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World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Mean-field dynamics in networks with clustered connectivity and dendritic nonlinearities | Gabriel Ocker, Boston University | Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 11:00 am ET

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 Gabriel Ocker Boston University on the topic of Mean-field dynamics in networks with clustered connectivity and dendritic nonlinearities The lecture will be held on Zoom on May 13, 2026 at *11:00 am ET * > To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page > > *Abstract: *Networks of interconnected neurons display diverse patterns of activity. Relating these patterns to the structure of the network is a central goal of theoretical neuroscience. Classic neural field and rate models have been powerful tools for this purpose due to their analytical tractability. Here, we show that the recently-developed combinatorial threshold-linear network (CTLN) model is a mean-field theory for excitatory-inhibitory Hawkes networks, with clustered connectivity, in an inhibition-stabilized regime. This mapping allows us to leverage powerful analytical results for CTLN networks to predict diverse macroscopic dynamics of clustered Hawkes networks, including metastability between various macroscopic fixed points, limit cycles, and chaotic attractors. We will then examine an extension of this approach to models with nonlinear dendritic dynamics, focusing on dendritic calcium spikes.We uncover a marked point process mean-field theory for these networks and use this to examine how somatic vs dendritic-targeting connectivity shapes the mean-field equilibrium phase diagram. *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 ᐧ

May 10, 2026

Human-AI Workshop at IJCAI 2026

by Guozhang Chen

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce that our proposal for the Human-AI Workshop at IJCAI 2026 has been accepted. Workshop website: https://hbai2026.github.io/ Date: One day between August 16–21, 2026 Place: Bremen, Germany Paper submission link: https://openreview.net/group?id=ijcai.org/IJCAI-ECAI/2026/Workshop/HBAI Submission deadline: May 15, 2026 Please share this information within your networks. Thank you for your support. Best regards, Guozhang Chen Assistant Professor School of Computer Science Peking University

May 7, 2026

Postdoctoral Position in Human Brain–Computer Interfaces

by João Barbosa

Dear all, The Neuromodulation Institute (Paris) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position (full-time, 2-year contract with the possibility of extension) to join a human brain–computer interface project led by Philippe Domenech <http://computationalbrainteam.com/en/people> (Neuromodulation Institute, Paris) in direct collaboration with João Barbosa <http://jbarbosa.org/> (Neuromodulation Institute, Paris) and Guillaume Bellec <http://guillaume.bellec.eu/> (Technical University of Vienna). The work will be carried out in the center of Paris and the newly created Neuromodulation Institute. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. About the Project This position is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration involving computational neuroscientists, clinicians, and engineers. The goal is to establish model-driven, multi-site stimulation experiments in human patients and move towards novel therapies for psychiatric disorders through the control of human brain dynamics via closed-loop stimulation. As an initial step toward these broader goals, the postdoctoral researcher will work with electrophysiological data collected from epilepsy patients implanted with ~124 intracranial LFP electrodes, enabling simultaneous recording and multi-site stimulation. We already collected several datasets (open-loop) and up to 4 subjects are collected per month through a national network of clinicians. The work carried out by the successful applicant will sit at the intersection of machine learning, computational neuroscience and data analyses of human intracranial electrophysiology. The medium-term ambition is to expand this work to additional patient populations, including individuals with treatment-resistant major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and to incorporate recording techniques such as large-scale multi-unit activity and sub-second neuromodulation (e.g. dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, etc) detection using ML-augmented voltammetry. Key responsibilities include developing data-driven state-space models of neural dynamics for optimal control policies for stimulation as well as inference pipelines for predicting network responses of intracranial recordings. The position emphasizes computational modeling, theory, and algorithmic development, rather than hands-on experimental data collection. Candidate Profile We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with strong quantitative and computational skills, and demonstrated research experience in at least one of the following areas: machine learning, simulation-based inference, reinforcement learning, generative/diffusion models and dynamical systems. Required Skills and Experience - Strong scientific programming skills in Python, in particular proficiency in PyTorch, Jax or related - Demonstrated experience in machine learning - Excellent written and spoken English. - Direct experimental experience is not required. However, the successful candidate should be enthusiastic about interacting with clinicians, neurosurgeons, and patients during experimental planning and execution. Preferred but not required - Experience working with time series data, in particular intracranial recordings (LFP, ECoG, depth electrodes) in humans or other animals. We strongly encourage applications from individuals that are underrepresented in academia. What We Offer - Opportunity to contribute to multiple ongoing projects at the forefront of human intracranial research - A highly interdisciplinary research environment spanning computational neuroscience, machine learning and cognitive neuroscience - A collaborative lab culture with close mentorship from senior investigators. - Support for career development, including opportunities to co-supervise students, present at conferences and workshops - Paris has an increasingly tight network of systems and computational neuroscience and offers many possibilities for collaborations How to apply Please send a statement of your past work and future research interests (one page each), CV and at least one manuscript demonstrating required experience to palerma(a)gmail.com with the subject “Postdoctoral Position in Human Brain–Computer Interfaces”. Joao Barbosa

May 6, 2026

OPM-FLUX Toolkit 2026 - Register now!

by Evgeniya Anisimova

Dear all, We are delighted to announce that the OPM-FLUX toolkit will be held on the 13th-16th July 2026 at St. Catherine’s College at the University of Oxford! We encourage everyone who is interested in OPM-MEG data analysis to apply (ECRs and more senior researchers and clinicians included!). The OPM-FLUX toolkit course provides a comprehensive introduction to analysing OPM-MEG data using OPM-FLUX, an advanced analysis pipeline for human electrophysiological data. Originally designed for SQUID-based MEG, the FLUX pipeline has been adapted for OPM-MEG. While OPM-MEG offers exciting opportunities in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, analysing its data can be challenging due to technical complexities and a lack of standardised methods. To meet the increasing demand for accessible training in this area, we have developed the FLUX toolkit, built on MNE-Python, a leading MEG analysis toolbox. Participants will be taught the theoretical foundations of OPM sensors and human electrophysiology and gain practical experience with OPM FLUX. In the mornings we will have lectures on the basics of data analysis as well as examples on novel cognitive neuroscience research-based MEG or OPM-MEG. In the afternoon, we will have hands-on data analysis workshops applying the OPM-FLUX pipeline on a data set collected from the local OPM systems. Will cover the analysis of FieldLine as well Cerca/QuSpin data. The analysis sections will include the BIDS format, preprocessing, event-related fields, spectral analysis, source modelling, and multivariate pattern analysis. We will not provide hands-on training on the actual data acquisition, but we will outline the general steps required. For details and registration please see https://www.neuosc.com/fluxtoolkit2026 or contact me at jenny.anisimova(a)psych.ox.ac.uk<mailto:jenny.anisimova@psych.ox.ac.uk>. The registration will be open until 9 AM (BST) on the 15th of May 2026. We look forward to receiving your application! All the best, The Neuronal Oscillations Team www.neuosc.com<http://www.neuosc.com/>

May 5, 2026

Re: Call for applications: School on Computational approaches in systems neurophysiology (Rome, Italy – June 16-18, 2026)

by Andrea d'Avella

The application deadline has been extended to *May 12, 2026.* Best regards, Andrea d'Avella Il 30/03/2026 22:11, Andrea d'Avella ha scritto: > > Applications will open on April 8 for the XXVIII *School of Physiology > and Biophysics > <https://www.fisiologiaitaliana.org/scuola_fisiologia.php>* on > *Computational approaches in systems neurophysiology* organized by the > *Italian Physiological Society *(SIF), which will be held from *June > 16 to June 18, 2025*, in *Rome, Italy*. > > Here you can find the announcement > <https://www.fisiologiaitaliana.org/_docs/260330_SIF_SchoolofPhysiologyandBi…> and > th program > <https://www.fisiologiaitaliana.org/_docs/260330_SIF_SchoolofPhysiologyandBi…>. > > Enquires: sif.sfb.2026(a)gmail.com > > Application deadline: *May 4, 2026* > > The school is organized by a team of neurophysiologists from the > University of Rome Tor Vergata, coordinated by Francesco Lacquaniti. > The program includes an opening lecture introducing the rationale for > computational approaches in systems neurophysiology, followed by a > series of eight thematic lectures covering topics such as > computational analysis of human locomotion, muscular and kinematic > synergies, vestibular system computation, eye-movement analysis, > structural and functional MRI, psychophysical modeling, and > quantitative neuromodulation. These lectures are complemented by four > keynote lectures addressing neural coding of joint action, multiscale > brain modeling and digital twins, machine-learning approaches to > spinal pattern generators, and multimodal quantitative neurophysiology > applied to neurostimulation. > > Most lectures are accompanied by hands-on tutorials, during which > participants will analyze real experimental datasets using MATLAB and > R, with sample datasets and analysis scripts provided. Throughout the > course, tutors will be available to support participants, encourage > discussion, and facilitate scientific interaction with the lecturers. > > Best regards, > > Andrea d’Avella and the Organizing Committee > > > -- > Andrea d'Avella, Ph.D. > Professor of Physiology > Department of Biology > University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy > Team leader > Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology > IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy -- Andrea d'Avella, Ph.D. Professor of Physiology Department of Biology University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Team leader Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy -- <http://www.hsantalucia.it/5x1000-sostieni-la-nostra-ricerca> Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio e negli eventuali allegati sono riservate e confidenziali. Il loro utilizzo è consentito esclusivamente al destinatario del messaggio, per le finalità indicate nel messaggio stesso. Qualora Lei non fosse la persona a cui il presente messaggio destinato, La invitiamo ad eliminarlo dal Suo sistema ed a distruggere le varie copie o stampe, dandocene gentilmente comunicazione. Ogni utilizzo improprio e'contrario ai principi del D.Lgs. 196/2003 e del Regolamento UE 2016/679. The information contained in this message as well as the attached file(s) is confidential/privileged and is only intended for the person to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, or you have received this communication in error, please be aware that any dissemination, distribution or duplication is strictly prohibited, and can be illegal. Please notify us immediately and delete all copies from your mailbox and other archives. *Rispetta l'ambiente: se non ti è necessario, non stampare questo messaggio - Please consider the environment before printing this email.*

May 5, 2026

PhD position available at Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, Lyon, France

by giulio.bondanelli＠univ-lyon1.fr

A PhD position is available at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre (CRNL) in Lyon (France) in the group of Giulio Bondanelli (https://sites.google.com/view/giuliobondanelli) The group develops dynamical system and statistical models to constrain circuit models of brain function from multimodal neural data at the cellular level (recordings, connectome data, intervention), with the goal of understanding how neural computations arise from collective network interactions. We are looking for candidates with a strong quantitative background and solid programming skills, as well as an interest in exploring neuroscientific questions. Experience with the analysis of neural data is a plus. The successful applicant will be based at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre (https://www.crnl.fr/en?language=en; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1), within an international and highly dynamic environment situated on the Campus Le Vinatier in Lyon. The centre brings together groups with diverse experimental and computational approaches spanning multiple scales of neuroscience. The position will start between September and December 2026, although the precise starting date is flexible. The contract will have a duration of 3 years. Candidates should send a CV and a brief statement of interest (up to 1 page) to giulio.bondanelli(a)univ-lyon1.fr *before June 15th, 2026*. -- Giulio Bondanelli Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 giulio.bondanelli(a)univ-lyon1.fr

May 4, 2026

World wide VVTNS series (6th season): Weak, weird, coordinated: functional transient oscillations | Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 11:00 am ET - Demian Battaglia, CNRS, Strasbourg, France

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 Demian Battaglia CNRS, Strasbourg on the topic of Weak, weird, coordinated: functional transient oscillations without a metronome The lecture will be held on zoom on May 6, 2026 at *11:00 am ET * > To receive the link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page > *Abstract: *Neural oscillations are often proposed to support brain computation by routing information, organizing cell assemblies, or shaping coding dynamics. Yet these ideas usually assume rhythms that are strong, sustained, and regular, whereas in vivo oscillations are often weak, transient, noisy, and variable in frequency and phase. In this talk, I will argue that such “no-metronome” oscillations are not just noisy fluctuations, but coordinated complex dynamics with functional consequences. Combining analyses of neural activity recordings during actual behavior (mice and non-human-primate LFPs and human EEG) with computational modelling, I will discuss evidence that transient oscillatory events can carry task-relevant information and support flexible communication through spatiotemporally structured relationships across populations, timescales, and frequencies. Together, these results suggest that oscillatory weakness and weirdness are not just imperfections, noise to average-out, but part of the functional repertoire of neural computation. *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 ᐧ

May 3, 2026

Applications Open for Distinguished Researcher leading to permanent position program ATRAE 2026

by Bernabé Linares Barranco

The Spanish Research Agency (AEI) has announced the call ATRAE 2026: https://www.aei.gob.es/en/announcements/announcements-finder/grants-encoura… to hire established researchers of recognized international prestige for a 4-year period leading to a permanent position. Total funding for the period is 1 milllion euros (1.2 million for researchers linked to a USA research institution for at least 5 years since 2020), including a gross annual salary between 80-150k€. If you are interested in applying and collaborate with our Neuromorphic Group at IMSE (http://www2.imse-cnm.csic.es/neuromorphs) we are happy to help you in preparing your application. Please send your CV to the email in my signature to evaluate if you have good chances. Best regards --

April 30, 2026

Seminar Series: Thinking About Thinking (May 7th)

by Ruairidh Battleday

We are pleased to announce the inaugural session of the Thinking About Thinking Fellowship Seminar Series, bringing together researchers working at the forefront of computational research into intelligence across AI, neuroscience, and cognitive science. Seminar title: Automated Scientific Discovery of Mind and Behavior Date: 7 May 2026 Time: 6pm BST Link: https://luma.com/ej1jk7bo For our first session, Dr Sebastian Musslick will present a framework for automated scientific discovery in cognitive science, exploring how AI systems can support the generation and testing of theories of mind and behaviour. We’ll do these every two weeks! Please come along (link in individual talk below). —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seminar title: Automated Scientific Discovery of Mind and Behavior Speaker: Dr Sebastian Musslick Date: Thursday 7 May 2026 Time: 6pm BST Link: https://luma.com/ej1jk7bo Abstract: Artificial intelligence is transforming scientific discovery across disciplines, from predicting protein structures in biology to identifying novel quantum states in physics. In the natural sciences, automated discovery systems now enable researchers to navigate vast experimental and hypothesis spaces, moving beyond the limits of human intuition. In this talk, Sebastian will explore how these methods can be adapted to the study of mind and behavior, introducing automated scientific discovery as a paradigm for cognitive science. He will present AutoRA, an open-source framework for automating key stages of empirical research, including experimental design, data collection and model inference. Through case studies in psychophysics, learning, decision-making and cognitive control, Sebastian will show how closed-loop discovery systems can support more integrative and scalable approaches to understanding human cognition. The session will also address the unique challenges that automated scientific discovery faces in cognitive science, including experimental fragmentation and the need for multi-level explanations, before outlining future directions for the field. -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking <https://that.build>

April 30, 2026

Extended CFP: Foundations of Computation Symposium, at AISB-2026, University of Sussex, UK, 1 to 2 July 2026

by Simon Bowes

As part of the AISB conference to be held at the University of Sussex, UK, 1 to 2 July 2026 The conference is organised by The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB) http://www.aisb.org.uk/ OVERVIEW: The symposium will be a one-day session of talks, Q&A’s, and panel discussions, structured around two themes: foundations, and applications. Each session will open with a keynote speaker (45 min presentation +15 min Q&A), include up to four further talks (15-30 min slots), and will wrap up with a panel discussion and audience questions. Confirmed speakers: * Prof. Gualtiero Piccinini * Dr. Fernando Rosas * Dr. Kate Nave * Dr. Nathaniel Virgo TOPICS OF INTEREST 1- Foundations: Foundational debates concerning the nature of computational processes, the status of formal and physical models, and the relationship between abstraction and implementation - have been reopened by both theoretical developments and increasingly powerful real-world systems. Against this backdrop, the symposium’s foundations strand invites critical reflection on the conceptual terrain of computation, motivating the following guiding questions: • What makes a process computational? • Are classic distinctions between syntax and semantics, or implementational, algorithmic, and computational levels of description sound? • Is computation subjective or objective, abstract or concrete, mathematical or physical? • What are the limits of computation? Is undecidability restricted to a mathematical realm? 2- Applications: The applications strand of the symposium will re-examine the role of computational concepts and tools across various research contexts relating to intelligence and adaptive behaviour. To further discussion of this topic, we seek contributors to address the below questions: • What are the distinctive strengths and limitations of computational explanations —generally, and in specific fields? • Is cognition a computational process? If so, what makes certain computational processes cognitive, and others not? • What is gained, and is anything lost, by treating cognition, life, and other processes computationally? • What is the explanatory role of representations and algorithmic models in the cognitive sciences? • What are the prospects for and obstacles to the development of a “computational phenomenology”? SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION DETAILS We invite abstracts of up to 500 words on any of the above and related topics. Each paper will receive at least two reviews. Selected papers will be published in the general proceedings of the AISB Conference, with the proviso that at least ONE author attends the symposium, in person, in order to present the paper and participate in general symposium activities. Accepted talks will be allotted 20, 30, 45-minute slots, plus a sit in the discussion panel. Submission deadline: 15/05/2026 Decision will be made and communicated to all contributors by the end of May. SYMPOSIUM ORGANISERS: Adam Rostowski (a.rostowski(a)sussex.ac.uk<mailto:a.rostowski@sussex.ac.uk>), Department of Informatics, University of Sussex Ben White (b.white(a)sussex.ac.uk<mailto:B.White@sussex.ac.uk>), Department of Informatics, University of Sussex. Fernando Rodriguez-Vergara (f.rodriguez-vergara(a)sussex.ac.uk<mailto:f.rodriguez-vergara@sussex.ac.uk>), Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex SYMPOSIUM WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/view/foundations-of-computation

April 28, 2026