- Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Deadline approaching! Abstracts by 17th May for the UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

The deadline for abstract submission to the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 is May 17th https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks UK Neural Computation (https://neuralcomputation.uk/) is a national meeting for everyone interested in the computations of the brain, both experimentally and theoretically. It will be in Sheffield, 8-10th July Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

May 10, 2024

INCF/OCNS Software Working Group sessions: Pierre Yger: SpikeInterface: 14 May 1500 UTC

by Ankur Sinha

Dear all, Apologies for the cross posts. Pierre Yger will present SpikeInterface at the next open INCF/OCNS Software Working Group (WG) session on May 14 at 1500 UTC. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation, followed by WG business. Please find the abstract and joining information below: - When: May 14, 1500 UTC - Where: Zoom (https://ucl.zoom.us/j/91017703246?pwd=RmdwMW9xL0FFaFVVL0Z6dUtnbkplZz09) - Web page: https://ocns.github.io/SoftwareWG/2024/05/07/wg-meeting-14-may-2024-spikein… Abstract: - https://elifesciences.org/articles/61834 - https://spikeinterface.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ Much development has been directed toward improving the performance and automation of spike sorting. This continuous development, while essential, has contributed to an over-saturation of new, incompatible tools that hinders rigorous benchmarking and complicates reproducible analysis. To address these limitations, we developed SpikeInterface, a Python framework designed to unify preexisting spike sorting technologies into a single codebase and to facilitate straightforward comparison and adoption of different approaches. With a few lines of code, researchers can reproducibly run, compare, and benchmark most modern spike sorting algorithms; pre-process, post-process, and visualize extracellular datasets; validate, curate, and export sorting outputs; and more. In this paper, we provide an overview of SpikeInterface and, with applications to real and simulated datasets, demonstrate how it can be utilized to reduce the burden of manual curation and to more comprehensively benchmark automated spike sorters. -- Thanks, Regards, Ankur Sinha (He / Him / His) | https://ankursinha.in Research Fellow at the Silver Lab, University College London | http://silverlab.org/ Free/Open source community volunteer at the NeuroFedora project | https://neuro.fedoraproject.org Time zone: Europe/London

May 9, 2024

Summer School for Primate Cognitive Neuroscience 2024, Bad Bevensen, Germany

by Igor Kagan

Dear colleagues, Applications are still being accepted for the third Summer School for Primate Cognitive Neuroscience <https://www.dpz.eu/index.php?id=4297>, taking place July 28 - August 09, 2024, in Bad Bevensen, Germany (see http://www.dpz.eu/pcn2024).The application deadline is May 17. This Summer School is intended for PhD students and early postdocs from the field of cognitive and systems neuroscience working with non-human primates and will provide an outstanding training and networking opportunity for young researchers. Teaching will focus on cognitive processes in primate sensory and motor systems as well as on social settings and decision making, and will include important and novel results and methodologies. Topics of animal welfare, ethics, and media outreach will also be covered. A poster presentation about current research of the participant is expected. Selection of applicants is competitive. Since funding of this School is mostly covered (including meals and accommodation for the two weeks), only a reduced participation fee is required (1000 EUR). A limited number of travel grants is also available for international participants. Organizers: Hans Scherberger Stefan Treue Alexander Gail Igor Kagan Raymundo Báez-Mendoza -- Dr. Igor Kagan Head of Decision and Awareness Group, German Primate Center (DPZ) Kellnerweg 4, Goettingen 37077, Germany

May 8, 2024

Second Announcement: 9th Int. Summer School on Neuroengineering 'Massimo Grattarola’, June 10th – 14th, 2024 Genova ITALY

by Michela Chiappalone

**DO NOT MISS THIS FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY** Dear all, Join us in the beautiful city of Genova for the 9th International Summer School on Neuroengineering. The 2024 edition is dedicated to 'Neuroengineering for health and disease: a multi-scale approach'. Info, program, registration are available at: https://neuroengineering.eu/ The Best Poster Award for the three Best Posters (1st, 2nd, 3rd winners) will be awarded during the final ceremony on June 14th, 2024. **Early bird rates extended till May 15th Full List of Speakers: Luca Leonardo Bologna (CNR, Palermo, Italy) Matteo Cerri (University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy) Marco Chierici (Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy) Giuseppe Cosentino (Fondazione IRCCS Mondino, Pavia, Italy) Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy) Elisa Donati (University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland) Tommaso Fellin (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy) David J. Guggenmos (University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA) Andreas Hierlemann (ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland) Viktor Jirsa (Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France) Jean-Charles Mariani (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy) Maurizio Mattia (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy) Alberto Mazzoni (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Pisa, Italy) Silvestro Micera (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Pisa, Italy & EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland) Farshad Moradi (Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark) Yuval Nir (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel) Lino Nobili (IRCCS Ospedale Giannina Gaslini & University of Genova, Genova, Italy) Francesco Nori (Google Deepmind, London, UK) Domenico Pellegrini-Giampietro (University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy) Michele Piana (University of Genova, Genova, Italy) Petra Ritter (Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany) Marianna Semprini (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy) Cristina Tassorelli (University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy) Nicola Toschi (University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy) Valter Tucci (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy) Antonio Uccelli (IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino & University of Genova, Genova, Italy) Sheng Wang (NBE, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland) Maike Zijlamns (UMC Brain Center and Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland, Utrecht, The Netherlands)) Organizers: * Gabriele Arnulfo, Michela Chiappalone, Marco Fato, Paolo Massobrio, Sergio Martinoia (University of Genova, Genova, Italy) * Lino Nobili (IRCCS Ospedale Giannina Gaslini & University of Genova, Genova, Italy) * Egidio D’Angelo (University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy) * Alberto Mazzoni (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy) Feel free to get in touch with us to get more information at this email address: info(a)neuroengineering.unige.net<mailto:info@neuroengineering.unige.net> Looking forward to hosting you in Genova, Best regards, Michela Chiappalone, on behalf of the organizing committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Michela Chiappalone, PhD Associate Professor of Bioengineering Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering - DIBRIS UNIVERSITY OF GENOVA Via all’Opera Pia 13A, 16145 Genova E-mail: michela.chiappalone(a)unige.it<mailto:michela.chiappalone@unige.it> Researcher Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova E-mail : michela.chiappalone(a)iit.it<mailto:michela.chiappalone@iit.it>

May 7, 2024

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE (AIiH)

by Jiaxiang ZHANG

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE (AIiH) 4 - 6 September 2024, Swansea, UK https://aiih.cc (1st CALL FOR ABSTRACT) [ apologies for cross-postings] Submission deadline: Monday 1 July (FIRM) *1. INTRODUCTION * https://aiih.cc/abstracts/ AIiH 2024 welcomes late-breaking short abstract submissions to be included as poster or short spot-light presentation at the conference. This is to both enable fast dissemination of promising preliminary findings and encourage attendance by a broader audience of early career researchers (including research students), healthcare professionals, and industrial practitioners. AIiH 2024 is a single track conference with oral and poster presentations and will include 5 keynote presentations. The conference will also feature a plenary session, which consists of 3 invited speakers who have extensive experiences in related areas. AIiH aims to provide a prominent platform for researchers and practitioners who are devoted to improving healthcare using modern artificial intelligence. We recognise that healthcare applications present complex and sometimes unique challenges across a wide spectrum, from ethics to technical developments, that generic AI methods are often inadequate. By creating this dedicated forum, we encourage discussions and disseminations of efficient and effective AI solutions and technologies for healthcare, and in turn we hope to influence the research, technology adoption, and decision making in healthcare. *2. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS* https://aiih.cc/keynote-speakers/ Prof. Hao Ni University College London Dr. Timothy Rittman Cambridge University Dr. Konstantinos Kamnitsas Oxford University Prof. Jacques Fleuriot Edinburgh University Prof. Eiichiro Tanaka Waseda University, Japan *3. PLENARY SESSION ON TRANSLATING AI RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE* https://aiih.cc/plenary-session/ Dr. Alba Di Pardo IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed Dr. Noura Al Moubayed Durham University & Evergreen Life Dr. Haoda Fu Eli Lilly and Company *4. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION* Submission instructions are available at the conference website: https://aiih.cc/abstracts/ *5. IMPORTANT DATES* Abstract deadline: Monday 1 July (FIRM) Abstract notification: Monday 8 July (FIRM) Abstract registration: Monday 15 July Late registration: Monday 12 August Main conference: Wednesday 4 – Friday 6 September 2024 *5. ORGANISERS* CONFERENCE GENERAL CHAIRS Xianghua Xie, Swansea University, UK Iain Styles, Queen’s University Belfast, UK PROGRAMME CHAIRS Gibin Powathil, Swansea University, UK Marco Ceccarelli, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy SPECIAL SESSION CHAIRS Jiaxiang Zhang, Swansea University, UK Rex Ying, Yale University, USA SPONSORSHIP CHAIRS Daniele Cafolla, Swansea University, UK Raoul van Loon, Swansea University, UK PUBLICITY CHAIRS Lu Zhang, Swansea University, UK Beiyu Lin, University of Nevada, USA PUBLICATION CHAIR Jingjing Deng, Durham University, UK *6. SPONSORS* Gold: - Technis Blu - Infordata Silver: - Amicus Therapeutics Bronze: - Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI - IET Institution of Engineering and Technology Your Researcher Sponsor: - Elsevier Journal of Theoretical Biology Best Paper Award Sponsor: - Springer *7. CONTACT* contact(a)aiih.cc

May 7, 2024

Last call: Submit your IP abstract today for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly!

by Heather Topple

Today is the deadline to submit Investigator Presentation abstracts for INCF Neuroinformatics Assembly 2024: Brain Meets AI. Apply today to speak at Assembly! *Deadline: May 06* *Session topics include* - Data standards & reproducibility - Large-scale databasing & mega-analysis - Collaborative tools & more! Submit your abstract: bit.ly/INCFabstracts *Keynote speakers* Elisabeth Bik, Microbiome Digest Viktor Jirsa, INS Danilo BzDok, MILA Timo Dickscheid, Julich Research Hanchuan Peng, SEU-ALLEN /The INCF Team International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Secretariat Karolinska Institutet. Nobels väg 15A, SE-171 77 Stockholm. Sweden <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Nobels+v%C3%A4g+15A,+SE-171+77+Stockholm…> incf.org neuroinformatics.incf.org

May 6, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, May 8 at 11am (EDT), Douglas Zhou, Jiatong University| "Neuronal network reconstruction through causality measures"

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Douglas Zhou Jiatong University on the topic of "Neuronal network reconstruction through causality measures*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *May 8, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Understanding the causal connectivity within a network is crucial for unraveling its functional dynamics. However，the inferred causal connections are fundamentally influenced by the choice of causality measure employed, which may not always align with the actual structural connectivity of the network. The relationship between causal and structural connectivity, especially how different causality measures affect the inferred causal links, requires further exploration. In this talk, we examine nonlinear networks characterized by pulse signal outputs, such as spiking neural networks, using four prevalent causality measures: time-delayed correlation coefficient, time-delayed mutual information, Granger causality, and transfer entropy. We provide a theoretical analysis of the interconnections among these measures when applied to pulse signals. Utilizing both a simulated Hodgkin–Huxley network and an empirical mouse brain network as case studies, we validate the quantitative relationships between these causality measures. Our results show a strong correspondence between the causal connectivity derived from any of these measures and the actual structural connectivity, thereby establishing a direct linkage between them. We highlight that structural connectivity in networks with output pulse signals can be reconstructed on a pairwise basis, without needing global information from all network nodes, effectively avoiding the curse of dimensionality. Our approach offers a robust and practical methodology for reconstructing networks based on pulse outputs. *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 ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" '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 Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

May 5, 2024

Postdoc for 3 years -- How to be flexible – organizing and optimizing task-dependent information processing in the visual system

by David Rotermund

The Computational Neurophysics lab at the University of Bremenheaded by Dr. Udo Ernst offers at the earliest date possible: *Postdoc in Computational Neuroscience **for 3 years* In this project we want to study organization and optimization of flexible information processing in neural networks, with specific focus on the visual system. You will use network modelling,numerical simulation, and mathematical analysis to investigate fundamental aspects of flexible computation such as task-dependent coordination of multiple brain areas for efficient information processing, as well as the emergence of flexible circuits originating from learning schemes which simultaneously optimize for function and flexibility. These studies will be complemented by biophysically realistic modelling and data analysis in collaboration with experimental work. Here we will investigate selective attention as a central aspect of flexibility in the visual system, involving task-dependent coordination of multiple visual areas. ============ = Official text = ============ The Computational Neurophysics lab at the University of Bremenheaded by Dr. Udo Ernst offers at the earliest date possible: *Postdoc in Computational Neuroscience (f/m/d)* German federal pay scale EG13 TV-L (100 %) *limited for 3 years*(according to § 2 WissZeitVG) *How to be flexible – organizing and optimizing task-dependent information processing in the visual system* In this project we want to study organization and optimization of flexible information processing in neural networks, with specific focus on the visual system. You will use * network modelling, * numerical simulation, * and mathematical analysis to investigate fundamental aspects of flexible computation such as task-dependent coordination of multiple brain areas for efficient information processing, as well as the emergence of flexible circuits originating from learning schemes which simultaneously optimize for function and flexibility. These studies will be complemented by biophysically realistic modelling and data analysis in collaboration with experimental work done in the lab of Prof. Dr. Andreas Kreiter, also at the University of Bremen. Here we will investigate selective attention as a central aspect of flexibility in the visual system, involving task-dependent coordination of multiple visual areas. *Requirements**:* Ideal candidates will have a PhD in computational neuroscience, physics, computer science or related fields. They must have a strong background in neural networks, dynamical systems, mathematics and/or data analysis, and experience in programming (we use Python in our lab). Above all, you must be highly motivated, responsible, have a strong desire to learn and be able to work proactively in an international research environment. Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required. The Computational Neurophysics Lab offers a good working atmosphere, direct involvement in international research and attractive facilities. You will have the opportunity to link your research to a wide range of other topics being studied in our lab, such as collective dynamics in neural systems, information processing in deep spiking networks, and the development of visual cortex prostheses. *General hints:* Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since its founding in 1971. With a broad range of subjects, we combine exceptional performance and innovative potential. As an ambitious research university, we stand for research-based learning approaches and a pronounced interdisciplinary orientation. We actively pursue international scientific cooperation in a spirit of global partnership. Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to dare new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and in the world. The University of Bremen is family-friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, women are particularly encouraged to apply. Disabled applicants will be given priority if their professional and personal qualifications are essentially the same. For questions of the research project please contact: Dr. Udo Ernst, E-Mail: _udo(a)neuro.uni-bremen.de_ For general information on this topic, see also: _https://www.uni-bremen.de/ernstlab <https://www.uni-bremen.de/ernstlab>_ _Detailed instructions for applicants_ Your application must comprise: *Motivation letter* Your 1–2-page essay should address the following questions: * What is your background? What areas have you worked in previously, and how do you think this will help you in this role? * What attracts you to computational neuroscience? * What computational neuroscience problem(s) are you most interested in? * What is your motivation for joining our project? * What are your plans for your future career? * When will you definitely be able to begin? *Curriculum Vitae* Send a tabular CV with your contact details, and all stages of education and employment. *List of skills, awards, publications* List your skills, especially language skills (including level of proficiency), that you think might be useful for the job. Also list any awards you have received and any peer-reviewed publications, if you have any. *Contact details of two academic references* One of the referees should be your PhD and/or MSc supervisor. Please inform your referees before listing their names so that they are not surprised when we contact them. You can apply in English or German, whichever language you are more comfortable with. Please explicitly address each of the specified requirements in your application (see detailed instructions below), and send your application documents until *31.05.2024*by indicating the *job id A189-24 to* Universität Bremen Institut für Theoretische Physik Frau Agnes Janssen Hochschulring 18 D-28359 Bremen or as one PDF file by unencrypted electronic mail to: _ajanssen(a)neuro.uni-bremen.de <mailto:ajanssen@neuro.uni-bremen.de>_. We kindly ask you to send us only copies (no portfolios) of your application documents, as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

May 3, 2024

EBRAINS Brain Simulation Workshop 2024 - Bilbao, 3-7 June

by Mathieu Desroches

Dear all, We are organising the next EBRAINS <https://www.ebrains.eu/> event in Bilbao from 3rd to 7th June. All infos regarding the registration and the scientific program are available on the event’s webpage: https://www.bcamath.org/events/ebrains2024/en/ Best, Mathieu. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Mathieu Desroches Research Director (Directeur de Recherche) MathNeuro <https://team.inria.fr/mathneuro/> Project Team Leader Inria Branch of the University of Montpellier, France https://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Mathieu.Desroches/

May 3, 2024

Activities for Students and Postdocs at the FENS Forum 2024

by SHSC FENS

Apologies for cross-posting. Dear all, I would like to bring your attention to the activities for students and postdocs at the *FENS Forum 2024 <https://fensforum.org/>* (25th-29th of June in Vienna, Austria), organised by students from the host societies, the Austrian Neuroscience Association and Hungarian Neuroscience Society. To help you network during the forum, we invite you to sign up for the following events (the *activities are for free*, but you need to be a Forum participant to be eligible): - Meet the Experts <https://www.austrian-neuroscience.at/FENS2024-SHSC_Meet_the_Expert/>: a *coffee break session with the conference speakers*, where we pair you with 4 other students and an expert on your topic of interest at a cafe near the conference venue. Coffee and cake are paid by us! - Student buddy system <https://www.austrian-neuroscience.at/FENS2024-SHSC_buddysystem/>: we pair you with a local neuroscientist to help you navigate the city, answer questions, and make your trip to FENS 2024 unforgettable! *The deadline for signing up is May 15th.* Also check out our *booth at the conference venue*! There you can get advice for travel, restaurants, leisure, the scientific program, and other surprises! You will also find the brochure "Vienna Unveiled: Uncover Hidden Gems and Local Favorites" featuring our favorite spots in town. For detailed information please check out our website: austrian-neuroscience.at/FENS2024-SHSC/ <https://www.austrian-neuroscience.at/FENS2024-SHSC/> And for updates about our activity follow us on social media: instagram.com/austrianneuroscience/ <https://www.instagram.com/austrianneuroscience/> facebook.com/Austrian.Neuroscience.Association <https://www.facebook.com/Austrian.Neuroscience.Association> linkedin.com/in/austrian-neuroscience-association <https://www.linkedin.com/in/austrian-neuroscience-association> twitter.com/AustrianNeuros1 If you have any questions please email us at: shscfens(a)gmail.com See you at the FENS Forum 2024! Kind regards, FENS Forum Student Host Society Committee

May 3, 2024

[CFP] Final deadline extension - 6 May - Modern Machine Learning methods for robust and real-time BCI - ESANN 2024

by Jaime Andres Riascos Salas

Sorry for cross-posting. CALL FOR PAPERS CFP – SPECIAL SESSION MODERN MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR ROBUST AND REAL-TIME BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES (BCI) FINAL EXTENSION - Paper Submission Deadline: 6 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] Are you planning to participate? A short additional extension is possible, please contact the special session organizer: 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 next 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: FINAL EXTENSION - Paper submission deadline: 2 MAY 2024 6 MAY 2024 Notification of acceptance: 16 JUNE 2024 The ESANN 2023 conference: 9-11 OCTOBER 2024 SPECIAL SESSION ORGANZERS: Fabien Lotte (Inria, France) Marta Molinas (NTNU, Norway) Jaime A Riascos (Potsdam University - Institution University of Envigado, Germany - Colombia) Bests regards! -- Jaime A. Riascos Salas Links: ------ [1] http://www.esann.org/ [2] https://www.esann.org/node/6 [3] https://www.esann.org/author_guidelines

May 3, 2024

Available Positions in Computer Science at the University of Plymouth

by Amir Aly

Dear All The University of Plymouth has several available positions in Computer Science (including games, cybersecurity, and AI). More details are available in this advertisement (deadline is 27th May 2024): https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DGN533/lecturer-associate-professor-in-computer-… If you have any remarks, pls don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK

May 2, 2024

2nd announcement: Dana Ballard memorial symposium at ICDL (May 20, 2024), UT Austin

by Reinoud Maex

________________________________ From: Brian Sullivan <brian.sullivan(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:brian.sullivan@bristol.ac.uk>> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 14:27 To: comp-neuro-owner(a)lists.cnsorg.org<mailto:comp-neuro-owner@lists.cnsorg.org> <comp-neuro-owner(a)lists.cnsorg.org<mailto:comp-neuro-owner@lists.cnsorg.org>> Subject: Dana Ballard memorial symposium at ICDL (May 20, 2024), UT Austin On May 20, 2024, a memorial symposium will be held as a remembrance and celebration of the life and scientific work of Dr. Dana Ballard (1946–2022), who was a pioneer in the study of computer vision, neural computation, human vision and motor coordination, and robotics. Dr. Ballard was a professor of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the Center for Perceptual Systems. As part of the IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) 2024,https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/ICDL_Austin_2024/<https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/ICDL_Austin_2024>, we will host a morning seminar session celebrating Dana Ballard’s research with presentations by: Rajesh Rao, Jochen Triesch, Chen Yu, Virginia De Sa, Constantin Rothkopf, Janneke Jehee, and Ruohan Zhang. Memorial Session Website: https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/symposium%20_icdl/index.html<https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/symposium%20_icdl/index.html> Date: Monday May 20, 2024 Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA The session is free but we ask that you kindly register your plans to attend via the Google form listed on the session website, or via the direct link here: Registration for the Dana Ballard Memorial Symposium at ICDL 2024 (google.com)<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI5RRtrBBlKpEi3wcXw30MBM3nfe7mwCj…> Note that registration for the main conference is not required, but if you are interested in attending the main conference, you can register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/298b4f7f-1772-4c46-b774-f438a164f72f/summary<https://web.cvent.com/event/298b4f7f-1772-4c46-b774-f438a164f72f/summary> Information about accommodation is available on the main conference web page. Brian Sullivan & Chen Yu -- Please note I have shifted to honorary status at the University of Bristol and do not check this email regularly. -- Brian Sullivan brian.sullivan(a)bristol.ac.uk<mailto:brian.sullivan@bristol.ac.uk> Honorary Research Fellow Population Health Sciences Bristol Medical School BF7 Barley House University of Bristol Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK

May 1, 2024

Final schedule released; fewer than 20 tickets left---Convention on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (Rome, May 28-31st 2024)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

Dear All, We have just released the *final schedule* for our *Annual Convention on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI*: www.neuromonster.org We are very nearly out of tickets, so if you do want to come and join us, please go ahead and book now! We have a *fantastic line-up of speaker*s, and a *fantastic venue* near the Colosseum. A once-in-a-decade event? *Keynotes* Professor Peter Dayan (Max Planck Institute, Tübingen) Professor Sophie Deneve (ENS, Paris) Professor Wolfgang Maass (TUG) Professor Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL) Professor Anne Collins (UC Berkeley) Professor Kevin Ellis (Cornell) Dr Feryal Behbahani (Google DeepMind) Dr Giovanni Pezzulo (NRC of Italy, Rome) *Speakers* Professor Andrew Adamatzky (UWE) Professor Christine Grienberger (Brandeis) Professor Rafal Bogacz (Oxford) Professor Athena Akrami (UCL) Professor Nicolas Brunel (Duke) Dr Lea Duncker (Stanford) Dr Kris Jensen (UCL) Professor Dagmar Sternad (Northeastern) Professor Bill Thompson (UC Berkeley) Professor Samuel McDougle (Yale) Dr Maria Eckstein (DeepMind) Dr Fred Callaway (NYU / Harvard) Professor Najoung Kim (BU, Google) Dr André Barreto (DeepMind) Dr Sophia Sanborn (USB / UBC) Dr Wilka Carvalho (Harvard) ... and many more spotlight talks! All the best, The Organizing Committee -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD President Thinking About Thinking <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

May 1, 2024

Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience of reward learning at NIMH

by Langdon, Angela (NIH/NIMH) [E]

The Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning at the National Institute of Mental Health/NIH, led by Dr Angela Langdon, is looking for a creative and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to join the lab! Research in the lab is focused on the computational neuroscience of reward prediction and learning. Broadly, we study how timing, inference processes and goal selection modulate learning in reward-guided tasks in animals and humans, and how these processes are instantiated in neural activity across the reward learning circuits of the brain. We have a particular interest in how reward learning is altered in compulsive behaviors and in addiction. We are looking for a postdoc who is interested in developing approaches from reinforcement learning, dynamical systems theory and Bayesian inference to understand the online regulation of reward prediction and learning in neural activity and behavior. We have a broad network of collaborating labs that span rodent, NHP and human studies, and the ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a highly interdisciplinary environment to pursue novel and translational insights into the neural basis of reward learning. This opening is an excellent opportunity for a computational neuroscientist who wishes to apply theoretical ideas to understand empirical data, with the opportunity to collaborate on novel paradigms to test computational models of reward learning in the brain. Interested candidates should have strong quantitative and programming skills, a background in neuroscience, psychology or cognitive science and a record of scientific contributions in an area relevant to research in the lab. Applicants should send a brief research statement, cv and the names of two academic references to Dr Angela Langdon (angela dot langdon at nih dot gov). Informal enquiries are welcome!

April 30, 2024

GRE requirements and grad school applicant numbers

by Brascamp, Jan

Dear collegues at United States graduate programs, To inform our graduate program’s application policy in future years, we are trying to understand the relation between whether a graduate program requires applicants to submit GRE results, and the number of applications received. We put together a short Qualtrics survey to learn what our colleagues’ experience at other graduate programs has been in this context. If you are at a US graduate program and could save a few minutes, we would be grateful if you could fill out the survey. https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA <https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA> Thank you, Jan Brascamp

April 29, 2024

World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, May 1st 2024 at 11am (EDT), Lorenzo Fontolan, Université Aix-Marseille| "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour"

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille on the topic of "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *May 1st, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Persistent, stimulus-dependent neuronal activity has been observed in numerous brain areas during tasks that require the temporary maintenance of information. Several competing hypotheses for the neuronal mechanisms underlying persistent activity have been proposed. We have employed data-driven models in conjunction with optogenetic disruptions of neural circuits within memory-guided motor tasks. Our findings revealed a mechanism governed by dynamic attractors, pivotal in sustaining neuronal activity. This mechanism, shaped by time-varying inputs reflecting temporal predictions, is instrumental in regulating the impact of sensory information on the premotor cortex, thereby preserving memory traces from distracting stimuli. We then asked how persistent activity driven by attractor dynamics emerges during motor learning. It has been proposed that activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underpins motor learning, as it can reconfigure network architectures to produce the appropriate neural dynamics for specific behaviors. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated how the mouse premotor cortex acquires specific neural dynamics that govern the planning of movement at different stages of motor learning. We developed network models that replicated the effects of acute manipulations of synaptic plasticity. The models, which display attractor dynamics, also explain flexible behavior after learning has ended. By leveraging the model's predictions, we can formulate testable hypotheses regarding the distinct mechanisms governing movement planning at various stages of the learning process. *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 ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" '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 Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

April 28, 2024

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1800 USD for your participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by *May 1, 2024*. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 3, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

April 28, 2024

Videos posted for AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI (Algorithm Developement)

by Battleday, Ruairidh

------------------------------ Last week we held a Summit on the Fundamental Technical Challenges <http://www.algopreneurship.org/program> for ML/AI Development at the Computer History Museum in Palo Alto (April 15th). The videos are now available free-of-charge at the below link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA59nMLAkDyjuCkh7_6E5QSYv8ZNzXipf&si=mZo… *Keynotes* Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) *Panels* New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We hope you enjoy! The Thinking About Thinking Team <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

April 28, 2024

Postdoc position available at UChicago

by Jorge Jaramillo

one week left to apply! 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 26, 2024

Abstracts submission by 17th May for the UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield

by Mark Humphries

Abstract submission is open for the UK Neural Computation meeting 2024 (Sheffield 8-10th July) https://neuralcomputation.uk/ A national meeting for everyone interested in the computations of the brain, both experimentally and theoretically Abstracts: https://neuralcomputation.uk/submission.html Deadline of 17th May 2024 4 submitted abstracts will be selected for main meeting talks Registration: https://neuralcomputation.uk/registration.html Deadline of 21st June 2024 Discounted accommodation options also available. 8 July: ECR day. ~40 places are available 9-10 July: main meeting Please spread the word! Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

April 26, 2024

SAB 2024 Paper Submission Deadline Extended to May 15th

by Jeffrey L Krichmar

Dear Colleagues, Due to many requests, the submission deadline for SAB 2024 has been extended to May 15th! Because of the tight schedule, THERE WILL BE NO MORE EXTENSIONS. From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) More information can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 ------------------------------------------- The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA Important Dates ——————————— May 15, 2024: Deadline for paper submission May 15, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June30, 2024: Notice of acceptance July 15, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

April 26, 2024

[Jobs] Available Ph.D. Position at the intersection of AI / Psychology / Human-Robot Interaction

by Amir Aly

Dear All *Apologies for cross-posting* We are pleased to announce an opportunity for a funded PhD studentship (*Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health*) at Plymouth University, UK. The closing date for applications is *29**th May 2024 (**midnight, UK time) **(**The difference in tuition fees between national and international students will be waived for excellent international candidates**)*. Join our interdisciplinary team to shape the future of mental health care. *AI models like ChatGPT* fundamentally change the landscape for the automated delivery of psychological interventions. These models will likely make it possible to deliver *psychologically-informed treatment* at scale, meeting a substantial unmet need for these services. This project will develop datasets and software to deliver *Functional Imagery Training (FIT)* via mobile devices and, ultimately, via *embodied agents (robots)*. As a person-centred intervention, FIT presents an interesting challenge: the practitioner or AI must tailor responses to the content of what the 'client' says, and guide mental imagery exercises based on that personal content. By building an interdisciplinary team of psychologists and machine learning experts this project will deliver real-world impact with broad implications for mental healthcare. More details *about the topic *and *how to apply* are available at: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu… <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health at University of Plymouth <https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DHA540/phd-studentship-fit-for-all-delivering-fu…> jobs.ac.uk are now advertising a PhD Studentship: FIT for All: Delivering Functional Imagery Training via Generative AI To Improve Access to Effective Psychological Interventions for Health. Discover exciting PhD opportunities on jobs.ac.uk. www.jobs.ac.uk If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, Regards ---------------- *Dr. Amir Aly* Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Programme Manager of Artificial Intelligence Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Room A307 Portland Square, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA University of Plymouth, UK ------------------------------ <http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass>

April 25, 2024

Postdoc in signal processing and cognitive neuroscience with ECOFEC project

by Elif Köksal

*Context.* Epilepsy is a multi-causal neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million of the population worldwide. Epilepsy is known for its clinical manifestations (seizures) and subclinical manifestations (interictal epileptic discharges - IEDs -). Although subclinical*, **IEDs perturb neuroplasticity processes* by altering the physiological activity of cortical networks. *IEDs have long-term adverse effects on developing brain circuits and can cause long-term cognitive deficits in children* that negatively impact their lives as much as seizures do. Yet, one of the most recurrent questions in epilepsy neuro-pediatric clinics is whether IEDs should be treated or not. While research studies have advanced our understanding of the relation between some cognitive impairments and IEDs, their translation to clinical practice is limited due to a lack of *quantification* of the long-term relationship between interictal EEG abnormalities and cognitive functions and the *accessibility* of this information with available techniques. *Objective*. The ECOFEC (Evolution of COgnitive Functions in Epileptic Children) aims to (i) understand how the relation between the electrophysiology and neuropsychological tests evolved over the years in children with epilepsy and (ii) unveil the electrophysiological biomarkers that may lead to a IEDs and cognitive deficits treatment if there are any. *Mission*. Neuropsychological test scores and EEG recordings collected during four years of the patient’s follow up and MRI will be considered as clinical data. Low-resolution EEG analysis enhanced by machine-learning techniques will be considered to detect the biomarkers that can be related to the cognitive dysfunctions. In the first stage of the project, the post-doctoral researcher will focus on resting-state scalp EEG signals to define the intrinsic networks, detect the IEDs and define their spatiotemporal and connectivity features (e.g. IED morphology, frequency, functional connectivity etc.). All the analyses will be done in the source-space after solving the inverse problem on patient-specific anatomical models. In the second stage of the project, the interactions between the intrinsic connectivity networks and IED networks will be studied to capture network-level variations and to define whether there is a relationship between these variations and neuropsychological assessments. *Profile*. The ECOFEC project is at the interface between signal processing (EEG, independent component analysis, and inverse problem), cognitive neuroscience (neuropsychological) and clinics (epilepsy, neuropediatry). The post-doctoral fellow should have a strong background in electrophysiology, EEG analysis and processing, functional connectivity and statistical analysis. Knowledge on machine learning, cognitive neuroscience, and neuroanatomy would be an asset. The post-doc fellow will join a multidisciplinary team including research scientists in biomedical engineering, neurophysiological modeling, bio-physics, signal processing, electrophysiology, neurology, and interact with clinicians. *Contract*. The 1-year contract is supported by the Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Rennes (INCR, https://www.incr.fr/) starting as soon as suitable candidates are identified. *Location*. The position is located in Signal and Image Processing Labrotory (LTSI, https://ltsi.univ-rennes.fr/) Rennes, France. LTSI is affiliated to INSERM and University of Rennes. *Contact*. Applicants should send a CV and a list of two reference via e-mail to Elif Köksal-Ersöz (elif.koksal-ersoz(a)inserm.fr) and Isabelle Merlet (isabelle.merlet(a)inserm.fr) Please put [ECOFEC post-doc application] in the subject of the mail.

April 25, 2024

FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution", 23-24 June 2024, Vienna and online

by von Behren, Christina

Dear all, We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming FENS satellite symposium "Convergence, Divergence, and Computational Optimization in Neural Circuit Evolution<https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/682787.html>" taking place in Vienna and online on June 23-24, 2024. The event is organized by SPP 2205 "Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing". You are welcome to submit a poster abstract. If you plan to attend the FENS meeting anyway, you can easily go to Vienna a few days earlier... Please register by May 20, 2024. Feel free to spread the news. Best regards, on behalf of the organizers **************** Dr. Britta Korkowsky Coordinator Goettingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN) Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Graduate Program in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience SPP 2205 Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing University of Goettingen Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12 37073 Göttingen Tel.: +49-551-39-26675

April 24, 2024