Dear All,

Sorry for the cross posting of this message. 

I am glad to communicate that the NeuroChip Laboratory of University of Padova, Padova, Italy is organizing a School on Neurotechniques with special emphasis on "Tools for Investigating the Function of Neural Circuits". The school will be held from March 23 – 27, 2015 and the deadline for application is February 20, 2015.

The following topics will be covered in the school:

1. Multi-electrode and multi-transistor arrays
2. Implantable brain probes for acute and chronic recording
3. Calcium imaging
4. Voltage sensitive dye imaging
5. Optogenetics
6. Transcranic magnetic stimulation and EEG
7. Mixed electrophysiology, genetics and behavior approaches
8. Information theory and the analysis of neuronal population signals
9. Closed-loop electrophysiology and hybrid neuromorphic-neural systems

Thank you for your attention.

Best regards,
Mufti Mahmud


Call for participation
-------------------------

School on Neurotechniques 2015: The toolbox for investigating the function of neural circuits
23-27 March 2015
NeuroChip Lab, University of Padova, Italy
Website: http://www.vassanellilab.eu/school-neurotechniques/

OBJECTIVE

Investigating information processing and identifying operational rules of brain neural circuits relies on the capability to selectively record and stimulate multiple neurons within a network.
The toolbox of available techniques conceived to meet this need is rapidly expanding.
The CSN School on Neurotechniques 2015 will offer an overview on advanced electrical- and light-based recording methods of neuronal excitability, focusing on those that are most relevant for the investigation of neural networks ‘in vitro’ and ‘in vivo’ and for application in neuroprosthetics.
Techniques derived from information theory for the analysis of neuronal population signals will be presented and practical demonstrations of experimental recording sessions provided.

The school targets doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers, scientists working in the related fields. Since the school's topics are interdisciplinary covering neurobiology, neuronal biophysics, microscopy, and electronics, preliminary knowledge in these fields is highly recommended.

SPEAKERS

Luca Berdondini, Italian Institute of Technology, Italy
Paolo Del Giudice, National Institute of Health, Italy
Stefano Ferraina, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Italy
Marta Giacomello, University of Padova, Italy
Michele Giugliano, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Bernd Kuhn, Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology, Japan
Gabriele Losi, CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Padova, Italy
Sergio Martinoia, University of Genova, Italy
Marcello Massimini University of Milan , Italy
Silvestro Micera, EPFL, Switzerland & SSSUP, Italy
Ofer Yizhar, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Stefano Panzeri, Italian Institute of Technology, Italy
Patrick Ruther, University of Freiburg, Germany
Roland Thewes, University of Berlin, Germany
Paul Verschure, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
Guenther Zeck, NMI at the University of Tuebingen, Germany
Ralf Zeitler, MPI for Intelligent Systems, Germany

REGISTRATION

To apply, please register at (http://www.vassanellilab.eu/school-neurotechniques/registration/) on or before February 20, 2015. If you have any further questions, please contact silviamaria.lattanzio@unipd.it or stefano.vassanelli@unipd.it 

The registration is FREE, however, the number of places are limited. The registration is sponsored by the European Commission, Project CSNII csnetwork.eu (GA No 601167, FP7, FET Proactive, Neuro-Bio-Inspired Systems). Travel and accommodation costs are not funded.

LOCATION

The school will be hosted by the NeuroChip Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via f. Marzolo 3, 35131 - Padova, Italy. The location is very close the city centre and is easily reachable from the railway or bus station of Padova. 

WHEN

March 23-27, 2015. Target audience (N = ~25 active full-time): PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, scientists, members of associated EC CSNII consortia.