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Mechanization of Consciousness for the Development of Strong AI

by Lleuvelyn Cacha

*Dear Colleagues,* This book is suitable for anyone interested in strong AI *Biophysics of Consciousness: A Foundational Approach* http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/9444 650pp Feb 2016 ISBN: 978-981-4644-25-9 (hardcover) Normal price * USD158.00* *Contents:* · Preface · Foreword: Addressing the Hard Problem of Consciousness · Contents · Neurobiological Naturalism · The Evolutionary Origins of Consciousness · How Language Evolution Reshaped Human Consciousness · Consciousness by Surprise: A Neuropsychoanalytic Approach to the Hard Problem · Can Qualitative Biophysics Solve the Hard Problem? · The Causal Roots of Integration and the Unity of Consciousness · The Holoinformational Foundations of Consciousness · Neural Transition Dynamics and Conscious Perceptive States · The Two-Brains Hypothesis: Implications for Consciousness · The Origins of the Brain's Endogenous Electromagnetic Field and Its Relationship to Provision of Consciousness · Consciousness as a Quantum Dynamic Effect · Quantum Spin Formalism on Consciousness · The 'Quantum Underground': Where Life and Consciousness Originate · Consciousness in the Universe — An *Updated* Review of the 'Orch OR' Theory · Index *Readership:* Researchers in neuroscience, cognitive science, biophysics, quantum physics and strong AI. Available for Amazon books at a Pre-order Price Guarantee USD$*100.62* http://www.amazon.com/Biophysics-Consciousness-A-Foundational-Approach/dp/9… Lleuvelyn Cacha, PhD

Oct. 29, 2015

Postdoctoral Fellow position

by Jon Sensinger

Postdoctoral Fellow sought in Computational Motor Control / Psychophysics General Summary A Post Doctoral Fellow in computational motor control or psychophysics to join a dynamic multi-disciplinary team at the University of New Brunswick, Canada, studying the internal models that a unique group of upper-limb amputees have. These amputees have had targeted sensory reinnervation surgery such that when their upper arm is touched, it feels like you are touching their hand . This sensation remains stable over time. With funding from the U.S. NIH, our collaborators at the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Alberta have developed miniature robotic devices that can apply appropriate feedback throughout the day , and with funding from DARPA we are developing quantitative metrics of feedback incorporation . The role of this post-doctoral position is to quantify if the feedback improves this unique group of amputee's ability to form internal models regarding control of their prosthetic arm or interaction with their environment, ultimately leading to more precise control with less mental effort. The 12-month project is led by Jon Sensinger, PhD, the associate director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME) at the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Sensinger's research focuses on developing computational models of how we interact with prosthesis control , along with prosthesis and exoskeleton design and control. IBME includes scientists, engineers, and clinical staff. Principal Responsibilities 1. Develop psychophysics and force-field based experiments to assess the strength of the internal models these subjects have with and without the sensory feedback. 2. Must work in close consultation with engineering, prosthetists, and therapists. 3. Keeps informed of developments in field to maintain and enhance professional expertise; offers suggestions regarding continuing development of program. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required 1. Applicants should have a doctoral degree and relevant research experience in engineering, neuroscience, psychophysics, or a related field. 2. Experience with computational motor control or psychophysics. 3. Awareness of gross anatomy and neural anatomy is preferred. 4. Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients, research subjects, team members, and project collaborators. 5. Analytical skills to select and interpret experiments. 6. Communication skills necessary to write detailed explanatory reports and articles and to verbally communicate results of research at meetings and conferences. Please send a cover letter and C.V. to Dr. Sensinger (j.sensinger(a)unb.ca) for more details. Relevant links: http://www.pnas.org/content/104/50/20061.abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21252109 http://blogs.unb.ca/newsroom/2015/02/09/research-team-receives-up-to-2-5-mi… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEzbuiJi0T0 http://www.ece.unb.ca/jsensing

Oct. 29, 2015

Computational Neuroscience PhD Positions at Emory University and Georgia Tech

by Jaeger, Dieter

Applicants for PhD programs in the field of Computational Neuroscience are encouraged to consider the joint training program in this area at Emory University and Georgia Tech (www.compneurosci.college.emory.edu<http://www.compneurosci.college.emory.edu>). Our faculty span multiple subareas of the discipline ranging from the computational analysis of ion channels to behavioral neuroscience, neural imaging, and neurotechnology in a highly collaborative atmosphere. The computational training program includes students from our Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering PhD programs and involves a set of core classes, a weekly journal club or methods clinic, an annual retreat, and many opportunities for collaborative research projects. All PhD students are fully funded for their tenure at Emory and/or Georgia Tech. Applications are submitted via the Neuroscience training program (http://biomed.emory.edu/PROGRAM_SITES/NS/) with a deadline of December 1 or the Biomedical Engineering program (https://www.bme.gatech.edu/bme/graduate) also with a deadline of December 1. Pre-submission contacts with anyone on the faculty list for the program (http://www.compneurosci.college.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/index.ht…) are welcome and we will be happy to answer such queries. Atlanta is a great place to live and experience all four seasons of the year, with many affordable housing options in close proximity to either campus, and a large range of cultural activities involving almost all nationalities. The biking/hiking/eating culture is exploding. Food and shopping are superb and also internationally diverse, the Appalachians and the oceans are easy weekend destinations, and through the busiest airport in the world (Atlanta Hartsfield) many destinations are easily reached. Authored by: Dieter Jaeger, Dept. of Biology, Emory University; djaeger(a)emory.edu Garrett Stanley, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory; garrett.stanley(a)bme.gatech.edu Robert Butera, Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech; rbutera(a)gatech.edu Robert Liu, Dept. of Biology, Emory University; robert.liu(a)emory.edu ________________________________ This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments).

Oct. 28, 2015

Post-doctoral position in Computational Neuroscience, Moreno-Bote, Barcelona

by Ruben Moreno Bote

*Post-doctoral position* *Computational Neuroscience, Moreno-Bote Lab * *University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain* We are looking for strong post-doctoral candidates interested in joining the group of Theoretical Neuroscience of Rubén Moreno-Bote lab. We are looking for excellent post-doctoral candidates with Physics, Mathematics or Machine Learning background, ideally with knowledge of Neuroscience or Computational Neuroscience, and interested in theory and applications. The publication record of the candidate should be very strong in his/her respective discipline. The candidate will develop state of the art mathematical techniques to understand neuronal dynamics and will have access to multielectrode recording neural data. He/she could also be involved in the design of electrophysiology experiments through our collaborators. The candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of Barcelona area in Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience and will have the opportunity of enjoying a lively city. Our lab (http://www.upf.edu/pdi/ruben-moreno-bote) forms part of a larger network of neuroscience labs in Barcelona ( http://www.barcelonaneuroscience.com) Financial support is provided up to 3 years by a FLAG ERA grant. Our lab has recently moved to a new location, the University Pompeu Fabra, where a large community of researchers works on cognitive and computational neuroscience (http://cbc.upf.edu/?language=en) APPLICATION : A full CV in pdf format, a 1 page project in pdf format, and names and email addresses of 2 referees should be sent to the following address: ruben.moreno(a)upf.edu Informal inquiries are welcome. DEADLINE: up to the position is filled -- Rubén Moreno Bote Serra Húnter Professor Dept. of Information and Communication Technologies University Pompeu Fabra La Nau building, office 51017 08018 Barcelona, Spain http://www.upf.edu/pdi/ruben-moreno-bote

Oct. 28, 2015

Call for participation Neural Synchronization Frontiers Topic

by GUEVARA ERRA RAMON MARIANO

Dear potential authors on the comp-neuro mailing list, This is a call for participation at a special issue (Frontiers Topic) on neural synchronization, that we are currently editing: 'Large-scale neural synchronization and coordinated dynamics: a foundational approach' Web site: http://journal.frontiersin.org/researchtopic/4079/large-scale-neural-synchr… Description: A fundamental question in neuroscience is how segregation and integration of information takes place by the temporal coordination of differentiated, specialized brain areas. Neural synchronization is often invoked as a mechanism of coordinated activity, and in the last ten years there has been a great effort to understand its significance, to clarify its physiological and computational roles and its relationship with brain rhythms and abnormal brain functioning (as in epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease). But in a broader sense, synchronization is an old concept, arising from the studies of oscillators in non-linear dynamics. It is indeed a widespread phenomenon, reflecting the coupling between self-oscillating units. However, the association between coupling and coordinated activity is not completely understood in the context of brain dynamics, most critically when this relationship is extended to large networks of interacting neurons. What do we mean when we use the term ‘synchronization’ in neuroscience? How can we measure physical coupling when real experiments can only tell us about temporal statistical correlation? Can we freely use concepts from oscillation theory to describe brain dynamics? In this Research Topic we welcome contributions from different backgrounds and perspectives to promote a deeper understanding of the relationship between neural synchronization and physical coupling between neuronal networks, and its implications for functional connectivity in the normal and the pathological brain. This topic will include, among others, contributions with the following themes: 1) Foundations of large-scale neural synchronization, based on physical theories of oscillation. 2) The computational role and metabolic cost of neural synchronization, and its relation to brain rhythms. 3) Behavioral and cognitive consequences of oscillatory activity in the human brain. 4) Synthesis and state-of-the-art on measuring neural synchronization in experimental settings. 5) Recent methods for the reconstruction of connectivity in oscillatory networks. 6) Applications of the concept of neural coupling and oscillatory activity in a medical setting, such as monitoring and control of neural synchronization in brain pathologies affecting coordination dynamics. Looking forward to have your contributions.Those interested please write to Ramon Guevara (guevara.erra(a)gamil.com) Best wishes, Ramon Guevara Erra University Paris Descartes, Paris, France Jose Luis Perez Velazquez Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Oct. 28, 2015

PhD position: theoretical and computational neuroscience

by K Tsaneva-Atanasova

PhD position in Modelling spine calcium dynamics: implications for synaptic plasticity ----------------------------------------------------------- Based within the EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare at the University of Exeter, a £2M initiative bringing together mathematicians, statisticians and clinicians, you will work on a project aiming to investigate the mechanisms and hence understand the regulation of calcium transient dynamics shown to be a critical trigger for synaptic plasticity in dendritic spines. In order to do this we will develop and analyse three-dimensional mathematical models using finite element methods. Therefore I am looking for candidates trained in quantitative fields whose interest has turned to the study of synaptic plasticity and calcium dynamics. This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP). The SWBio DTP is a BBSRC-funded PhD training programme in the biosciences, delivered by a consortium comprising the Universities of Bristol (lead), Bath, Cardiff and Exeter and Rothamsted Research. The SWBio DTP projects are designed to provide outstanding interdisciplinary training in a range of topics in World-Class Bioscience, underpinned by training in mathematics and complexity science. Each project is supervised by an interdisciplinary team of academic staff and will follow a structured training 4 year PhD model. In particular the project on "Modelling spine calcium dynamics: implications for synaptic plasticity" stems form a long-standing collaboration between Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova (main supervisor, Exeter) and Dr Jack Mellor (co-supervisor, Bristol http://www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/people/66711/) To Apply: Candidates with strong quantitative training (e.g. a BSc or MSc in Physics, Mathematics, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science, or Engineering) and evidence of scientific achievement are invited to apply. Knowledge of neuroscience is a plus. Please apply using the following link: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=1977 ----------------------------------------------------------- Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences University of Exeter Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QF, UK tel: +44 (0) 1392 723615 email: k.tsaneva-atanasova(a)exeter.ac.uk web: http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/kt298 ALTEREGO - Enhancing Social Interaction with an AlterEgo artificial agent http://www.euromov.eu/alterego/homepage

Oct. 28, 2015

PhD/Postdoctoral Position at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany

by Filip Sobczak

*PhD/Postdoctoral Position at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany * The Department of High-field Magnetic Resonance at the Max Plank Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen is offering one PhD position and one postdoctoral fellow position under the supervision of Dr. Xin Yu (Group Leader at MPI for Biological Cybernetics). This position is open until filled. *Research Description*: Understand and learn to control the brain circuits underlying critical brain states, such as coma or arousal. Potential assignments: a. build up the multi-modal platform to monitor the brain states of rat coma models, e.g. implementing the MRI/EEG/calcium recording methods for global brain state verification. b. target specific nuclei with deep brain optogenetic stimulation methods, potentially involved in developing real-time biofeedback controlling schemes. Experience with signal processing and programming is highly desired*. *The candidates should bear a certain experience or strong interest on brain functional imaging, e.g. task-based BOLD fMRI. The Max Plank Institute for Biological Cybernetics is located in Tübingen, Germany. The High-field Magnetic Resonance Department is equipped with the 3T, 9.4T human MR scanner and 14.1T animal Bruker MR Scanner. The Max Planck Society is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and encourages applications from qualified women and minority candidates. Please send your CV (in English) to Dr. Yu if interested. Contact info: Dr. Xin Yu Research Group leader Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics Spemannstrasse 41 72076 Tübingen Germany E-mail: xin.yu(a)tuebingen.mpg.de; phone: 49 7071 601-740 Dr. Yu has published seminal papers on small animal high field MRI in *Nature Neuroscience, Nature Methods, Neuron, PNAS, NeuroImage* etc.

Oct. 28, 2015

2nd Monash Brain Function Workshop --- Multi-modal approaches to understand brain functions

by Naotsugu Tsuchiya

2nd Monash Brain Function Workshop --- Multi-modal approaches to understand brain functions *- Deadline for poster abstracts and early registration: 15 Nov 2015* *- Registration - http://ecommerce.med.monash.edu.au/product.asp?pID=626&cID=2 <http://ecommerce.med.monash.edu.au/product.asp?pID=626&cID=2> * *Date:* Dec 14 (Mon) 2015 *Venue:* Auditorium, Monash Biomedical imaging, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton *Overview* The goal of this workshop is to offer an opportunity for neuroscientists from different backgrounds to interact and exchange ideas. Specifically, we encourage participation of neuroscientists who are interested in understanding neural systems involved in perception and behaviour, and those who combine multiple methodologies, such as electrophysiology, advanced signal processing, computational modelling and cognitive neuroscience. Registration: $50 AUD ($25 AUD for students & postdocs or those who are affiliated with ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function) Organizers: Nao Tsuchiya, Nic Price, Alex Fornito, Jeroen van Boxtel, Gary Egan (Monash University) Contact: for questions about this event, please contact Nao Tsuchiya ( naotsugu.tsuchiya(a)monash.edu) Keynote Speakers: Peter Dayan (computational neuroscience, - UCL, UK) Zhaoping Li (computational neuroscience, psychophysics - UCL, UK) *Speakers:* 1. Lucy Palmer (Florey Institute, Neurophysiology) 2. Andrew Zalesky (University of Melbourne, Neuroimaging/Connectome) 3. Masafumi Oizumi (RIKEN BSI, Japan & Monash University, Computational Neuroscience) 4. Peter Bossarts (University of Melbourne, Neuroeconomics) 5. Pascal Molenberghs (Monash University, Social Neuroscience) 6. Jennifer Windt (Monash University, Philosophy/Cognitive Neuroscience) or 7. Maureen Hagan (Monash University, physiology, Neurophysiology) Supported by Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nao (Naotsugu) Tsuchiya, Ph.D. homepage: http://users.monash.edu.au/~naotsugt/Tsuchiya_Labs_Homepage 1. ARC Future Fellow 2. Associate Professor - School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences, Monash University - Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University http://med.monash.edu.au/psych/email-sig/miccn-email-sig.jpg <http://www.monash.edu/neuro-institute/> orcid.org/0000-0003-4216-8701

Oct. 28, 2015

4 Year Lecturer Position at QUT Across Robotics, Neuroscience and Computer Vision

by Michael Milford

We have a 4 year Lecturer Position available at QUT to work closely with my research group at the boundary between robotics, neuroscience and computer vision, developing Frankenstein models of visual and spatial intelligence that combine the best performing and best understood parts of human, animal and insect brains. Here's the ad: http://tinyurl.com/nzdujv3 Some of the highlights: * You'll get to push the boundaries of our understanding of the brain and how we can model it to create new technologies and capabilities for robotics and AI * Minimize that start-up lag: you'll land in the middle of a large research group and have the opportunity to immediately get involved in the supervision of several PhD students working in the area - in fact, your ability to effectively lead and supervise PhD students is critical to this role * Tap into collaborations with some of the world's top roboticists, neuroscientists and computer vision researchers at leading international institutions including David Cox at Harvard University, Michael Hasselmo at Boston University, Andrew Davison at Imperial College London, Barbara Webb at Edinburgh University and many more. * Get access to top local researchers and major projects including the $19,000,000 Australian Centre for Robotic Vision, the $676,000 project this position is associated with, as well as multiple other projects including a $3,000,000 Strategic Investment in Farm Robotics. * You'll have the opportunity to teach into some of the most fun, engaging and fulfilling robotics-related units at our university. Videos of some of the units we teach can be found at https://youtu.be/FBEINbpovBE and https://youtu.be/_2mp98Sk6fQ. * Work in the heart of Brisbane, a modern bustling city of 2 million people, located near to amazing beaches and vast swathes of untouched wilderness. If you love hiking / running / cycling / swimming / surfing / parasailing, you can find it here. Catch a short flight and you're on the Great Barrier Reef or in the Barossa Valley. * Be immersed in a large, very successful and sociable robotics group of more than a hundred academics, postdocs and students, in a brand new building space. Here's the ad again: http://tinyurl.com/nzdujv3 Best regards, Michael Michael Milford Associate Professor | ARC Future Fellow | Microsoft Faculty Fellow | Chief Investigator, Australian Centre for Robotic Vision Australian Centre for Robotic Vision | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School Science and Engineering Faculty | Queensland University of Technology [banner_tedxqut]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_U7qIjvMJw> S Block, Room S1110, Gardens Point Campus ph 3138 9969 | email michael.milford(a)qut.edu.au<mailto:c.degroot@qut.edu.au> CRICOS No 00213J More information available at: https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/cyphy/Michael+Milford Google Scholar Profile: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TDSmCKgAAAAJ&hl=en MilfordRobotics Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/milfordrobotics * Highlighted Publications * * Review of Robotics and Biological Navigation Principles- "Principles of goal-directed spatial robot navigation in biomimetic models", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, link http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/369/1655/20130484 * Visual Place Recognition Under Extreme Perceptual Change - "SeqSLAM: Visual route-based navigation for sunny summer days and stormy winter nights", International Conference on Robotics and Automation, link http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6224623 * Navigating without GPS, using only a web camera - "Mapping a Suburb with a Single Camera using a Biologically Inspired SLAM System", IEEE Transactions on Robotics, link http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4627450 * Continual mapping and navigation over a 2 week office delivery robot experiment - "Persistent Navigation and Mapping using a Biologically Inspired SLAM System", International Journal of Robotics Research, http://ijr.sagepub.com/content/29/9/1131.abstract * Combining robotics, neuroscience and animal navigation to manage uncertainty when navigating - "Solving Navigational Uncertainty Using Grid Cells on Robots", PLoS Computational Biology, http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000995

Oct. 28, 2015

CORRECTION: Neural network modelling of motor control: 30 week postdoctoral position in New Zealand

by Alistair Knott

We are seeking applications for a short-term postdoctoral researcher, to develop a neural network model of the learning and execution of actions that move an effector or controlled target object along a prespecified trajectory. The project will focus on movements that bring an agent’s hand into a goal location, or that transport an object carried by the hand to a goal place: for instance, the kinds of movement described by the sentences ‘John put his hand on the table’ or ‘Mary put the cup onto the table’. In such actions, there is evidence that the controlled object’s trajectory is defined in a coordinate system centred on the environment: for instance, that the hand or the cup moves in a relatively straight line in Cartesian space in simple point-to-point actions (see e.g. Cisek, 2005). The focus of the project is to model the mechanism that learns to map motor actions, defined in motor coordinates, onto environment-centred trajectories. The modelling work will contribute to an ongoing project modelling the interface between sensorimotor mechanisms and natural language, and will extend an existing model of the learning and control of motor actions. Cisek, P (2005). Neural representations of motor plans, desired trajectories, and controlled objects. Cognitive Processes 6:15–24. The fixed-term position is for 30 weeks, starting in February or March 2016, on the Postdoctoral Fellow salary scale ($74,046 per annum). It is based at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Otago in New Zealand, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Alistair Knott. The department has an active neural networks programme with five academic staff working in this area, and two more working in related areas of computer vision. If you have questions about the project, please contact Alistair Knott (alik(a)cs.otago.ac.nz) See here for more information about this position, including details about how to apply. The deadline for applications is November 22nd 2015. Otago University is in Dunedin, a university town on the South-East coast of New Zealand's South Island. Dunedin sits on a spectacular harbour, with unspoiled beaches for wildlife and surfing, and lies within a few hours' drive of Queenstown and Wanaka in the Southern Alps.

Oct. 28, 2015