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Call for Abstracts – Neural Traces 2024: Advanced M/EEG Methods and Clinical Applications Workshop

by Nguyen, Tien Dung

Neural Traces 2024: Advanced M/EEG Methods and Clinical Applications Workshop April 10-12, 2024 @ PTB Berlin, Germany https://neuraltraces2024.org<https://neuraltraces2024.org/> | Submission deadline: January 8, 2024 | Registration opening: February 1, 2024 Neural Traces is an onsite, three-day workshop on methods in electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography (M/EEG) and their clinical applications. Advances in M/EEG, and the methods employed to extract information from their corresponding signals, have increasingly contributed to our understanding of brain function and network connectivity. In this workshop, we review various methods that have been developed to enable accurate source imaging from these electrophysiological modalities. We also discuss M/EEG signal extraction and interpretation in the context of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. We are soliciting extended abstract submissions for contributed oral and poster presentations. Topics Suitable submissions may cover but are not limited to the following topics: I. Advanced M/EEG data analysis methods: * Signal processing and time series modeling * Forward and inverse modeling * Machine learning and multivariate modeling * Open science (software, data, standards, protocols, ...) II. Clinical applications of M/EEG: * Movement disorders * Aging and dementia * Psychiatric and developmental disorders * Epilepsy * Sleep and consciousness disorders Submission guidelines Title, author list and affiliations, 700-word (maximum) extended abstract outlining the study's background, approach, (preliminary) findings and significance, and references. Optional: figure with a 150-word (maximum) description Registration and on-site participation is required for presenters. Please visit https://neuraltraces2024.org<https://neuraltraces2024.org/> for abstract submission, registration, and further information about the workshop. Important dates * January 8, 2024: Abstract submission closes * February 1, 2024: Workshop registration opens Workshop hosts and support Neural Traces 2024 is organized by the Brain and Data Science Group at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Machine Learning and Inverse Modeling Group at PTB Berlin, and the Uncertainty, Inverse Modeling and Machine Learning (UNIML) Group at Technische Universität Berlin. The Workshop is partially supported by the European Research Council (Funding ID: 758985) and the Helmholtz Fund.

Dec. 13, 2023

Modelling with NeuroML: ecosystem updates and pre-print

by Ankur Sinha

Dear all, This is to alert you to the availability of exciting new resources for the model description language NeuroML and a recently posted bioRxiv preprint on the ecosystem of NeuroML-compliant tools for data-driven modelling of neurons and circuits. In the preprint (doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.07.570537) we provide a major update on the current scope of the NeuroML standard, the software ecosystem and describe the newly extended online resources for helping researchers incorporate NeuroML into their modelling work. We show how the modular nature and hierarchical structure of NeuroMLv2, combined with the flexibility of coding in Python, has created a powerful "building block" approach for constructing standardised models from scratch. Moreover, we illustrate how the ecosystem of NeuroML compliant tools supports users at all stages of the model development life cycle. This includes automated model validation, advanced analysis, visualisation, and sharing/reuse of models. The paper demonstrates how NeuroML unifies and standardises the diverse approaches to biologically-detailed computational modelling of neural systems, by enabling an ecosystem of interoperable tools that support the FAIR principles and promotes open, transparent and reproducible science. In the newly updated NeuroML online resources (https://docs.neuroml.org) we provide tutorials on how to use NeuroML to build, validate and share standardised models together with extensive documentation on this INCF approved community standard. We hope you find these resources useful for your modelling work. On behalf of the NeuroML community, Ankur Sinha, Padraig Gleeson, and Angus Silver. -- 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

Dec. 13, 2023

Seventh Groningen Spring School on Cognitive Modeling

by Jelmer Borst

– ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs – Date: 8-12 April 2024 Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Fee: € 305 (late fee after March 7 will be € 355) More information and registration: http://www.ai.rug.nl/springschool/ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Dear colleagues and students, We are excited to announce the seventh Spring School on Cognitive Modeling in Groningen, from 8-12 April 2024! The Spring School will cover three different modeling paradigms: ACT-R, Nengo, and PRIMs. Each of these topics consists of a series of lectures, as well as a number of hands-on exercises (tutorials). Past years have shown that students get most out of the spring school if they really immerse themselves into one modeling paradigm. We therefore recommend you choose one topic for which you will attend both the lectures as well as the tutorials. In addition, you can select a second paradigm, for which you attend the lectures only. To give students a broader picture, there will be multiple guest lectures throughout the week. These lectures will give an introduction to other modeling paradigms, as well as practical research examples to show you what can be done with the modeling paradigms presented! Everyone is encouraged to attend those lectures. To round off the program, there will be a poster session, where students present themselves and their research, as well as a city tour, and our (in)famous spring school dinner. Registration is now open. Please feel free to forward the information to anyone who might be interested in the Spring School, and let us know if you have any questions! We are looking forward to welcoming you (again) in Groningen, The Spring School team springschool(a)rug.nl <mailto:springschool@rug.nl> – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ACT-R Teachers: Jelmer Borst & Stephen Jones (University of Groningen) Website: http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu <http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/> ACT-R is a high-level cognitive theory and simulation system for developing cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction time experiments to driving a car, learning algebra, and air traffic control. ACT-R can be used to develop process models of a task at a symbolic level. Participants will follow a compressed five-day version of the traditional summer school curriculum. We will also cover the connection between ACT-R and fMRI. Nengo Teacher: Terry Stewart (University of Waterloo) Website: http://www.nengo.ca <http://www.nengo.ca/> Nengo is a toolkit for converting high-level cognitive theories into low-level spiking neuron implementations. In this way, aspects of model performance such as response accuracy and reaction times emerge as a consequence of neural parameters such as the neurotransmitter time constants. It has been used to model adaptive motor control, visual attention, serial list memory, reinforcement learning, Tower of Hanoi, and fluid intelligence. Participants will learn to construct these kinds of models, starting with generic tasks like representing values and positions, and ending with full production-like systems. There will also be special emphasis on extracting various forms of data out of a model, such that it can be compared to experimental data. PRIMs Teacher: Niels Taatgen (University of Groningen) Website: https://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/prims/index.html How do people handle and prioritize multiple tasks? How can we learn something in the context of one task, and partially benefit from it in another task? The goal of PRIMs is to cross the artificial boundary that most cognitive architectures have imposed on themselves by studying single tasks. It has mechanisms to model transfer of cognitive skills, and the competition between multiple goals. In the tutorial we will look at how PRIMs can model phenomena of cognitive transfer and cognitive training, and how multiple goals compete for priority in models of distraction.

Dec. 13, 2023

ICMNS 2024 deadline extension for contributed talks and posters

by Avitabile, D. (Daniele)

Dear All, We remind you of the open call for contributed talks and posters for ICMNS 2024, which will take place at University College Dublin on the 12th-14th June 2024. In addition to plenary and invited talks, the conference will feature contributed talks and a poster session. Following a review process, presenters of contributed talks may be offered a slot in one of our plenary sessions. We have extended the deadline for submitting contributed talks and posters to the 16th of January 2024 at 23:59 (GMT), so that there will be one last chance to collect contributions after the Christmas break. This will be the final deadline for submissions. You can submit your contribution and read more about the conference at our website danieleavitabile.com/icmns24 We look forward to receiving your contributions. Daniele Avitabile, Áine Byrne, and Jonathan Rubin

Dec. 12, 2023

A podcast about how I introduced neural networks in 1957 and discovered how resonant brain states may become conscious

by Grossberg, Stephen

Dear Comp-neuro colleagues, I have attached below the title and url of a two-hour video podcast about my life and work developing neural network models of how our brains make our minds, and applying them to solve large-scale problems in engineering, technology, and AI. The podcast discussion is wide-ranging, including: How I came to introduce neural networks in 1957 as a college Freshman, and How I came to model how resonant brain processes embody conscious awareness. The title of the podcast is: How Do Resonant Brains Make Conscious Minds? Towards Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness https://lnkd.in/eS8n-ZTj This is a discussion with Tevin Naidu from his series Mind-Body Solution. The podcast was motivated by my Magnum Opus CONSCIOUS MIND, RESONANT BRAIN: HOW EACH BRAIN MAKES A MIND https://lnkd.in/eiJh4Ti that I wrote to be self-contained and non-technical for a general audience. Best, Steve Grossberg Stephen Grossberg Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems Director, Center for Adaptive Systems Emeritus Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Psychological & Brain Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Boston University sites.bu.edu/steveg/ steve(a)bu.edu<mailto:steve@bu.edu> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grossberg http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3BIV70wAAAAJ&hl=en https://sites.bu.edu/steveg/files/2021/08/Grossberg-CV-8-14-21.pdf https://youtu.be/9n5AnvFur7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hBye6JQCh4

Dec. 12, 2023

Support the EPSRC/MRC Neurodevelopmental Network Reliability Group!

by Fabrizi, Lorenzo

Hi all, RESPECT 4 Neurodevelopment<https://respect4neurodevelopment.com/> is an EPSRC/ MRC funded UKRI-Network Plus; which aims to make transformative changes in developing child-specific neurotechnologies for the clinic and home. One of the missions of the network is to understand issues around Reliability in EEG, fNIRS and MRI in Neurodevelopment. 🔬🧠👶 We need your support in writing a White Paper that discusses the reliability of neurotech by completing a 10 min questionnaire about what reliability means to you and the procedures you follow in your lab or company to assess reliability. Please find the questionnaire here<https://forms.gle/y9oxZ7RS5t6JYpK37> and complete it before 15th of January 2024. Many thanks from the EPSRC/MRC Neurodevelopmental Network Reliability Group. Lorenzo Fabrizi, PhD Associate Professor Medical Research Foundation Fellow Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology Department Room G17A, Medawar Building Bloomsbury Campus University College London Gower St, London WC1E 6BT office tel. 02031081888 (int. 51888)

Dec. 12, 2023

Postdoctoral position in the Rich Lab and the University of Connecticut

by Scott Rich

Dear Comp-Neuro Listserv, The official posting for the open Postdoctoral position in my lab, opening in January at the University of Connecticut's Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, is available here: https://jobs.hr.uconn.edu/cw/en-us/job/498073/postdoctoral-research-associa… <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjobs.hr.u…> I encourage anyone interested in pursuing postdoctoral research in computational neuroscience, particularly those interested in using biophysically motivated models to understand the role of heterogeneity in driving physiologically-relevant brain function, to apply. If you are interested in joining the lab as a graduate student, you can still apply to the department following the guidelines outlined here: https://pnb.uconn.edu/graduate/graduate-application-and-admission-informati… In addition, if you're applying to either position, please also fill out this Google Form so that I know to keep an eye out for your application: https://forms.gle/r4m5VNZQJDAjKgcM8 Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you might have. Sincerely, Scott Rich

Dec. 11, 2023

ICANN 2024 - Call for Workshops and Special Sessions

by Sebastian Otte

Call for Workshops and Special Sessions The International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN) is the annual flagship conference of the European Neural Network Society (ENNS). In 2024, the ICANN will take place in Lugano, Switzerland. Conference Dates: September 17 to September 20, 2024 Conference Venue: Campus of the University of Southern Switzerland and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland. Conference Webpage: https://icann2024.org We invite prospective organizers to submit Workshop and Special Session Proposals. Special Sessions focus on specific topics within the general scope of the conference. Their goal is to provide a forum for focalized discussions on state-of-the-art research in their specific field. Special Sessions have the same duration as a standard session (2 hours), and submissions should follow the same format as for the main conference track (12-15 pages, Springer format, peer reviewed). The internal organization of Special Sessions is up to the organizer (for example, it is possible to reserve more time for some distinguished speaker, or for a demonstration). Workshops have a broader focus than Special Sessions; they have the goal to showcase specific methods and applications to the general conference audience. While workshops normally feature peer-reviewed submissions, this is not obligatory for invited speaker(s). They can usually take up the entire conference day (or even more) and may feature a free format with presentations, panel discussions, brainstorming, etc. The program chairs are happy to discuss specific arrangements with prospective organizers. The organizer has the tasks of helping to publicize the special session/workshop, providing a list of scientists who would be invited to submit articles, organizing the review process (if appropriate), and finally chairing the session. Please send a short description of your proposal, including the responsible chairs, to program-committee(a)icann2024.org. We will then get in touch with you. For each accepted Workshop, we offer one free conference registration. Deadline for Workshop and Special Session Proposals: February 1, 2024. Direct all questions to program-committee(a)icann2024.org. Thanks for your contribution! Link to this call: https://e-nns.org/icann2024/call-for-workshops-and-special-sessions/

Dec. 11, 2023

Undergraduate Volunteers and Travel Prize for Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI Convention, Rome, 28-31st May 2024

by Battleday, Ruairidh

The organizing committee is recruiting two volunteers to help prepare for and run the 5th International Convention on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI: www.neuromonster.org This year's conference is to be held in Rome, 28th-31st May 2024. We are seeking two undergraduate students at British universities to help with conference organization. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and a response sent as soon as a decision is made, via the following link: https://forms.gle/RETRucgZEYPRnfoc8 *Position 1: website and registrations (30 hours before and during the conference)* This position will involve keeping the website updated with speaker information (via Squarespace), ensuring speakers complete registration, and ensuring people that register online complete the full registration process. It will also involve helping the Italian staff with the registration desk on the first day. *Position 2: AV equipment, zoom, and processing recordings (30 hours during and after the conference)* This position will involve making sure the virtual components of the conference are running smoothly, and processing talk recordings after the conference. *Benefits* This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in cognitive science, computational neuroscience, or machine learning and artificial intelligence to become involved in a major international event! Through it, you will meet established and rising stars in the field, gain an appreciation of what research at a graduate level and beyond is like, and understand the workings of a nonprofit and conference. Our previous iterations have been called "the best conference ever" by many attendees! *Requirements* We are looking for two undergraduate students reading for degrees related to cognitive science, computational neuroscience, or machine learning and artificial intelligence at *British Higher Education *universities and / or institutions. Most of all, we are looking for enthusiastic young scientists interested in careers in these three fields! You may apply with a friend or colleague and split the two positions. Conversational-level Italian is preferred, but not essential. *Remuneration* We will cover flights to Rome for the conference from the UK, as well as accommodation and a modest food and drink budget. Any further questions, please feel free to email battleday(a)thinkingaboutthinking.org. -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Executive Director Thinking About Thinking Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

Dec. 11, 2023

DENDRITES 2024 call for abstracts

by Julijana Gjorgjieva

DENDRITES 2024 EMBO Workshop on Dendritic Anatomy, Molecules and Function 21-24 May 2024, Chania, Crete, GREECE https://meetings.embo.org/event/24-dendrites Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the solicitation of abstracts for short oral or poster presentations at the EMBO Workshop on DENDRITES 2024, which will take place in Chania, Crete on 21-24 May 2024. This is the 5th of a very successful series of meetings on the island of Crete that is dedicated to dendrites. The meeting will bring together scientific leaders from around the globe to present their theoretical and experimental work on dendrites. The meeting program is designed to facilitate discussions of new ideas and discoveries, in a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes interaction. Please register and submit your abstract online at: https://meetings.embo.org/event/24-dendrites No payment is required for abstract submission. Submissions of abstracts are due by February 9th, 2024. Notifications will be provided by March 1st, 2024 Registration payment due by April 15th, 2024 Potential attendees are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract as presenters will have registration priority. For more information about the conference, please refer to our web site or send email to info(a)mitos.com.gr We look forward to seeing you in person at DENDRITES 2024! The organizers, Julijana Gjorgjieva, Mark Harnett, Lucy Palmer and Yiota Poirazi ----------------------------------------- Julijana Gjorgjieva, PhD Professor of Computational Neuroscience Technical University of Munich School of Life Sciences Maximus-von-Imhof-Forum 3 85354 Freising, Germany office: +49 8161 71 2709 https://www.mls.ls.tum.de/compneuro/

Dec. 10, 2023

Invitation to participate in a study on scientific reasoning

by Dubova, Marina Aleksandrovna

Dear colleague, We are conducting an online study to explore how scientists, like yourself, learn about the world. We are inviting you to participate in the experiment. Study Details The study takes roughly 30 minutes, during which you will be exploring the functions of a fictional brain area by conducting scientific experiments. Your objective will be to learn the link between this neural area and behavioral outcomes. Eligibility 18+ years old Current PhD student or higher in Neuroscience or a similar field (including postdocs, junior & senior faculty, research scientists, etc) Residing in the US Compensation You will receive $10 reimbursement through Paypal, Venmo, or a gift card of your choice. If you are interested in participating in the study, please email Marina Dubova at mdubova(a)iu.edu<mailto:mdubova@iu.edu> to sign up. Thank you for considering participating in this study. Your participation could help shape our understanding of how scientists learn about the world and how this learning could be improved. Best, Marina Dubova and Robert Goldstone Indiana University Cognitive Science Program

Dec. 7, 2023

[jobs] 2 four year PhD Scholarships at International Graduate School of Neuroscience in Bochum, Germany

by Laurenz Wiskott

Dear All, the International Graduate School of Neuroscience (https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/igsn/index.html) at Ruhr University Bochum (https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de) offers two four year PhD Scholarships financed through the DAAD (https://www.daad.de/en/) for experimentalists as well as computational people. For details see: * General Information: https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/igsn/admission/daad-information.html * Requirements: https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/igsn/admission/daad-requirements.html + Please read this carefully before applying. * Application: https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/igsn/admission/daad-application.html + Deadline is 31.1.2024 Best, Laurenz Wiskott. __________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Laurenz Wiskott room: NB 3/29 Institut für Neuroinformatik phone: +49 234 32-27997 Fakultät für Informatik fax: +49 234 32-14210 Ruhr Universität Bochum laurenz.wiskott(a)rub.de D-44780 Bochum, Germany https://www.ini.rub.de/PEOPLE/wiskott/ __________________________________________________________________________

Dec. 6, 2023

Postdoc on Dravet syndrome modeling: Inria (Montpellier, France) and BCAM (Bilbao, Spain)

by Mathieu Desroches

Dear all, We have funds for a two-year postdoc on Dravet syndrome modeling. This is part of an international collaboration between Inria (Bordeaux, Montpellier, Sophia Antipolis, France) and BCAM - the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (Bilbao, Spain), involving Fabien Campillo <https://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Fabien.Campillo/index.html>, Pierre Del Moral <https://people.bordeaux.inria.fr/pierre.delmoral/>, Mathieu Desroches <https://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Mathieu.Desroches/> and Serafim Rodrigues <https://www.bcamath.org/en/research/areas/m3a/mcen>. The postdoc will be based at Inria, in Montpellier. The aim of the project is to develop a multiscale model of Dravet syndrome, from ionic channels of interacting neurons to large neural populations. We will use various modeling frameworks, adapted to the scale, from piecewise-deterministic Markov processes to mean-field formalism. The postdoc will perform a mathematical analysis of the models, extensive numerical simulations as well as data analysis using neural recordings from our experimental partners. Regarding profiles that we are seeking, familiarity of the candidate with mathematical modeling in Neuroscience and Markov processes. Ability and willingness to do programming, as well as analyse experimental data, will also be a strong point to select candidates. Please apply online via the following page (deadline: Dec. 31st): https://jobs.inria.fr/public/classic/en/offres/2023-06688 https://jobs.inria.fr/public/classic/en/offres/2023-06688 If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us directly: Fabien Campillo: fabien.campillo(a)inria.fr <mailto:Fabien.campillo@inria.fr> Mathieu Desroches: mathieu.desroches(a)inria.fr <mailto:mathieu.desroches@inria.fr> Best, Mathieu Desroches. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Mathieu Desroches Research Director (Directeur de Recherche) MathNeuro <https://team.inria.fr/mathneuro/> Project Team Leader Centre Inria d'Université Côte d'Azur, France https://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Mathieu.Desroches/

Dec. 6, 2023

[Journals] [CFP] Reminder of Special Issue: NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The Making of Engaging HRI Technology Your Brain Can’t Resist (Deadline Extension - Dec 29)

by NeuroDesign in HRI

Dear Esteemed Roboticist, Neuroscientists, Psychologists and Designers, I hope this email finds you well in your bustling schedule. Just a sweet reminder that the deadline for submitting your paper for the Journal - Frontiers in Robotics and AI, special research topic: NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction, is approaching on December 29th. We truly cherish your insights and are looking forward to reading your contribution. Specifically, for those focusing on the design and theoretical aspects of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), we are particularly interested in submissions that explore the brain's or neural mechanisms' roles in processing information during HRI from cognitive and psychological perspectives. Understanding the fundamental design methodologies, such as robot morphology and interactive behaviors, or theoretical principles, including algorithms and philosophical concepts, is crucial. These insights will guide us in creating more engaging and seamless interactions. Therefore, we are especially eager to receive submissions in the fields of cognitive robotics or neurorobotics, particularly those incorporating user studies in their design of HRI. If you foresee any challenges in meeting the deadline, we kindly request that you notify us as soon as possible. This will allow us to make the necessary adjustments. Depending on your individual circumstances, we may consider extending the deadline to January 2024. Thank you for your commitment and contributions to our field. We eagerly look forward to your submission. Wishing you a wonderful day and smooth writing! Warm regards, Topic Editors NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction For more information, visit our website at https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/51072/neurodesign-in-human-robo… or contact the topic editors at neurodesign.hri(a)gmail.com. On Thu, Nov 9, 2023 at 9:08 PM NeuroDesign in HRI <neurodesign.hri(a)gmail.com> wrote: > (Call for Papers & Deadline Extension) > > NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The Making of Engaging HRI > Technology Your Brain Can’t Resist > > We are pleased to announce a call for papers and the extension of the > deadline for the special issue - “NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: > The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist”. This > special issue will be published in the research topic of the journal - Frontiers > in Robotics and AI and Frontiers in Neurorobotics. In this special issue, > we will discuss the fascinating Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) research with > the interfacing of applied neuroscience, psychology and design > methodologies. > > Scope of submissions: > > The complex tapestry of human biology, consciousness, and cognition > presents a unique challenge for technology designed to interact with us. > This complexity demands a multidisciplinary approach that leverages > insights from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, cognitive science, and > artificial intelligence to address the barriers that currently hinder > natural and effective human-robot interaction. > > This special issue aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and > practical applications, guiding the development of HRI strategies that are > not only technically proficient but also intuitive, engaging, and > cognitively harmonious with human operators. > > Topics: > > We invite original research, review articles, and perspective pieces that > contribute to the following non-exhaustive list of topics: > > 1. Neuroscience-Driven HRI Strategies: > > - Use of neuroimaging tools (fMRI, EEG, fNIRS) to decode brain > activities that can enhance HRI. > > - Translational neuroscience methods to inform and refine HRI design. > > 2. Iterative Development and Brain-Centric Interfaces: > > - Insights from iterative design processes to craft improved human, > brain, and robot interfaces. > > - Integration of human and robot in a symbiotic closed-loop system > through innovative I/O interfaces. > > 3. Invasive and Non-Invasive NeuroDesign Applications: > > - Development of smart wearables, exoskeletons, or implantable devices > monitoring brainwaves and physiological signals. > > - Design of interfaces to track and influence mechanical movements in > tandem with human motion. > > 4. Neurofeedback Devices for Emotional and Behavioral Regulation: > > - Application of devices such as tDCS, tMS, NMES for neural or muscular > stimulation. > > - Exploration of neurofeedback's role in modulating emotional and > behavioral states in HRI contexts. > > 5. AI and Machine Learning in NeuroDesign: > > - Co-design of hardware and software integrating AI to enhance the user > experience. > > - Implementation of machine learning algorithms for a brain-centered > approach in perception and cognition. > > Submission Deadline: > > December 29, 2023 (extended) > > Discounts and Fee Support: > > 1. Frontiers institutional agreements: > https://www.frontiersin.org/about/institutional-partnerships > <https://www.frontiersin.org/about/institutional-partnerships> > > 2. Open-access funding sources: > https://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/OA_publication_funds > <https://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/OA_publication_funds> > > 3. Frontiers’ fee support program: > https://frontiersin.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9YqUCmY73k4Gm0u > <https://frontiersin.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9YqUCmY73k4Gm0u> > > Additionally, separate to fee support, we are currently offering 25% > discounts for Type-A articles and 50% discounts for Type-B articles received > before the manuscript deadline. This is on a first-come-first-served basis. > > A-Type Articles: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, > Policy and Practice Reviews, Hypothesis & Theory, Clinical Trial, > Registered Report, Technology and Code > > B-Type Articles: Mini Review, Perspective, Case Report, Brief Research > Report > > > How to Submit: > > Please submit your full paper through the journal’s online submission > system. For more information, visit our website at > > > https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/51072/neurodesign-in-human-robo… > > or contact the topic editors at neurodesign.hri(a)gmail.com. > > We look forward to your contribution to this cutting-edge topic at the > intersection of technology, brain research, and human-robot symbiosis. > > > Sincerely yours, > > Topic Editors > > NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction >

Dec. 6, 2023

CFP - IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning 2024 (Deadline extension)

by nagai.yukie＠mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Dear colleagues, IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning 2024 May 20–23, 2024 Austin, TX, USA Website: https://la.utexas.edu/users/dil/ICDL_Austin_2024/ Deadline for full paper submissions: December 15, 2023 January 8, 2024 (no further extension) Deadline for 1-page poster abstracts and journal track poster submissions: March 1, 2024 The IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) conference is a unique meeting gathering researchers from computer science, robotics, psychology, neuroscience, and other disciplines to share and discuss research on how humans and other animals learn and develop and how this can inform and be informed by robotics and machine learning systems. Full papers and other submissions are invited on a range of topics including but not limited to: ● Embodied learning and development in biological systems and robots ● Developmental stages and sensitive periods ● Emergence of verbal and nonverbal communication ● Curiosity, intrinsic motivations, exploration, play and active learning ● Architectures for lifelong learning ● Emergence of body and affordance perception ● Learning control of body movement ● Emotional development and the role of emotion in learning ● Prediction, planning, and problem solving ● The relationship between evolution and development ● Epistemological foundations and philosophical issues ● Robotic and computational models of human and animal development ● Developmentally-inspired machine learning ● Human-robot interaction in developmental contexts ● Applications of machine learning to human and animal development Submissions may take the form of full (6-page) papers, 1-page poster abstracts, journal track posters, and workshops or tutorials. Please see below for details on each submission type. Decisions regarding acceptance will be based on technical quality, novelty, and expected interest to the conference’s interdisciplinary audience. In addition to talks and posters originating from these submissions, the conference will feature a keynote speaker as well as several invited symposia showcasing recent research on a set of themes, with different disciplines and perspectives featured, to prompt lively and productive discussion at the conference. [ Submission types ] ● Full six-page papers Papers of at most 6 pages in IEEE double column format will undergo peer-review, and accepted and presented submissions will be included in the conference proceedings published by IEEE Xplore. Up to two extra pages are acceptable for a publication fee of $100 per page. Accepted papers will be invited for presentation either in oral or poster format. ● Workshops & Tutorials Half-day workshop and tutorials will be held on May 20, 2024 (the first day of the meeting). Proposals should be no more than two pages and should include a title, an abstract, a description of the workshop or tutorial concept, the target audience, a list of presenters, information on whether the session will be open to paper or poster submission, and a link to the workshop or tutorial website if applicable. ● 1-page poster abstracts To encourage discussion of late-breaking results or for work that is not sufficiently mature for a full paper, we will accept 1-page abstracts. These submissions will not be included in the conference proceedings. Accepted abstracts will be presented during the poster session. ● Journal-track posters Journal track poster submissions must be about a journal paper that has been published recently (no earlier than December 2022), on a topic relevant to ICDL. More detailed instruction regarding paper/abstract submissions is given in the conference website. Best regards, Yukie Nagai, on behalf of the organizing committees — Yukie Nagai, Ph.D. Project Professor, The University of Tokyo nagai.yukie(a)mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp | https://developmental-robotics.jp CREST Cognitive Feelings: https://cognitive-feeling.jp CREST Cognitive Mirroring: https://cognitive-mirroring.org

Dec. 6, 2023

3yr CRCNS Postdoctoral Position in Barcelona

by Alex Roxin

The group of Alex Roxin https://sites.google.com/site/alexanderroxin/home at the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica https://www.crm.cat/_neuroscience/ is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on models of the formation and long-term dynamics of memories in the Hippocampus. This project is a collaboration with the Wang lab at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience https://mpfi.org/science/our-labs/wang-lab/ in the framework of the CRCNS program, to study the role of acetylcholine in memory formation. The postdoctoral candidate should have strong quantitative skills. The theoretical side of the project will involve data analysis, modelling, and analytical and numerical analysis of the model. Yearly meetings between the two groups will be held in Barcelona and Florida. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to spend a brief period of time, dates and duration to be determined, at the Wang Lab in Florida. The project officially ends in November 2026 and hence the position can be for a maximum of three years, although this depends on the start date. Interested and highly motivated applicants should send a CV, cover letter and up to three letters of recommendation to Alex Roxin at aroxin(a)crm.cat. Please specify your availability for the start date in the application. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. *Project Summary:* * Nearly a century of clinical and experimental work has shown the hippocampus to be crucial for enabling us to find our way around an environment (spatial memory) and remembering events that occur in our lives (episodic memory). Yet, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the formation and retention of these memories remain largely unknown. The hippocampus receives various neuromodulatory inputs. Among them, cholinergic inputs are critical for forming new memories and regulating memory stability. Cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus progressively degenerates in patients with Alzheimers disease, and the neuronal response to acetylcholine weakens with aging. Thus, addressing how cholinergic activity mediates changes at the cellular, circuit, and behavior levels as memory forms and stabilizes is key to understanding mnemonic processing in health and disease. Ample in vitro evidence suggests muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) modulate synaptic plasticity -- the molecular correlate of learning and memory. However, in vivo evidence for the role of mAChRs in shaping neuronal dynamics during learning remains scarce. In the hippocampal CA1* *region, mAChRs are expressed in multiple cell types and cellular compartments, making it difficult to decipher the contribution of individual elements to the overall network effects of acetylcholine. In CA1 pyramidal neurons, mAChRs are densely clustered at the proximal dendrites, co-localized with the CA3 inputs that convey information about the stored memory. These receptors are ideally situated to modulate pyramidal neurons response to CA3* *inputs and to shape neuronal dynamics through synaptic plasticity. In this project, we hypothesize that mAChRs located on CA1 pyramidal neurons mediate both the formation and stability of the memory-related dynamical activity patterns generated by these neurons. To test this hypothesis, we combine theoretical modeling with in vivo experiments that leverage* *newly developed neuropharmacological tools to target muscarinic acetylcholine receptors with cell-type specificity. Our objective is to elucidate the cholinergic control of plasticity over two distinct stages of the memory process memory formation and stability across multiple levels from cell-typespecific acetylcholine receptors to the development of memory-related neuronal dynamics, and finally to the refinement of behavior.* -- Alex Roxin Computational Neuroscience Group Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici C 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) https://sites.google.com/site/alexanderroxin/home

Dec. 5, 2023

APPLY TO THE THOM YOUNG RESARCHER AWARD

by hocine Cherifi

*YOUNG RESARCHER AWARD* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/young-resarcher-award/> *@ **FRCCS 2024* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> The Young Researcher Award is part of CSS FRANCE's <https://www.cssfrance.org/> global initiative to support early career researchers in their quest to advance the frontiers of science across a broad range of disciplines. It is in place to recognize early career contributions and leadership in research in Complex Systems related fields. It is awarded to young researchers up to *five years* after the Ph.D. completion (date of Ph.D. defense) and the deadline of the call for nomination. *Eligibility* - Applications for this award are welcomed by academia, business, and government scientists. - Eligible candidates should not be older than 35 years. - There should be no more than five years between the date of the Ph.D. defense and the deadline of the call for nomination. - Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. - Any young researcher can be nominated in whatever discipline Complex Systems covers. - Candidates must commit to presenting their work at FRCCS if awarded. *Important dates* · Application deadline: *March 04, 2024* · Notification to applicants: *April 02, 2024* *Application Instruction* *For self-nomination* The application package must contain: - A CV of the candidate (maximum two pages) - Research achievement: a letter describing the context and relevance of the achievement, its scientific impact, and why it deserves an award (maximum two pages). - A long-term research project (maximum two pages) *For supporter nomination* - A CV of the candidate (maximum two pages) - Research achievement: a letter describing the context and relevance of the achievement, its scientific impact, and why it deserves an award (maximum two pages). - A statement from the candidate (maximum two pages) reflects their understanding of how the original scientific research moved science forward. *Application Process* Applications are made via a google form: Fill out the self-nomination form <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7JjwOEPF0YYBRHWomS3o-fZ3YXu0a5QU…> or the Supporter nomination form <https://forms.gle/bkVFg9pUvt2f4K1p9> *Note that Google Forms requires you to be signed in to a Google account to upload files and submit your responses. * *Selection Process* FRCCS Award Committee will evaluate all qualified candidates and propose the winner to the Advisory Board of CSS FRANCE, which will make the final decision. *Award Procedure* A prize of 1000 euros is awarded to the winner. The award also covers the registration fee of FRCCS <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> 2024 to facilitate attendance at the conference. The awardee will be recognized and present his (her) work at FRCCS <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> 2024. For more information contact: hocine.cherifi(a)gmail.com

Dec. 5, 2023

PhD position at Universitat de les Illes Balears

by Catalina Vich Llompart

The Dynamical Systems group at Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) is seeking applications for a PhD student. This Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) funded position will focus on decision making, linking computational models and mathematical analysis to human and rodent data. The successful candidate will be mentored, supervised and trained directly by C.Vich, but they will also work and interact with Prof. Timothy Verstynen (CMU, Psychology) and Prof. Jonathan Rubin (University of Pittsburgh, Mathematics) so they will have to occasionally visit the USA team. The project specifically focuses on how dynamics of cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic pathways map to cognitive models of adaptive decision-making, and how these circuits regulate information flow in the mammalian brain. This position will be renewed annually for up to 3 years. Preferred skills from the PhD student: We are looking for highly motivated and self-driven candidate with strong interest in computational neuroscience and significant computational expertise. To be accepted in the PhD program, a MSc degree is required, preferably in mathematical biology, computational biology, dynamical systems or related disciplines. Students who do not hold a MSc degree but hold an undergraduate degree of 300ECTS are also encouraged to apply. A high level of written and spoken English and good programming skills (preferably python) are prioritized. Environment The Universitat de les Illes Balears (https://www.uib.eu <https://www.uib.eu/>) is located in Mallorca, the highest island of the Balearic Islands, at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, an area declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, as well as being just a few kilometres from Mallorca’s finest beaches. It is also ranked among the top 5 Spanish universities in education and in research quality. The university is well connected with the main city, Palma, and other villages. In fact, it has a bus and underground service with good timetables and frequencies. The accepted student will be a member of the group of Dynamical Systems (SSDD, http://www.ssdd.uib.es <http://www.ssdd.uib.es/>) and the institute of Applied Computing and Community Code (IAC3, http://iac3.uib.es <http://iac3.uib.es/>), with ample opportunities to interact with other young researchers in the fields of physics and mathematics in a highly interactive, dynamic, and multi-cultural environment. To apply For details on how to apply, please contact Catalina Vich by email at catalina.vich(a)uib.es <mailto:catalina.vich@uib.es> showing your interest on applying for this position. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, etc. Demographic and cultural diversity will be considered in the selection of the trainee.

Dec. 5, 2023

Apply to the Bertalanffy Doctoral Student Award

by hocine Cherifi

*DOCTORAL STUDENT AWARD* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/doctoral-student-award/> *@ **FRCCS 2024* <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> The Bertalanffy Doctoral Student Award is part of CSS FRANCE's <https://www.cssfrance.org/> global initiative to support early career researchers in their quest to advance the frontiers of science across a broad range of disciplines. It is in place to recognize early career contributions and leadership in research in Complex Systems related fields. It is awarded to young researchers enrolled in a Ph.D. program. This competition consists in presenting your research in simple terms in a five minutes video to a lay audience. Your presentation should be clear, concise, and convincing. *Eligibility* - Eligible candidates must: - Be under 30. - Be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in whatever discipline Complex Systems covers. - Commit to presenting their work at the French Regional Conference on Complex Systems <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> FRCCS <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> if awarded - Accept and authorize the use and distribution of videos and photos related to the competition, including on social networks - Have informed their thesis supervisor of their participation in the competition - Present a sufficiently advanced state of the doctoral research project *Important dates* · Application deadline: *March 04, 2024* · Notification to applicants: *April 02, 2024* *Application Instruction* The application package must contain the following: - A CV of the candidate (maximum two pages) - A summary (maximum two pages) presenting the research work, its context, main contribution, and scientific impact. - A 5 minutes video presentation. *Application Process* Applications are made via a google form on the online portal. <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe49vdpumpzjVJJ7_mWgC5zKSLS1AqelD_…> *Note that Google Forms requires you to be signed in to a Google account to upload files and submit your responses. * *Selection Process* FRCCS Award Committee will evaluate all qualified candidates and propose the winner to the Advisory Board of CSS FRANCE, which will make the final decision. *Award Procedure* A prize of 500 euros is awarded to the winner. The award also covers the registration fee of FRCCS <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> 2024 to facilitate attendance at the conference. The awardee will be recognized and present his (her) work at FRCCS <https://iutdijon.u-bourgogne.fr/ccs-france/> 2024. For more information contact: hocine.cherifi(a)gmail.com

Dec. 5, 2023

4 year fully-funded PhD studentship in ML and Parkinson’s disease at Nottingham

by Mark Humphries

A 4-year fully-funded PhD studentship with Prof Mark Humphries and Dr JeYoung Yung at the University Of Nottingham is available to start September 2024. “Optimising patient selection for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s disease using multimodal machine learning” Parkinson’s disease has debilitating motor symptoms of tremor in the limbs, slowness of movement, and freezing, unable to move. A highly effective treatment is electrical stimulation deep in the motor regions of the midbrain. But surgery for this deep brain stimulation is only offered to around 2% of all patients, and about a quarter of those who receive it have poor outcomes. Optimising the selection of patients for deep brain stimulation will widen access to treatment, improve treatment outcomes, and prevent harm. The goal of this project is to test how fusing clinical data, neuroimaging, and video assessments could optimise the selection of patients. The project will be in collaboration with MachineMedicine (London), a MedTech company specialising in Parkinson’s disease, and the movement disorders clinical team at St George’s Hospital, London. In joining this collaboration, the PhD student will be trained in data-science and machine learning tools, including how to extract and analyse MRI and fMRI data, in fusing data across modalities, and in developing a machine-learning pipeline for predicting patient outcomes. These predictions will be tested against the 12-month follow-up data from the St George’s trial patients. The student’s further training will include a 3-month placement at MachineMedicine, and visits to St George’s clinic. Closing date:12 noon (GMT) Friday 12th January 2024. For full studentship details and how to apply see here: https://more.bham.ac.uk/mrc-aim/phd-opportunities/ Send all enquires to mark.humphries(a)nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:mark.humphries@nottingham.ac.uk> 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.

Dec. 4, 2023

Announcing Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course 2024 (OCNC 2024)

by Erik De Schutter

OKINAWA/OIST COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2024 Methods, Neurons, Networks and Behaviors June 17 to July 4, 2024 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc The aim of the Okinawa/OIST Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June 17th through July 4th, 2024 at an oceanfront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Applications are through the course web page (https://groups.oist.jp/ocnc) only; January 1 - January 31, 2024. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance end of March. Like in preceding years, the 19th OCNC will be a comprehensive three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with ample time for student projects. The first week will focus exclusively on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, while the second and third weeks will have lectures by international and local experts. The course has a strong hands-on component based on student proposed modeling or data analysis projects, which are further refined with the help of a dedicated tutor. Applicants are required to propose their project at the time of application. There is no tuition fee. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Lecturers: Erik De Schutter (OIST) Kenji Doya (OIST) Tomoki Fukai (OIST) Izumi Fukunaga (OIST) N. Alex Cayco Gajic (École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France) Yukiko Goda (OIST) Arvind Kumar (KTH, Stockholm, Sweden) Bernd Kuhn (OIST) Matthew Larkum (Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany) Hakwan Lau (RIKEN CBS, Tokyo, Japan) Sukbin Lim (NYU Shangai, China) Gerald Pao (OIST) Thomas Parr (Oxford University, UK) Sam Reiter (OIST) Kazumasa Tanaka (OIST)

Dec. 4, 2023

Fully-funded PhD in mathematical neuroscience (Sheffield, UK)

by Hazem Toutounji

A fully-funded PhD in mathematical neuroscience is available with Dr Hazem Toutounji and Professor Eleni Vasilaki (University of Sheffield, UK). *Project title: *What can self-connected neurons do? A unifying theory of autaptic neural function in invertebrates and mammals The neuron is the fundamental building block in the nervous systems of all animal species, from C. elegans with its 302 neurons, to humans with their highly evolved cortex alone containing more than 10 billion neurons. The action potential, or spike, is the basic unit of neural signalling. Most neurons communicate through chemical synapses, which project from the axon of one neuron to the cell body or dendrites of another. An autapse is a synapse connecting the neuron to itself. In this project, we will use mathematical modelling to achieve two objectives: 1. Investigate the different roles of autapses in neural processing as observed experimentally. 2. Explore autapses as a potential route to chaos and its role in healthy and pathological neural function. The position is open to UK and overseas applicants. The ideal candidate will have a strong command of mathematical analysis and programming skills. Prior knowledge of dynamical systems theory is desirable. Application deadline: 5pm GMT 24 January 2024 For full details and how to apply see: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/what-can-self-connected-neurons-do-a-… *Please note: *Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact me ( h.toutounji(a)sheffield.ac.uk) to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application. -- *Dr. rer. nat. Hazem Toutounji (they / them)* *Lecturer in Computational Neuroscience and ECR Champion* *The Neural Dynamics and Computation Lab* Department of Psychology The Neuroscience Institute Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine University of Sheffield ICOSS Building, 4th floor, desk 5 219 Portobello, Broomhall Sheffield S1 4DP, UK

Dec. 3, 2023

AREADNE 2024 Call for Abstracts

by John Pezaris

AREADNE 2024 Research in Encoding and Decoding of Neural Ensembles Eliopoulos Conference Center, Milos, Greece 25-29 June 2024 http://areadne.org info(a)areadne.org Dear Colleague, We are pleased to announce solicitation of abstracts for poster presentation at AREADNE 2024, 25-29 June 2024, our tenth meeting, to be held at the Eliopoulos Conference Center in Milos, Greece. Note that this is a change in location from previous meetings. Continuing with the same highly successful format, AREADNE 2024 will bring scientific leaders from around the world to present their theoretical and experimental work on the functioning of neuronal ensembles. The meeting will provide an informal and beautiful setting in which attendees can discuss their recent ideas and discoveries, with a relaxed pace that emphasizes interaction. Please see the Call for Abstracts for additional details, including links for templates, at http://areadne.org/call-for-abstracts Submissions of abstracts for poster presentations are due by 26 Jan 2024; notifications will be provided by late February 2024. We strongly encourage potential attendees to submit an abstract as presenters have registration priority. For information about the conference, please refer to the main web page http://areadne.org or send email to us at info(a)areadne.org . We hope to see you at AREADNE 2024! Best, - J. --- John S. Pezaris, Ph.D. AREADNE 2024 Co-Chair Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114, USA info(a)areadne.org

Dec. 1, 2023

MSc Internship - Evolving Reservoir Meta-RL - Inria, Bordeaux, France

by Xavier Hinaut

Please find below an offer for an intership from February/March to July/August 2024 in Mnemosyne team at Inria, Bordeaux, France # Title Title: Evolving Reservoirs for Meta Reinforcement Learning # Supervision Xavier Hinaut, Mnemosyne team, Inria Bordeaux Potential collaboration with Clément Moulin-Frier (Flowers Team) & Pierrick Legrand (Astral Team) # Duration: 6 months, spring/summer 2024. Level: Master 2 research internship # Keywords: meta reinforcement learning, reservoir computing, evolutionary computation, neuroevolution, simulation environments, scientific programming with Python. # Research team & internship location Mnémosyne Team: Inria Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, LABRI & Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives (Centre Broca Aquitaine, Carreire campus) https://team.inria.fr/mnemosyne # Project How can a reinforcement learning (RL) agent autonomously learn a diversity of skills with minimal external supervision? Recent works have shown that a single goal-conditioned policy can be trained to solve multiple tasks in parallel (see e.g. Colas et al., 2021 for a recent review). Other works in Meta Reinforcement Learning (Meta-RL) have shown that artificial agents can “learn how to learn” (hence the term meta-learning) multiple skills without having access to goal-related information (see e.g. Weng, 2019 for an introduction). Meta-RL aims at equipping agents with the ability to generalize to tasks or environments that have not been encountered during training. Two nested processes of adaptation are traditionally considered: an outer adaptation loop optimizing the hyperparameters of an inner adaptation loop. The inner adaptation loop can be a standard RL algorithm operating on a given environment. The outer loop is tuning the hyperparameters of the inner loop such that it performs well on a wide distribution of environments. The end result of this nested training process is an algorithm that learns how to learn, i.e. learns how to adapt to tasks that have never been encountered during training. Works differ in the optimization technique and adaptation mechanism they consider in the two loops. The outer loop often optimizes higher-level structures such as the architecture of a neural network (Baker et al., 2017), the morphology (Gupta et al., 2021), a curiosity module providing intrinsic rewards (Alet et al., 2020) or plasticity rules (Najarro & Risi, 2021), employing either evolutionary or gradient-based optimization. In parallel, Reservoir Computing (RC, (Jaeger 2001+)) is particularly well suited for extracting information from data stream with complex temporal dynamics (e.g. weather forecast or language). It is a machine learning paradigm on sequential data where a recurrent neural network is only partially trained (e.g. only training a linear readout). One of the major interests of these recurrent neural networks is their reduced computational cost and the possibility to learn both in on-line and off-line fashion. They have been successfully applied on a wide variety of tasks, from prediction/generation of chaotic timeseries to discrimination of audio sequences, such as bird song recognition. They offer de facto a fast, simple yet efficient way to train RNNs. This "reservoir of computations" works thanks to random projections in large dimensions, and is thus similar to temporal Support Vector Machines (SVM). In this internship, we will explore how Reservoir Computing can be leveraged in the context of Meta-RL. In this context, we will consider evolving the architecture of a reservoir for performing well on a wide range of RL tasks (see Seoane, 2019 for theoretical arguments on this evolutionary perspective). For this aim, we will use the ReservoirPy Python library developed in the Mnemosyne team (Trouvain & Hinaut, 2022) that we will interface with evolutionary computation algorithms (e.g. Tang et al., 2022). The project will involve: ● Designing of a wide range of RL tasks in an existing simulation environment (ex MuJoCo) ● Learning how to learn multiple tasks without access to the goal information (i.e. meta-RL with a reservoir). ● Evolve reservoir architectures for meta-RL with evolutionary methods # How to apply Contact xavier.hinaut(a)inria.fr with a CV and letter of motivation. We also recommend sending documents or reports describing previous projects you have been working on (even if they are not directly related to the topic), as well as your grades and links to some of your code repositories. # Requirements We are looking for highly motivated MSc students (Master II). Programming skills and prior experience with Python and deep learning frameworks (Pytorch, Tensorflow) are expected. # Other internship offers https://github.com/neuronalX/internships/ # References Alet, F., Schneider, M. F., Lozano-Perez, T., & Kaelbling, L. P. (2020). Meta-learning curiosity algorithms. International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR 2020). https://openreview.net/forum?id=BygdyxHFDS Baker, B., Gupta, O., Naik, N., & Raskar, R. (2017). Designing neural network architectures using reinforcement learning. ArXiv:1611.02167 [Cs]. http://arxiv.org/abs/1611.02167 Botvinick, M., Ritter, S., Wang, J. X., Kurth-Nelson, Z., Blundell, C., & Hassabis, D. (2019). Reinforcement Learning, Fast and Slow. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 23(5), 408–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2019.02.006 Colas, C., Karch, T., Sigaud, O., & Oudeyer, P.-Y. (2021). Intrinsically Motivated Goal-Conditioned Reinforcement Learning: A Short Survey. ArXiv:2012.09830 [Cs]. http://arxiv.org/abs/2012.09830 Gupta, A., Savarese, S., Ganguli, S., & Fei-Fei, L. (2021). Embodied intelligence via learning and evolution. Nature Communications, 12(1), 5721. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25874-z Jaeger, H. (2007). Echo state network. Scholarpedia, 2(9), 2330. https://doi.org/10.4249/scholarpedia.2330 Najarro, E., & Risi, S. (2021). Meta-Learning through Hebbian Plasticity in Random Networks. ArXiv:2007.02686 [Cs]. http://arxiv.org/abs/2007.02686 Sakemi, Y., Morino, K., Leleu, T., & Aihara, K. (2020). Model-size reduction for reservoir computing by concatenating internal states through time. Scientific Reports, 10(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78725-0 Seoane, L. F. (2019). Evolutionary aspects of reservoir computing. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 374(1774), 20180377. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2018.0377 Tang, Y., Tian, Y., & Ha, D. (2022). EvoJAX: Hardware-Accelerated Neuroevolution. Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference Companion, 308–311. https://doi.org/10.1145/3520304.3528770 Trouvain, N., & Hinaut, X. (2022). reservoirpy: A Simple and Flexible Reservoir Computing Tool in Python. https://hal.inria.fr/hal-03699931 https://github.com/reservoirpy/reservoirpy Weng, L. (2019, June 23). Meta Reinforcement Learning. https://lilianweng.github.io/posts/2019-06-23-meta-rl/ Xavier Hinaut Inria Research Scientist www.xavierhinaut.com -- +33 5 33 51 48 01 Mnemosyne team, Inria, Bordeaux, France -- https://team.inria.fr/mnemosyne & LaBRI, Bordeaux University -- https://www4.labri.fr/en/formal-methods-and-models & IMN (Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute) -- http://www.imn-bordeaux.org/en --- Our Reservoir Computing library: https://github.com/reservoirpy/reservoirpy

Dec. 1, 2023

Postdoc Position in Computational/Theoretical Neuroscience (Western University)

by Lyle Muller

The lab of Lyle Muller (http://mullerlab.ca) at Western University (London, Ontario) has a postdoctoral position available in computational and theoretical neuroscience. This position will involve collaboration between our laboratory and researchers with expertise in advanced methods of brain imaging (Mark Schnitzer, Stanford), neuroengineering (Duygu Kuzum, UCSD), theoretical neuroscience (Todd Coleman, Stanford), and neurophysiology of visual perception (John Reynolds, Salk Institute for Biological Studies). In collaboration with this multi-disciplinary team, this researcher will apply new signal processing techniques for multisite spatiotemporal data to understand cortical dynamics during visual perception. This project will also involve development of spiking network models to understand the mechanisms underlying observed activity patterns. The project may include intermittent travel between labs to present results and facilitate collaborative work. This research will involve in-depth analyses of neural recordings and computational modeling. Prior experience with scientific computing languages (MATLAB, Julia, or Python) and signal processing is preferred. Western University offers an excellent research environment and support. Candidates can write to lmuller2(a)uwo.ca<mailto:lmuller2@uwo.ca> with a CV. Selected applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis starting immediately. Both the involved labs and the University are deeply committed to fostering diversity and scientific outreach. Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged, and any interested applicants are welcomed to write the PI directly with questions about the research environment. -- Lyle Muller http://mullerlab.ca

Dec. 1, 2023