Cargese Summer School, 2d Announcement

[Olivier Parodi]

			SUMMER SCHOOL

			     on

		NEURONAL INFORMATION PROCESSING :
	FROM BIOLOGICAL DATA TO MODELLING AND APPLICATIONS

		Cargese -- Corse du Sud (France)
		    June 30 -- July 12, 1997

			organized at the
	  INSTITUT D'ETUDES SCIENTIFIQUES DE CARGESE
			CNRS (UMS 820) 
   Universite de Nice-Sophia Antipolis - Universite de Corte
		      F 20130 CARGESE


Sponsored by

	Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
	DGA-DRET (French Ministry of Defence)
	Conseil Executif de la Corse

THEME

	In the past ten years, statistical mechanics and dynamics of neuronal 
automata have been extensively studied. Most of the work has been based on 
over-simplified models of neurons. Recent developments in Neurosciences have, 
however, considerably modified our knowledge of both the operating modes of 
neurons and information processing in the cortex.
	Multi-unit recordings have allowed precise temporal correlations to be
detected, within temporal windows of the order of 1 ms. Simultaneously,
oscillations corresponding to a quasi-periodic spike-firing, synchronized over
several visual cortical areas, have been observed with anaesthesied cats and
with monkeys. Last but not least, recent work on the neuronal operating modes
have emphasized the role played by the dendritic arborization.
	These developments have led to considerable interest for coding scheme 
relying on precise spatio-temporal patterns both from the theoretical and 
experimental points of view.  This prompts us to consider, for information 
processing, new models which would proceed, e.g., from a synchronous detection 
of correlated spike firing, and could be particularly robust against noise. 
Such models might bring about original technical applications for information 
processing and control.
	Further developments in this field may be of major importance for our 
understanding of the basic mechanisms of perception and cognition. They should 
also lead to new concepts in applications directed towards artificial 
perception and pattern recognition. Up to now, artificial systems for pattern 
recognition are far from reaching the standards of human vision. Systems based 
on a temporal coding by spikes may now be expected to bring about major 
improvements in this field.
	The aim of the school is to provide students and people engaged in both
applied and basic research with state of the art in every relevant field
(Neurosciences, Physics, Mathematics, Information and Control Theory) and to 
encourage further interdisciplinary and international exchanges.

LECTURES

	Pr. Ad Aertsen (Freiburg am Brisgau) - Dynamic organization of cortical 
activity.
	Pr. P. Combe (Marseille) - Learning: a geometrical approach.
	Pr. J. Demongeot (Grenoble) - Dynamics of modular architectures.
	Pr. L. van Hemmen (Munchen) - Coding by spikes.
	Pr. J. Herault (Grenoble) - Information processing in retina.
	Pr. J. Hertz (Copenhague) - Temporal coding and learning.
	Pr. A. Holley (Lyon) - Information processing in the mammalian 
olfactory system.
	Dr. R. Lestienne (Paris) - Temporal coding with and without clocks.
	Pr. C. von der Malsburg (Bochum) - The importance of neural  
synchrony in the visual system.
	Dr. C. Masson (Paris) - From complex signals to adapted behavior:
the example of a small olfactory brain.
	Dr. J. P. Nadal (Paris) - Information theory and neuronal 
architecture.
	Dr. O. Parodi (Marseille) - Temporal coding and correlation detection.
	Dr. P. Roelfsema (Frankfurt) - Oscillations in the visual cortex of 
mammalians.
	Pr. S. A. Solla (ATT) - Dynamics of on-line learning processes.
	Dr. T. Schanze & Prof. R. Eckhorn (Marburg): Neural mechanisms of
visual feature binding and separation investigated with microelectrodes and 
models.
	

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
The official languages of the School are English and French. Lectures will
given in English.


DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL
	Olivier PARODI, Centre de Physique Theorique
	CNRS-Luminy, case 907, F 13288 MARSEILLE CEDEX 09, France
	Tel. (33) 4 91 26 95 30  Fax (33) 4 91 26 95 53
	e-mail parodi at cpt.univ-mrs.fr

REGISTRATION FEES
	Students: free
	CNRS and members of CNRS institutes: free
	University: 1500 FF
	Industry: 2500 FF

ACCOMMODATION GRANTS 
 
1 - The School is sponsored by the Formation Permanente du CNRS, which can
support accomodation expenses of at least 16 CNRS participants. 
2 - The Organizing Committee will consider grants for students and young 
participants.


PRACTICAL INFORMATION

	The school will be held at the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques 
de Cargese. Lectures and Seminars will be given from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 
from 4 to 7:15 pm.(except on Sunday) from July 1 to 11 included. All 
participants are expected to arrive on June 30 and leave on July 12.

TRAVEL : Cargese is located approximatively 60 kms North of Ajaccio. The best 
way to get to Cargese is to reach Ajaccio. You are asked to make your own 
travelling arrangements. However, in order to reduce the cost of your travel, 
two groups will be organized on regular flights between Paris and Ajaccio and 
Marseille and Ajaccio on June 30 and July 12 (approx. 1200-1400 FF for a Paris- 
Ajaccio return ticket). We also consider renting buses for the Ajaccio-Cargese 
and return journeys. Details will be sent later. 

ACCOMODATION : The Institute is located 2 km south of the village, on the 
sea shore. On working days, lunches will be served at the Institute (800 FF for
the session, including refreshment and coffe breaks). There are various housing
possibilities:

- shared room at the Institute or in apartments in the village - 1920 FF
 (per person for the session)
- single room in shared apartments in the village - 2640 FF for the session
- rented apartment in the village for your family - 270 to 500 FF per day
- hotels in the village - 250 to 400 FF per person per day
- camping on the grounds of the Institute - 20 FF per person per day. You have 
to bring your own equipment, showers are at your disposal. Breakfast will be 
served at the Institute for people staying on the grounds.

WARNING: There are no banks nor cash machines in Cargese and credit cards
are not accepted everywhere. Think to bring enough French cash before leaving 
Paris, Marseille or Ajaccio.

NOTE : We cannot provide accomodation before or after the dates of the School.

POSTER SESSION : One or several poster sessions will be organized. 
Participants are encouraged to prepare posters on their own work.

REGISTRATION :
You have to fill the enclosed application and return it by e-mail to
		cargese at cpt.univ-mrs.fr
BEFORE MARCH 31, 1997 with, if necessary, a letter justifying your grant 
request.

The School will accept up to 50 students, including those supported by the
Formation Permanente of CNRS. In case of over-demand, participants will be 
selected by the Scientific Committee, with a balance between junior
and senior students, and a preference for students carrying an active 
research in the field.

------------------   http://cpt.univ-mrs.fr/Cargese  ----------------------