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World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, April 17 at 11am (EDT), Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge|Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Tim O'Leary University of Cambridge on the topic of "Flip flops and toggles for effective decision making in neural circuits*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *April 17, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Neural computation is inextricably bound to decisions that must be made under time pressure and uncertainty. At the level of neural circuits, single neurons need to decide whether to spike. On longer timescales, the component circuitry needs to decide whether to reconfigure to store memories and adapt to novel situations. In this talk I will focus on two fun ideas in each of these contexts by showing how nonlinearities in neural components naturally form excitable switches that enable reliable decisions to be made in fluctuating environments. I will also issue propaganda that the kind of high level, cognitive faculties that we normally associate with decision making apply equally well and are understudied at the level of neural and synaptic populations. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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 -- 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Pères 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - ᐧ

April 14, 2024

PhD Opportunity in AI and Neuroscience, Bordeaux, Deadline: April 23rd

by Xavier Hinaut

We are offering a PhD topic that bridges large language models with neuroscience. **Deadline for application: no later than April 23rd** Location: Bordeaux NeuroCampus (France) Laboratories: Inria & Neurological Diseases Insitute This project aims to explore the adaptation of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to study their potential in understanding human language and identifying associated pathologies. By focusing on advanced neurocomputational models and the use of functional MRI, this work aims to decipher linguistic representations and their individual variations, particularly in pathological contexts such as dyslexia. We are seeking a candidate with an interdisciplinary research mindset, combining a strong interest in cognitive neuroscience with a solid proficiency in machine learning. The candidate should have a good command of Python scientific libraries (numpy/scipy) and be comfortable with mathematical/statistical concepts, in addition to proficiency in technical English. The project will take place in a dynamic and collaborative research environment linked to the Inria Exploratory Action project "BrainGPT", with access to imaging methods such as MRI and intensive computing clusters. The expected results have the potential to transform our understanding of the neural bases of language and open new avenues for personalized education and language pathology treatment. Applications must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than *April 23rd*, with the thesis expected to begin on October 1st, 2024. To apply, please send your CV, a cover letter, your academic transcripts since high school, and letters of recommendation to these two email addresses: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr For more information (please disregard the deadline mentioned in the link): https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?matricule_prop=55386 or informally via email: gael.jobard(a)u-bordeaux.fr & xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr Best regards, Xavier Hinaut Inria Research Scientist — www.xavierhinaut.com -- +33 5 33 51 48 01 Mnemosyne team, Inria, Bordeaux, France -- https://team.inria.fr/mnemosyne & LaBRI, Bordeaux University -- https://www4.labri.fr/en/formal-methods-and-models & IMN (Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute) -- http://www.imn-bordeaux.org/en — Our Reservoir Computing library: https://github.com/reservoirpy/reservoirpy

April 11, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

April 11, 2024

Sleep spindles in hippocampal axons

by Gregory J Brewer

We are pleased to announce our latest publication out today in Scientific Reports, Spindle oscillations in communicating axons within a reconstituted hippocampal formation are strongest in CA3 without thalamus. (open access) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-024-58002-0?utm_source=rct… Grace to you, Greg Gregory J. Brewer, Ph.D., Professor University of California Irvine, Dept Biomedical Engineering 92697-2715 Institute for Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders (MIND) Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) AGE Fellow of the American Aging Association Nat. Sci, 2, Office Rm 3101, Lab 3432 GJBrewer(a)uci.edu<mailto:GJBrewer@uci.edu>, 217-502-4511 http://brewer.eng.uci.edu/

April 10, 2024

New on the van Vreeswijk Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (VVNTS) website and YouTube channel

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://streaklinks.com/B7FpUrTOTmFafqa5pAf069mO/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide > New on the VVTNS website and YouTube channel Biologically motivated learning dynamics: parallel architectures and nonlinear Hebbian plasticity talk given on April 10, 2024 by Michael Buice Allen Institute https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2023-2024 ------------------------------------ *VVTNS: VVTNS is a weekly digital seminar on Zoom targeting the theoretical neuroscience community. Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. 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

April 10, 2024

New virtual colloquium series: Brains in Space

by Vinita Samarasinghe

On behalf of Sen Cheng, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran and Laurenz Wiskott from the Institute of Neural Computation, Faculty for Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, I invite you to attend a new colloquium series "*Brains in Space: An Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium on Spatial Navigation*". In this colloquium, speakers will present their research in various areas of spatial navigation, including behavioral, neuroscientific, and theoretical approaches. The goal is to foster interdisciplinary discussions along the lines of the review article "A Map of Spatial Navigation for Neuroscience" (Parra-Barrero et al., 2023) that proposes a taxonomy of spatial navigation processes in mammals. The talks will cover a diverse range of topics, from the neural underpinnings of navigation to complex navigation behaviors. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how the mammalian brain represents and navigates through space, as well as learn about several cognitive processes such as learning and memory through the lens of spatial navigation. The colloquium takes place virtually on Tuesday's from 16:00 to 17:30 (CEST) and the complete schedule can be found at https://www.ini.rub.de/teaching/courses/colloquium_brains_in_space_an_inter… . The first talk is on April 16th 2024. *Confirmed speakers:* Elizabeth Chrastil, Marko Nardini, Laure Rondi-Reig, Denis Sheynikhovich, Aaron Wilber, Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran, Francesca Sargolini and Eloy Parra Barrero. This colloquium is open to the public. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may be interested. *Zoom link*: https://ruhr-uni-bochum.zoom.us/j/68766911124?pwd=MFErK284UmN5V25wZzd5L1FCa… We look forward to seeing you. Kind regards, -- Vinita Samarasinghe M.Sc., M.A. Science Manager Arbeitsgruppe Computational Neuroscience Institut für Neuroinformatik Ruhr-Universität Bochum, NB 3/73 Postfachnummer 110 Universitätstr. 150 44801 Bochum Tel: +49 (0) 234 32 27996 Email:samarasinghe@ini.rub.de

April 10, 2024

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024: Applications are now open!

by DEPANNEMAECKER Damien

EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience 2024 <https://eitnschool2022.sciencesconf.org/> Marseille, 16-25 October 2024 The EITN Fall School in Computational Neuroscience consists of a 10-day course in theoretical and computational neuroscience, from cellular to whole-brain levels. The course is structured in thematic days with lectures, tutorials, and project work. The course is typically aimed at PhD students, young postdocs, or master students interested to learn more about techniques of computational neuroscience, and the use of various simulation environments for model building. The students will form thematic groups to work on predefined subjects, with the help of tutors. The course will cover cellular models, models of brain signals, circuit models and networks, mean-field models, and whole-brain models. There will be lectures and tutorials associated with these topics. Why join? 10 days of intensive training in computational neuroscience provided by researchers from all over Europe. A complete program: • Cellular models, and models of brain signals • Circuit models and networks • Mean-field models • Whole-brain models Hands-on learning schedule based on: • Morning classes and tutorials • Group projects in the afternoon • Free time in the evenings and on Sunday to visit Marseille How to apply? This training has a limited capacity of 28 students, therefore a selection will be performed by a scientific organizing committee. Applications are open until 09 June 2024. Application: a one-page CV, a motivation letter to explain why you would like to attend this course, and a recommendation letter. The file names must start with your name (e.g., NAME_CV.pdf, etc....). Send your application by email at eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> You will receive a confirmation your application has been received within 5 working days (or on the day the application period closes (whichever comes the soonest). If not, please consider a technical issue and submit your application again. Contact eitnfs2024(a)groups.emdesk.com<mailto:eitnfs2024@groups.emdesk.com> for any questions or assistance. This training is designed to be attended in person in Marseille. It will not be recorded nor accessible remotely. Organizers: Damien Depannemaecker (AMU), Alain Destexhe (CNRS), Viktor Jirsa (AMU) Preliminary list of Faculty and Speakers: Viktor Jirsa (AMU, Marseille France)` Alain Destexhe (NeuroPSI, Paris, France)) Sacha Van Alba (Research Centre Jülich and University of Cologne, Allemagne) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Italie) Michaele Migliore (National Research Council, Palerme, Italie) Andrea Brovelli (AMU, Marseille France) Matthieu Gilson(AMU, Marseille France) Marja-Leena Linne (Tempere University, Finlande) Spase Petkoski (AMU, Marseille France) Damien Depannemaecker(AMU, Marseille France) HuifangWang (AMU, Marseille France) ...

April 10, 2024

[CFP] Modern Machine Learning Methods for robust and real-time Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) - ESANN 2024 - Deadline 02 May

by Jaime Andres Riascos Salas

CALL FOR PAPERS CFP – SPECIAL SESSION MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI) Paper Submission Deadline: 2 MAY 2024 EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN 2024) OCTOBER 9-11, 2024 Bruges, Belgium. Online and on-site http://www.esann.org [1] Contact Special Session: jariascos(a)correo.iue.edu.co THE EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING (ESANN) is a leading annual conference dedicated to cutting-edge research and applications within these fields. Since 1993, ESANN has provided a vital platform for researchers from academia, industry, and government to share their latest findings, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and network with others in the field. The conference covers core topics like artificial neural networks, computational intelligence, and machine learning, and explores wide-ranging applications in areas such as bioinformatics, engineering, and finance. The 32nd edition of ESANN (ESANN 2024) will take place in Bruges, Belgium in hybrid mode (both in-person and online participation), from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 October 2024. Bruges (also called the "Venice of the North") is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe. Bruges is situated about 100 km. from Brussels and can very easily be reached by train from Brussels' main stations. Bruges is unique in Europe: a living city of human proportions where you can wander to your heart's content in virtually unspoiled surroundings. Inside ESANN 2024, the special session "MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI)” aims to spotlight and consolidate the latest advancements, innovations, challenges, and prospects in modern machine learning algorithms for BCI, which are both accurate and fast enough for real-time use, and ideally assessed for real-time use. BCIs are communication and control systems that enable users to interact with computers using brain activity only. They are very promising for various applications, such as assistive technologies, rehabilitation, or mental state monitoring, but suffer from a lack of robustness. Their robustness mostly relies on advances in machine learning and signal processing. Simple models offer a quick response to real-time constraints but often without high accuracies. In contrast, artificial neural networks and more elaborate models compromise speedy responses for reaching sometimes higher accuracies. Thus, ideally, there is a need for a trade-off in complexity in signal processing and machine learning stages to obtain the best combination, i.e., both high accuracy and speed. Therefore, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and pave the way for future breakthroughs in this field. We invite authors to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies on the following topics: 1. Signal Processing and Feature Extraction: I. Novel methods for preprocessing EEG signals II. Feature extraction techniques for real-time BCI applications 2. Classification Algorithms: I. Advanced machine learning algorithms for BCI signal classification II. Deep learning approaches in BCI research 3. Real-time BCI Systems: I. Development of real-time BCI systems II. Applications and challenges in deploying BCI systems in real-time. Prospective authors are invited to contribute to the conference by electronically submitting papers through the ESANN portal following the instructions provided at https://www.esann.org/node/6 [2] and choosing our session's title as Target Session on the paper submission form. Papers must not exceed 6 pages, including figures and references. All papers will be submitted to a single-blind peer-review process. LaTeX and Word-style files are available. They must be used for generating the PDF file (see author guidelines at https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines [3]). Accepted papers will be presented as either talks or posters (in-person or online), to favor interaction with the ESANN attendees. There is no difference in quality between talks and posters; all papers will be published in the conference proceedings. At least one author must register for the conference and pay the registration fee. We ask prospective authors to send us an e-mail with the tentative title of their contribution to the special session as soon as possible. IMPORTANT DATES: Paper submission deadline: 2 MAY 2024 Notification of acceptance: 16 JUNE 2024 The ESANN 2023 conference: 9-11 OCTOBER 2024 SPECIAL SESSION ORGANISERS: Fabien Lotte (Inria, France) Marta Molinas (NTNU, Norway) Jaime A Riascos (Potsdam University - Institution University of Envigado, Germany - Colombia) Bests regards! Links: ------ [1] http://www.esann.org/ [2] https://www.esann.org/node/6 [3] https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines

April 10, 2024

Survey regarding large-scale neuroimaging datasets

by Eline Kupers

Dear all, In recent years, we have seen an increase in the usage, acquisition, and open sharing of rich, large-scale neuroimaging datasets. This is an exciting development in human neuroscience and suggests that we are entering a new era of big open data. To understand users' experiences with current large-scale datasets as well as needs for future datasets, we invite you to this anonymous survey. The survey is anonymous to ensure that we get honest opinions. We welcome participation from all researchers regardless of their experience and/or background. You can find the survey here: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fAxIDk3pYdwC6W This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on *May 15, 2024*. Eline Kupers & Kendrick Kay

April 9, 2024

Ph.D. Positions in Computational Neuroscience in Padova

by Samir Suweis

Dear colleagues, I would like to share with you the opening of the official call for the PhD program in Neuroscience hosted at the "Padova Neuroscience Center". This is a unique opportunity for young researchers to join a vibrant, active and interdisciplinary community of international faculty and to perform cutting-edge research in Neuroscience. The call offers 10 fully funded PhD positions with more than 45 research lines in diverse neuroscience fields, like Circuits & Systems, Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral, Computational Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Translational and Clinical Neuroscience. This is is an incredible opportunity for aspiring neuroscientists to dive into a dynamic and multidisciplinary field, collaborating with more than 35 distinguished faculty members from 7 academic departments. Program Highlights: Deadline for Applications: 13th May 2024, 1 pm CET Interviews Scheduled: 28th May - 20th June 2024 Research Areas: The program covers five main lines: Multimodal Neuroimaging Methods Circuit and Systemic Neuroscience Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience Translational and Clinical Neuroscience Computational Neuroscience Facilities and Support: Gain access to our in-house preclinical, PET, MRI, and EEG facilities. Benefit from superb computing, administrative, and technical supports. Duration: A comprehensive 3-year program. The University of Padova is not just a hub of academic excellence but also lies in the heart of a vibrant city known for its history, culture, and lively university atmosphere. Padova offers a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern innovation, making it an ideal place for both study and exploration. Don't miss this chance to step into the world of neuroscience research in one of Italy's most historic and dynamic university cities. We encourage all interested candidates to apply before the deadline and join us in this exciting journey of discovery and learning. For more details and application procedures, please visit our website https://pnc.unipd.it/admission <https://pnc.unipd.it/admission>. Best regards, Samir Suweis ***************** Samir Suweis www.liphlab.com Tel: +39 049 827 71 74

April 9, 2024