential mid-level factors which guide human eye-movements in visual scene analysis. Based on eye-fixation data from visual search tasks she/he will first build computational models to emulate the measured fixation sequences, to quantify the influence of different low- and high-level visual features, and to characterize the influence of task-driven changes in object-based attention processes. In a second step, plausible models will be integrated as "attentional modules" into a computer vision system for visual scene analysis and will be evaluated in terms of task success and the number of computations involved. Potential achievement of the project is an efficient real-time analysis of dynamic visual scenes. The position is part of the new DFG-funded cross-disciplinary research Cluster "Science of Intelligence" (http://www.scienceofintelligence.de/) The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Cluster's doctoral program and is expected to actively engage in the Cluster's educational and research activities. Qualifications Applicants must hold a Master degree in Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related fields. Applicants should have very good programming skills, a very good command of the English language, a solid mathematical background, competence in machine learning, and a strong interest in visual perception. How to apply: Please upload your application via the link www.scienceofintelligence.de/call-for-applications/open-positions/doctoral-…) and follow instructions. Applications should include: motivation letter, curriculum vitae, transcripts of records (for both BSc and MSc), copies of degree certificates (BSc, MSc), abstracts of Bachelor-, Master-thesis, list of publications and one selected manuscript (if applicable), two names of qualified persons who are willing to provide references, and any documents you feel may help us assess your competence.

Jan. 21, 2019

Meeting announcement: UK Neural Computation conference, July 1st-3rd

by Mark Humphries

Save the date! We are pleased to announce the UK Neural Computation conference, July 1st-3rd 2019, at the University of Nottingham A national meeting for the UK community working on the computational side of neuroscience. Be it modelling, maths, data science, theory, machine-learning, and all combinations thereof. Schedule: July 1st: ECR tutorials and seminars July 2nd-3rd: main meeting Confirmed speakers for the main meeting: Athena Akrami (SWC) Andy Barron (Macquarie) Tim Behrens (Oxford) Claudia Clopath (Imperial) Matthias Hennig (Edinburgh) Cian O'Donnell (Bristol) Chris Summerfield (Oxford) Tim Vogels (Oxford) Barbara Webb (Edinburgh) For further details, see the website: https://drmdhumphries.wixsite.com/ukneuralcomp2019 And look out for the abstract submission and registration announcement, coming soon. Hope to see you there! Mark Humphries (Chair, Nottingham) Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Robert Schmidt (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

Jan. 18, 2019

NIH funded postdocs: systems neuroscience of visual perception and attention

by Haider, Bilal

NIH Funded postdoctoral positions: Synaptic and network mechanisms controlling visual perception The Haider Lab<file:///C:/Users/bhaider6/Dropbox/Docs/GTech%20Docs/Hiring/haider.gatech.edu> in the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Georgia Tech & Emory University seeks 2 highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral fellows for 3-5 year NIH BRAIN funded projects examining synaptic and network mechanisms supporting sensory perception and visual attention. Recent lab publications can be found here: http://haider.gatech.edu/publications/ The projects offer significant opportunity to learn cutting-edge research techniques in vivo, including 1) neural population recording with high-density silicon electrodes (Neuropixels), 2) optogenetic circuit manipulation, and 3) whole-cell patch-clamp recording during behavior. The ideal candidate has expertise in patch clamp or multi-electrode electrophysiology in vitro or in vivo, and quantitative skill in data acquisition and analysis (preferably with MATLAB). Candidates should have excellent written and verbal communication skills, an inquisitive mindset, and enthusiasm to work in a multi-disciplinary team. The position is funded for up to 5 years, pending satisfactory performance upon annual review. We are enthusiastic to form a diverse, international research group. All candidates will be mentored for independent career development. There is a strong, multidisciplinary concentration of labs focusing on Neuroscience @ GT<http://neuro.gatech.edu/> and at Emory<http://biomed.emory.edu/PROGRAM_SITES/NS/>. Atlanta is vibrant, green, and one of the most affordable and livable major cities of the US. Applications should include a CV, a brief statement of research goals, expected date of availability, and names and contact information of three references. Please email these materials to bilal.haider(a)bme.gatech.edu<mailto:bilal.haider@bme.gatech.edu> The Wallace H. Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering<https://www.bme.gatech.edu/> at Georgia Tech and Emory University is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. The Department is a unique enterprise, spanning two of the top Engineering and Medical institutes in the country. This environment offers unparalleled facilities and resources for the pursuit of understanding neural circuits and their relationship to behavior and neurological dysfunction. Further information and recent lab publications can be found at haider.gatech.edu<file:///C:/Users/bilal/Dropbox/Docs/GTech%20Docs/haider.gatech.edu> Bilal Haider, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Tech & Emory University 313 Ferst Drive, Suite 3104 Atlanta, GA 30332 tel: +1 404 385 4935 fax: +1 404 385 5044 site: haider.gatech.edu<http://haider.gatech.edu/> twitter: @haiderlab<https://twitter.com/haiderlab>

Jan. 18, 2019

Postdoctoral position at Caltech

by Kennedy, Ann

Hello comp-neuro, posting this on behalf of David Anderson: The laboratory of David J. Anderson is seeking highly motivated postdoctoral researchers from computational backgrounds, for work in analysis and modeling the neural control of complex naturalistic behaviors. The position offers a unique opportunity for theorists to be immersed in a lab environment, collaborating with experimentalists to design and analyze microendoscopic imaging and functional perturbation experiments targeting the dynamics of subcortical nuclei governing social and fear behaviors in mice. Potential computational/theory projects include joint latent variable models of neural activity and behavior, analysis of automated pose estimation data in pairs of interacting mice, and modeling decision-making processes among heterogeneous neural populations. The ideal candidate has expertise in statistical modeling, engineering, or physics, has excellent written and oral communication skills, and is enthusiastic about working closely with experimentalists to understand biological problems. David Anderson is the Director of the TianQiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience at Caltech, a strong, interdisciplinary neuroscience program. A new, dedicated building for the Institute is under construction, and the Institute is actively recruiting new theory faculty as well as computationally minded students. Applications should include a CV, a brief statement of research interests, expected date of availability, and contact information of three references, and should be sent to mancusog(a)caltech.edu<mailto:mancusog@caltech.edu>, cc'ing wuwei(a)caltech.edu<mailto:wuwei@caltech.edu> and kennedya(a)caltech.edu<mailto:kennedya@caltech.edu> Further information about the Anderson lab can be found at https://davidandersonlab.caltech.edu<https://davidandersonlab.caltech.edu/> -- Ann Kennedy Postdoctoral Researcher California Institute of Technology

Jan. 18, 2019

Submissions now open: XI. Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science - Computational Rationality

by Gergo Orban

Dear all, This is a reminder that submissions are now open for the XI. Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science, which is devoted to the topic of Computational Rationality. The conference will take place between 23-25 May 2019 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We invite poster submissions from all areas of cognitive science. You may submit your poster abstract here: http://www.cecog.eu/ducog/page_submission.php <http://www.cecog.eu/ducog/page_submission.php> Our invited speakers are: Ulrike Hahn (Birkbeck, University of London, UK) Quentin Huys (Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, London, UK) Julian Jara-Ettinger (Yale University, USA) Máté Lengyel (University of Cambridge, UK, and Central European University, Hungary) Azzurra Ruggeri (Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany) Laura Schulz (MIT, USA) Deadline for poster abstract submission is 28 February 2019. Authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstracts by 15 March 2019. For more information please visit: http://www.cecog.eu/ducog/page_invitation.php <http://www.cecog.eu/ducog/page_invitation.php> Or email us: ducog(a)cogsci.bme.hu <mailto:ducog@cogsci.bme.hu> On behalf of the organisers, Oana Stanciu Gergő Orbán Programme chairs

Jan. 17, 2019