- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Special Issue on Information Storage, Compression and Prediction in Deep Neural Networks

by Nicola Catenacci

Dear colleagues, We invite you to submit to the special issue on "Mathematical Understanding of Information Storage, Compression and Prediction in Neural Networks" (more details can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/59300) *- The journal(s) -* The special issue is hosted by (alternatively): - Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience (Impact Factor - 2.3, CiteScore - 5.0), or - Frontiers in Neuroinformatics (Impact Factor - 2.5, CiteScore - 5.5). *- Research Topic -* Regardless of their success, today, deep neural networks (NNs) are still used as a "black box", meaning the inner workings or detailed explanations of how they arrive at their output are not revealed. Currently, we still do not have the mathematical tools to fully understand the formal properties of these networks and their limitations. Improving our theoretical understanding of NNs is particularly important today, as these tools are being deployed in an increasing number of safety-critical scenarios, necessitating constant scrutiny of their behavior. The goal of the special issue is to investigate the mathematical frameworks that enable a better understanding of how information is learned and represented within a neuralnetwork, including the study of existing approaches that go in this direction. *- Call for Papers -* We invite researchers to present manuscripts focusing on the mathematical analysis of deep neural networks, including their information-theoretic interpretation and their statistical limits. The areas relevant to this special issue include, but are not limited to: - Theory of Deep Feed-forward and Recurrent NNs - Information-theoretic principles and interpretation of NNs - The Information Bottleneck and deep learning - Compression in Deep Neural Networks - The analysis of pattern and memory storage in NNs - Deep NNs for brain-inspired machine learning and biological modeling - Statistical Physics of deep neural networks - Dynamical Systems Modeling of NNs - Neural Network Dynamics and Stability - Generalization and Regularization in NNs - Learning Theory and Neural Networks - Mathematical Models of Learning and Plasticity - Neural Network Interpretability and Explainability - Energy-Based Models in Deep Learning - Neural Network Compression, Pruning, Sparsity and Efficient Computing - Mathematics of Self-Supervised Deep Learning - Optimization Landscapes and Loss Surface Analysis - Neural Network Generalization and Overparameterization - Mathematical Theories of Transformers and Attention Mechanisms - Theoretical Foundations of Transfer Learning and Domain Adaptation Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 March 2026. *- Topic Editors -* Giorgio Gosti, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Italy ( giorgio.gosti(a)cnr.it) Nicola Catenacci Volpi, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom ( n.catenacci-volpi(a)herts.ac.uk) Nilesh Goel, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, United Arab Emirates *-----------------------------------* Dr. Nicola Catenacci Volpi, PhD Research Fellow in Information Theory for AI & Robotics Adaptive Systems Research Group The University of Hertfordshire Department of Computer Science College Lane Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB United Kingdom E-mail: n.catenacci-volpi(a)herts.ac.uk

Jan. 20, 2026

PhD opportunities in computational & theoretical neuroscience at Bocconi (deadline 5 Feb 2026)

by Alessandro Sanzeni

Hi all, A quick reminder that applications are open for the PhD in Statistics and Computer Science at Bocconi University (Milan, Italy). The program is fully funded (4 years) and offers an interdisciplinary environment connecting statistics, computer science, and data-driven modeling. In our group/area, research in neuroscience combines theoretical modeling (physics- and ML-inspired) with the analysis of experimental data to study how the brain processes information, learns, and remembers. Ongoing projects include visual processing and learning mechanisms, in collaboration with experimental groups worldwide. Program details and application instructions: * Department of Computing Sciences<https://cs.unibocconi.eu/> * PhD program page<https://www.unibocconi.it/en/programs/phd/phd-statistics-and-computer-scien…> Application deadline: 5 February 2026. If you know strong candidates, I’d be grateful if you could forward this note. And please feel free to reach out for informal inquiries. Best, Alessandro Sanzeni Assistant Professor Department of Computing Sciences Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

Jan. 20, 2026

EMBO Workshop on Dendrites and beyond: properties, function and contributions to network processing

by marouso_velissariou＠imbb.forth.gr

DENDRITES 2026 EMBO Workshop on Dendrites and beyond: properties, function and contributions to network processing 19-22 May 2026, Heraklion, Crete, Greece https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-dendrites Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the solicitation of abstracts for short oral or poster presentations at the EMBO Workshop on DENDRITES 2026, which will take place in Heraklion, Crete, on 19-22 May 2026. This is the 6th in a very successful series of meetings on the island of Crete dedicated to dendrites. The meeting will bring together scientific leaders from around the globe to present their theoretical and experimental work on dendrites. The meeting program is designed to facilitate discussions of new ideas and discoveries in a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes interaction. Please register and submit your abstract online at: https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-dendrites No payment is required for abstract submission. Submissions of abstracts are due by February 1st, 2026 Notifications will be provided by February 28th, 2026 Registration payment due by March 15th, 2026 Potential attendees are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract as presenters will have registration priority. For more information about the conference, please refer to our web site or send email to embo2026(a)artion.com.gr We look forward to seeing you in person at DENDRITES 2026! The organizers, Panayiota Poirazi, Lucy Palmer, Mark Harnett -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

Jan. 20, 2026

[Newsletter RTAIM] 24th RTAIM Online Seminar | Call Abstract: 6th International Conference on Philosophy of Mind | 04-08 May 2025, Uni. Porto

by steven gouveia

Dear All, You are welcome to attend the 24th rTAIM Online Seminar, with the participation of MAIRA DE CINQUE (University of Canada West, Canada), 21 January 2026, 5:00pm - 6:30pm (Lisbon Time) via Microsoft Teams with the title “Linguistic Self-Correction in the Age of AI". Link available: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/seminar-24-rtaim Or: * Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3421342035921?p=KnbYrpwPDoDET8dCM6 * ID: 3421342035921 * Password: yS3BU9rq Moreover, the Call for Abstract for the 6th International Conference on Philosophy of Mind: Artificial Intelligence (6ICPH) 4-8 May 2026 (4-5 May, Online | 6-8 May, in-person), Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto (Portugal) is now open until the 29 March 2026. Keynotes are (confirmed): * Anil Seth (Uni. Sussex) * Diana I. Pérez (Uni Buenos Aires) * Paul Thagard (Uni. Waterloo) * Gloria Andrada (CSIC, Madrid) * Miguel Pais-Vieira (Uni. Aveiro) * Ângela Leite (Catholic Uni. Portugal) * Marina Trakas (CONICET | Uni. Lisbon) Full information here: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/6-international-conference-philosophy-m… New book out: “Ethics in Artificial Intelligence: A Multidisciplinary Approach”, Ethics Press. Info: https://ethicspress.com/products/ethics-in-artificial-intelligence. Sincerely yours, RTAIM Team

Jan. 20, 2026

CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality 2026

by Daniel McNamee

*CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Course: Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality 2026*. This intensive course is a unique opportunity for early-career researchers interested in this field. Hosted at the *Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown*, this three-week course focuses on acquiring, analyzing, and modeling *behavioral data* and integrating it with neurobiological information, using *translational methodologies* that can be applied across species—from simple model organisms to humans—to broaden experimental and research capabilities. *Location:* Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal *Dates:* 7 - 26 June 2026 *Application Deadline:* 13 February 2026 *Apply now:* https://cajal-training.org/on-site/quantitative-approaches-to-behavior-and-… <https://cajal-training.org/on-site/quantitative-approaches-to-behaviour-and…> *Course Directors* - *Ann Kennedy* – Scripps Research, USA - *Daniel McNamee* – Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal - *Giorgio Gilestro* – Imperial College London, UK *Course Themes & Topics* This course will focus on the following key frontier areas: - Behavioral data acquisition and analysis; - Modeling behavioral dynamics; - Integration with neurobiological data; - Experimental design and independent projects; - Translational and cross-species approaches. *Keynote Speakers Include:* - Andre Brown (Imperial College London, UK) - Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute, Germany) - Andrew Straw (University of Freiburg, Germany) - Barbara Webb (University of Edinburgh, UK) - Ben De Bivort (Harvard University, USA) - Carlos Ribeiro (Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal) - Gordon Berman (Emory College, USA) - Greg J. Stephens (OIST Graduate University, Japan) - Ian Couzin (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany) - Joshua Shaevitz (Princeton University, USA) - Kim Hoke (Colorado State University, USA) - Kristin Branson (HHMI Janelia Research Campus, USA) - Nachum Ulanovsky (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) - R. James Cotton (Northwestern University, USA) - Sama Ahmed, University of Washington, USA - Talmo Pereira (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA)

Jan. 19, 2026

Registration Open: Braitenberg 100: Computational Neuroscience - Past, Present, and Future, June 29-July 1, 2026 in Tuebingen, Germany

by Pavlovic, Maria

Dear colleagues, We are delighted to announce that registration is open for a landmark symposium on the occasion of Valentino Braitenberg's 100th birthday in our campus's <https://www.mph.tuebingen.mpg.de/en> Max Planck House, Tübingen, Germany, June 29-July 1st, 2026: <http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/> Braitenberg 100: Computational Neuroscience - Past, Present, and Future The symposium will gather many of the world’s leading experts to celebrate past achievements, showcase current breakthroughs, and brainstorm the future of computational neuroscience. There will be keynote speeches, poster sessions, and various program events to facilitate intellectual exchanges and interactions. -------------------------------- Keynote Speakers Include: Neil Burgess • Patrick Cavanagh • Kathleen Cullen • Peter Dayan • Kenji Doya • Ivan De Araujo • Wulfram Gerstner • Michael Hasselmo • Sabine Kastner • Read Montague • Reza Shadmehr • Naoshige Uchida • Li Zhaoping -------------------------------- To facilitate interactions and discussions, we have a limited capacity of 130 seats. >> Register now at https://app2.edoobox.com/en/MPI/Braitenberg100 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/app2.edoobox.com/en/MPI/Braitenberg100__…> << We look forward to welcoming you to Tübingen for Braitenberg 100—an inspiring celebration of computational neuroscience’s past, present, and future. Warm regards, The Organizing Committee, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics -------------------------------- Please direct inquiries to <mailto:braitenberg100@tue.mpg.de%0b> braitenberg100(a)tue.mpg.de <http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/> http://www.braitenberg100-theoretical-neuroscience.de/ --------------------------------

Jan. 19, 2026

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11:00 am ET - Adrien Peyrache, Mc Gill

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture Adrien Peyrache Mc Gill on the topic of *Building and Using a Cognitive Map* The lecture will be held on zoom on January 21, 2026, at *11:00 am ET * > To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page > *Abstract: *The hippocampus is thought to build a cognitive map that supports navigation, memory, and planning, but what defines such a map and how it is used remain debated. In this talk, I will present computational models in which hippocampal-like representations emerge in recurrent neural networks trained to predict sequences of sensory observations. While spatially tuned units reliably arise, they are not sufficient to form a cognitive map. Instead, map-like representations emerge when recurrent dynamics support multi-step prediction, yielding a population-level encoding of environmental geometry. Once learned, these representations can autonomously generate offline trajectories biased by recent experience, capturing key features of hippocampal replay. I will then show how these representations guide behavior in navigation tasks. In a hippocampal–striatal model facing visual ambiguity, access to hippocampal activity enables rapid learning and flexible adaptation. Place-like coding supports self-localization, while population-level hippocampal states can be used to derive intrinsic learning signals that estimate progress toward a remembered goal, improving performance beyond full sensory observability. Together, these results suggest that cognitive maps arise from predictive recurrent dynamics and support behavior through both localization and internally generated learning signals. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

Jan. 18, 2026

New Frontiers in Associative Memory workshop at ICLR 2026

by krotov.a.dmitry＠gmail.com

Dear Friends and Colleagues, ICLR 2026 will host an official workshop on New Frontiers in Associative Memory. Please consider sharing this information with your students and colleagues and submitting your best work related to Associative Memory by February 14, 2026. Workshop website: https://nfam2026.amemory.net. Submissions are open via Open Review: https://openreview.net/group?id=ICLR.cc/2026/Workshop/NFAM. Join us in Rio de Janeiro! Best wishes, Dmitry Krotov

Jan. 18, 2026

AIces 2026

by David Silva - IRDTA

AIces 2026 – International School on the Cognitive, Ethical & Societal Dimensions of AI 📍 Porto–Maia, Portugal | 🗓 March 30 – April 2, 2026 | 🌍 On-site & fully online AIces 2026 is a global, interdisciplinary research training school addressing AI cognition, ethics, and societal impact. The program features 10 advanced courses, 2 keynote lectures, and participant symposia, delivered by leading scholars and industry researchers from institutions such as CMU, Johns Hopkins, NVIDIA Research, KTH, Delft, and more. Topics include: Trustworthy & responsible AI Cognitive architectures and neuroscience-inspired AI Large language models and symbolic processing Algorithmic fairness, governance, and social justice AI, human values, democracy, and the future of work Who should attend: graduate students, researchers, and practitioners from AI, cognitive science, philosophy, ethics, social sciences, and policy. ✔ Full online participation available ✔ Lectures recorded (45-day access) ✔ Certificate of participation 🔗 Website & registration: https://aices.irdta.eu/2026/ ⏳ Early registration deadline: February 3, 2026

Jan. 17, 2026

Open PhD Position at the Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation, TU Graz

by Ozan Özdenizci

Dear all, We have an open PhD position in our research group at the Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation, Graz University of Technology, Austria. We are offering a 3-year doctoral researcher position focused on reliable and resource-efficient deep learning techniques, with an emphasis on spike-based neural computation in modern learning systems. The doctoral research will address both fundamental and applied algorithmic questions in learning methods and neural architectures. The starting date for the position is April 2026. More information on the position and how to apply: https://www.tugraz.at/institute/iml/institute/open-positions#c725665 Best regards,  Ozan Özdenizci -- Dr. Ozan Özdenizci Assistant Professor Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse 16b/I, 8010 Graz, Austria

Jan. 17, 2026