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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

Fully funded PhD in Network Science — Higher-Order Coordination (Northeastern University London, Sep 2026)

by Giovanni Petri

Hello all, We are recruiting a fully funded PhD student to join NPLab at Northeastern University London, under the ERC Consolidator Grant RUNES. Project: Higher-Order Coordination and Emergent Communication Across Human, AI and Animal Systems. The project investigates how coordination and communication emerge in groups whose interaction structure goes beyond pairwise contact — developing new higher-order network theory and testing it across human social systems, animal collectives, and AI ensembles. *Funding:* Full UKRI-rate stipend + tuition for 3.5 years. Start date September 2026. *Candidate profile:* MSc in physics, mathematics, computer science, or a quantitative field. Background in network science, statistical mechanics, multi-agent systems, or computational social science. Strong programming skills (Python, Julia, or equivalent). *Application*: via jobs.ac.uk — search DRF217, or follow this link: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRF217/ Informal enquiries welcome at giovanni.petri(a)nulondon.ac.uk. Please share with anyone who might be interested. Best, G. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Higher-Order Systems* Available through all good bookshops, or direct from SpringerLink <https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-91374-8> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giovanni Petri, PhD Professor, Network Science Institute Northeastern University London Department of Physics, College of Sciences Northeastern University, Boston MA https://nplresearch.github.io/ - lordgrilo.github.io ------ Network Science Lead, Project CETI <https://www.projectceti.org/>, Director, ERC Consolidator Grant RUNES <https://nplresearch.github.io/#/projects/runes> ------

April 26, 2026

World Wide VVTNS series (6th season): Dynamic Expectations Wednesday | April 29, 2026, at 11:00 am ET - Dvora Marciano, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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 Dvora Marciano The Hebrew University of Jerusalem on the topic of Dynamic Expectations The lecture will be held on zoom on April 29, 2026 at *11:00 am ET * > To receive the link > https://www.wwtns.online/register-page > > *Abstract: *Reward expectations – one’s prediction about the likelihood of future outcomes - play a central role in shaping the satisfaction derived from those outcomes. Most existing research treats expectations as static, assuming they remain fixed in time. However, real-life expectations are often dynamic, fluctuating as new information becomes available. For example, during a soccer game, your expectations of seeing your team winning will likely rise and fall as the game unfolds. In the main part of this talk, I will present a series of studies demonstrating that human expectations can be tracked at sub-second timescales. Using slot machines as a case study, we leverage the continuous deceleration of the reels to elicit moment-by-moment fluctuations in reward expectations. To capture these dynamics, we take complementary approaches: we use the high temporal resolution of electroencephalography (EEG) to track neural signatures of evolving expectations, and we develop a novel behavioral paradigm (“Slot or Not”) designed to measure changes in expectations via betting behavior. Across four studies, we show that expectations fluctuate continuously and can be tracked both behaviorally and neurally. Extending these findings, a subsequent intracranial study shows that the human orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) encodes the moment-by-moment changes of reward expectations. In the second part of this talk, I will return to the relationship between expectations and satisfaction. If expectations shape satisfaction, and if they are best conceptualized as dynamic trajectories rather than static quantities, a key question arises: does the trajectory leading up to an outcome influence how that outcome is evaluated? I will outline a new research direction aimed at formalizing this relationship using computational modeling. This is ongoing work, and I welcome feedback on how best to formalize these ideas. Finally, I will discuss potential extensions of this framework to psychopathology, asking whether alterations in dynamic expectations may characterize conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder and Gambling disorder. Together, this work introduces a new framework for studying expectations as dynamic processes, offering a richer understanding *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

April 26, 2026

Open Lab Online workshops on Bonsai – Module I sessions now open

by Mateusz Kostecki

Hello! We are happy to announce the *first Open Lab Online workshops *on *Bonsai*. *Bonsai* is an open-source reactive programming language that is particularly useful for modern behavioral neuroscience experiments. It allows users to synchronize multiple data streams, precisely deliver stimuli, and run experiments in closed-loop settings, while integrating signals and devices from different systems. From calcium imaging and sound recordings to sensors, feeders, motors, and stimulus delivery systems, Bonsai offers a flexible and powerful way to build experimental workflows. These workshops correspond to *Module I* of a *3-module online course of increasing difficulty*. In this first module, participants will be introduced to the basics of Bonsai — its logic, core principles, and potential applications. The workshop will also cover how to track animals during experiments, detect their presence in ROIs, run simple closed-loop paradigms, and perform basic logical operations. To make participation easier across schedules and time zones, we are offering *two alternative sessions of the same workshop*: *Session 1:* May 8, 2026, 10:00–12:00 CEST (UTC+2) https://nenckiopenlab.org/event/introduction-to-bonsai-module-i/ *Session 2:* May 18, 2026, 16:00–18:00 CEST (UTC+2) https://nenckiopenlab.org/event/introduction-to-bonsai-module-i-2/ *Requirements:* no prior programming experience is needed. A *Windows computer* and a *webcam* are required. *Workshop fee:* EUR 10 *Fee waivers are available upon request.* *Instructor:* Mateusz Kostecki, Heidelberg University We also warmly invite you to join our *Open Lab Online Discord*, which is a space for discussion, exchange, and community around open tools and methods. All important workshop information and updates will also be shared there. Discord: https://discord.gg/z7gvyj9yrV If you would like to get involved in Open Lab Online, you can also fill out our surveys: *Organizer survey*: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRqICetBCRbKZnjM9HlmLp1RKql3nUqxg… *Instructor survey*: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDZioKGcDdsP7AFE6-mS6R_y7-kWTf6t2… If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at *openlab(a)nencki.edu.pl* <openlab(a)nencki.edu.pl> or reach out to us on *Discord*. Best wishes, Mateusz Kostecki -- --- Mateusz Kostecki PhD Student Knapska Laboratory Nencki Institute 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland https://twitter.com/mtkostecki https://evolvingbehavior.blog/

April 25, 2026

Last chance to register -- EMBO Workshop on Dendrites, Heraklion (May 19–22, 2026)

by Spiros Chavlis

Dear colleagues and friends, LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! Join the EMBO Workshop on Dendrites for an immersive look at molecular, biophysical, anatomical, and computational neuroscience, and neuro-inspired AI, and explore how dendritic function shapes perception, memory, behavior, and disease. Important info May 19-22, 2026, Heraklion, Greece Registration/workshop page: https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-dendrites About the Workshop Understanding how the brain generates perception and behavior remains a major challenge in neuroscience. Neurons communicate through synaptic inputs located on dendrites, complex, highly branched structures that shape sensory processing, memory formation, and behavior. Advances in imaging, electrophysiology, and computational modeling now allow researchers to explore dendritic function across multiple scales, from single-synapse plasticity to dendritic computations driving behavior. This EMBO Workshop brings together leading scientists from molecular, biophysical, anatomical, computational, and functional neuroscience, as well as neuro-inspired AI, to advance our understanding of dendrites in cognition and disease. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to uncover fundamental principles governing dendritic computations and their broader implications, including how they may be incorporated into new AI architectures for more efficient or brain-like computation. Set on the stunning island of Crete, this EMBO Workshop is designed to encourage scientific exchange beyond traditional presentations, creating an engaging and interactive environment. Dedicated sessions will support young researchers, such as (1) work-life balance, (2) mentorship across career stages, and (3) career paths within and beyond academia. Through open discussions and collaborative experiences, this meeting will inspire new insights into the role of dendrites in brain function and dysfunction, paving the way for important future discoveries in neuroscience. About EMBO Courses and Workshops EMBO Courses and Workshops are selected for their excellent scientific quality and timelines, provision of good networking activities for all participants and speaker gender diversity (at least 40% of speakers must be from the underrepresented gender). Organisers are encouraged to implement measures to make the meeting environmentally more sustainable. We hope to welcome you to Heraklion, on the stunning island of Crete, for an engaging and interactive program designed to encourage discussion beyond traditional presentations. With best regards, on behalf of the organizers, Spiros Chavlis, PhD

April 23, 2026

🎓 Present & Publish your work at COMPLEX NETWORKS 2026

by Fabian Braesemann

Dear colleagues, This December in Granada, Spain, we bring together a full academic experience: sharpen your skills in expert-led tutorials, present your research to a global audience, and get invited to publish in top journals. 🎤 Keynote Speakers: * Alexandra Brintrup (Cambridge University, UK) * Nitesh Chawla (University of Notre Dame, USA) * Kimmo Kaski (Aalto University, Finland) * Bruno Lepri (Bruno Kessler Foundation, Italy) * Eckehard Scholl (TU Berlin, Germany) 🎓 Tutorials by: * Fariba Karimi (Graz University of Technology, Austria) * Huijuan Wang (TU Delft, Netherlands) ________________________________ 🚀 Be part of what’s next. Submit your work to COMPLEX NETWORKS 2026, held in Granada, Spain, from December 2 to 4, 2026. 📌 Important Dates * Submission Deadline: September 2, 2026 * Tutorials: December 1, 2026 * Conference: December 2-4, 2026 📖 Submission Options * ✅ Full Papers (max 12 pages) – Springer Proceedings Publication * ✅ Extended Abstracts (max 4 pages) – Book of Abstracts with ISBN 🏆 Selected papers will be invited to journals including: * Applied Network Science<https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/> * Advances in Complex Systems<https://www.worldscientific.com/toc/acs/24/02> * Complex Systems <https://www.complex-systems.com/about/> * Entropy<https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy> * PLOS Complex Systems<https://journals.plos.org/complexsystems/> * PLOS one<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/> * Social Network Analysis and Mining<https://link.springer.com/journal/13278> 📩 Submit your paper <https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/COMPLEXNETWORKS2025/>🌐 More info<https://complexnetworks.org/> We look forward to your contribution to this dynamic community! Warm regards, The COMPLEX NETWORKS 2026 Committee

April 22, 2026

neuromorphic / spiking neural network position starting Oct 2026 for 36 months

by Goodman, Dan

We are hiring for a research assistant or postdoc to do energy efficient AI, spiking neural networks and neuromorphic computing, with me, Christos Bouganis and George Constantinides at Imperial College London. Deadline for applications is May 15th. Feel free to email me informally, or apply at the link below. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-jobs/description/index.php?jobId=276… Some more details below (also at the link above). Dan Goodman About the role We are seeking a Research Assistant (a Masters graduate wanting to undertake a PhD) or Research Associate (a PhD graduate wanting to undertake a postdoc). Our aim is to explore new approaches to energy-efficient artificial intelligence based on temporal neural computation. The project investigates how spiking neural networks, temporal coding, and learned neural delays can enable accurate computation with extremely low-precision weights, potentially unlocking a new generation of ultra-efficient AI hardware. Working at the intersection of machine learning, computational neuroscience, and digital hardware design, the successful candidate will contribute to developing neural architectures in which time (spike timing and delays) replaces numerical precision and memory movement as the key computational resource. The project will combine algorithm development with hardware-aware modelling and evaluation on FPGA-based platforms. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help define new approaches to temporal neural computation and energy-efficient AI. This role provides an exciting opportunity to work on fundamental questions in neuromorphic and energy-efficient AI, while developing techniques that could translate into future AI accelerators and edge-AI technologies. The role will be affiliated with NeuroWare, the new national Innovation and Knowledge Centre in Neuromorphic Computation, providing the post-holder access to a rich network of industrial and academic collaborators and routes to direct impact. Pre-doctoral candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates appointed as Research Assistant will have the opportunity to register for a PhD during the appointment, subject to standard university procedures. What you would be doing In this role, you will investigate neural architectures that exploit temporal coding and learned delays to enable efficient computation on digital hardware. You will develop and evaluate spiking neural network models, explore training methods for delay-based computation, and analyse how temporal representations trade off with weight precision and memory usage. You will primarily be collaborating with three Imperial College academics: Prof Christos Bouganis, Prof George A. Constantinides and Dr Dan Goodman, who each bring leading expertise relevant to this research programme. You will implement models in software frameworks for neural simulation and machine learning, and work with hardware-aware efficiency metrics to evaluate energy, memory, and latency trade-offs. The project will also involve exploring how these architectures map to digital hardware platforms, including FPGA-based systems.

April 22, 2026