CFP: NCPW4

[J A Bullinaria]

           4th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop

        Connectionist Representations : Theory and Practice

                 University of London, England

          Wednesday 9th April - Friday 11th April 1997


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This workshop is the fourth in a series, following on from the first
at the University of Wales, Bangor (with theme "Neurodynamics and
Psychology"), the second at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland
("Memory and Language") and the third at the University of Stirling,
Scotland ("Perception").  The general aim is to bring together
researchers from such diverse disciplines as artificial intelligence,
applied mathematics, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology,
philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on the connectionist
modelling of psychology.  Next years workshop is to be hosted jointly
by members of the Psychology Departments of Birkbeck College London and
University College London.

As in previous years there will be a theme to the workshop.  We think
that next years theme is sufficiently wide ranging and important that
researchers in all areas of Neural Computation and Psychology will find
it relevant and have something to say on the subject.  The theme is to
be: "Connectionist Representations : Theory and Practice".  This covers
many important issues ranging from the philosophical (such as the
grounding problem) to the physiological (what can connectionist
representations tell us about real neural systems) to the technical
(such as what is necessary to get specific models to work).

The organisation of the final program will depend on the submissions
received, but particular topics might, for example, include:

* Understanding representations developed in trained networks.
* Merits of local v. distributed representations.
* Semantic representation and hierarchies.
* The problem of serial order.
* The representation of time.
* Neural networks and the neurophysiology/neuropsychology of representation.

As in previous years we aim to keep the workshop fairly small, informal
and single track.  As always, participants bringing expertise from 
outside the UK are particularly welcome.


PROVISIONAL INVITED SPEAKERS

Roland Baddeley (Oxford)               Dennis Norris (APU Cambridge)
Gordon Brown (Warwick)                 Mike Page (APU Cambridge)
Tony Browne (Mid Kent)                 Tim Shallice (UCL)
Neil Burgess (UCL)                     Leslie Smith (Stirling)
Nick Chater (Warwick)                  Chris Thornton (Sussex)
Glyn Humphreys (Birmingham)            Janet Vousden (Warwick)
Bob Kentridge (Durham)


CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

In addition to our invited speakers, we invite other potential
participants to submit abstracts of proposed talks and/or posters. As
in previous years, after the workshop, selected presenters will be 
invited to produce a written version of their talk or poster for 
inclusion in a refereed proceedings.

Abstracts (one page) should arrive by email at "ncpw4 at psychol.ucl.ac.uk"
before 31st January 1997.  Acceptance notices, registration details and 
a provisional program will be sent out mid-February.


REGISTRATION, FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

The workshop will be held in University College London, which is
situated in the centre of London, near the British Museum and within
easy walking distance of the West End and many of London's major
attractions.  The conference registration fee (which includes lunch and
morning and afternoon tea/coffee each day) will be approximately 60
pounds.  A special conference dinner is planned for the Thursday evening
costing approx. 20 pounds.  Accommodation can be arranged in student
residences or in local hotels, according to budget. The conference/
accommodation area is easily accessible by the London Underground
system ("The Tube"), with direct lines from London Heathrow Airport and
all the major intercity train stations.  Additional information will
appear nearer the workshop date on the conference web page at:
"http://prospero.psychol.ucl.ac.uk/ncpw4/".


ORGANISING COMMITTEE

John Bullinaria (Birkbeck College London)
Dave Glasspool (University College London)
George Houghton (University College London)


CONTACT DETAILS

Workshop email address for all correspondence: ncpw4 at psychol.ucl.ac.uk

John Bullinaria, NCPW4, Centre for Speech and Language, Department of
Psychology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK.
Phone: +44 171 631 6330,  Fax: +44 171 631 6587
Email: j.bullinaria at psyc.bbk.ac.uk

Dave Glasspool, NCPW4, Department of Psychology,
University College London,  Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Phone: +44 171 380 7777 Xtn. 5418.  Fax: +44 171 436 4276
Email: d.glasspool at psychol.ucl.ac.uk

George Houghton, NCPW4, Department of Psychology,
University College London,  Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Phone: +44 171 380 7777 Xtn. 5394.  Fax: +44 171 436 4276
Email: g.houghton at psychol.ucl.ac.uk