Post NIPS Conference Workshop on Cortical Oscillations

[Ernst Miebur]

                     NIPS Post Conference Workshop #1:

                     Oscillations in Cortical Systems

40-60 Hz oscillations have long been reported in the rat and rabbit
olfactory bulb and cortex on the basis of single-and multi-unit
recordings as well as EEG activity. Periodicities in eye movement
reaction times as well as oscillations in the auditory evoked
potential in response to single click or a series of clicks all
support a 30-50 Hz framework for aspects of cortical activity and
possibly cortical information processing. Recently, highly
synchronized, stimulus specific oscillations in the 35-85 Hz range
were observed in areas 17, 18 and PMLS of anesthetized as well as
awake cats.  Neurons with similar orientation tuning up to 10 mm
apart, even across the vertical meridian (i.e. in different
hemispheres) can show phase-locked oscillations.

Organization of the workshop will favor interaction between
participants as much as possible. To set a framework, introductory
talks will be presented. Speakers include

J. Bower (Caltech):             Experiments
B. Ermentrout (U. Pittsburgh):  Coupled Oscillators
E. Niebur (Caltech):            Models
D. Schwenders (U. Munich):      Psychophysics

If you plan to present your work during a 5-10 minute talk, I would
appreciate sending me a notice, although ``walk-ins'' are welcome.

Topics that will be discussed include

- possible functions of cortical oscillations,
- crucial experiments to elucidate these functions,
- mechanisms for long-range synchronization.


Ernst Niebur
Computation and Neural Systems
Caltech 216-76
Pasadena, CA 91125
ernst at descartes.cns.caltech.edu
(818)356-6885