Workgroup on Analysis of Neurobiological data

[Partha Mitra]

Analysis of Neural Data

Modern methods and open issues in the analysis and interpretation of
multi-variate time-series and imaging data in the
neurosciences 

18 August - 31 August 1997 

Marine Biological Laboratories - Woods Hole, MA 

A working group of scientists committed to quantitative approaches to
problems in neuroscience will focus their efforts
on experimental and theoretical issues related to the analysis of large,
single- and multi-channel data sets. 

Our motivation for the work group is based on issues that arise in two
complimentary areas critical to an understanding
of brain function. The first involves advanced signal processing methods
that are relevant to neuroscience, particularly
those appropriate for emerging multi-site recording techniques and
noninvasive imaging techniques. The second involves
the development of a calculus to study the dynamical behavior of nervous
systems and the computations they perform. 

A distinguishing feature of the work group will be the close
collaboration between experimentalists and theorists,
particularly with regard to the analysis of data and the planning of
experiments. The work group will have a limited
number of research lectures, supplemented by tutorials on relevant
computational, experimental, and mathematical
techniques. 

This work group is a means to critically evaluate techniques for the
processing of multi-channel data, of which imaging
forms an important category. Such techniques are of fundamental
importance for basic research and medical diagnostics.
We will establish a repository of these techniques, along with
benchmarks, to insure the rapidly dissemination of modern
analytical techniques throughout the neuroscience community. 

The work group will convene on a yearly basis. For 1997, we propose to
focus on topics that fall under the rubric of
multivariate time-series, including analysis of point processes, e.g.,
spike trains, measures of correlation and variability
and their interpretation in terms of underlying process models; analysis
of continuous processes, e.g., field potential,
optical imaging fMRI, and MEG, and the recording of behavioral output,
e.g., vocalizations; and problems that involve
both point and continuous processes, e.g., spike sorting, and the
relations between spike trains and sensory input and
motor output. 

Participants: We propose to have 25 participants, both experimentalists
and theorists. Experimentalists are specifically
encouraged to bring data records to the work group for analysis and
discussion. Appropriate computational facilities will
be provided. The work group will further take advantage of interested
investigators and course faculty concurrently
present at the MBL. We encourage graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows as well as senior researchers to apply. 

Participant Fee: $200. 

Support: National Institutes of Health - NIMH, NIA, NIAAA, NICHD/NCRR,
NIDCD, NIDA, and NINDS. 

Organizers: David Kleinfeld (UCSD) and Partha P. Mitra (Caltech and Bell
Laboratories). 

Application: Potential participants should send a copy of their
curriculum vita, together with a cover letter that contains a
brief (ca. 200 word) paragraph on why they wish to attend the work group
and a justified request for any financial aid, to 

                Ms. Jean Ainge
                Room 1D-467, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
                700 Mountain Avenue
                Murray Hill, NJ 07974
                908-582-4702 or <jba at bell-labs.com>

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to include a
brief letter of support from their research
advisor. 

Financial assistance: Assistance for travel, accommodations, and board
is available based on need. 

Applications must be received by 3 July 1997; participants will be
notified by 11 July. 

Additional information may be found at
http://www-physics.ucsd.edu/research/neurodata (one level above this
announcement). 

The MBL is an EEO AAI.