CALL FOR PAPERS [Neural Networks 2002 Special Issue]

[Mieko Namba]

Dear members,

We are glad to inform you that the Japanese Neural Networks Society will
edit the NEURAL NETWORKS 2002 Special Issue as below.  NEURAL NETWORKS is an
official international compilation of the Journal of the International
Neural Networks Society, the European Neural Networks Society and the
Japanese Neural Networks Society.
We are looking forward to receiving your contributions.

Mitsuo Kawato
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Neural Networks
(ATR)
******************************************************************
                        CALL FOR PAPERS

               Neural Networks 2002 Special Issue
           "Computational Models of Neuromodulation"
******************************************************************
Co-Editors
Dr. Kenji Doya, ATR, Japan
Dr. Peter Dayan, University College London, U.K.
Professor Michael E. Hasselmo, Boston University, U.S.A.

Submission
Deadline for submission: September 30, 2001
Notification of acceptance: January 31, 2002
Format: as for normal papers in the journal (APA format) and
no longer than 10,000 words

Address for Papers
Dr. Mitsuo Kawato
ATR
2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0288, Japan.

MORE DETAIL: http://www.isd.atr.co.jp/nip/NNSP2002.html

******************************************************************
Neuromodulators such as acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine and
serotonin exert widespread and diverse computational influences, based on a
range of subtle cellular effects and a non-specific and diffuse pattern of
anatomical connectivity. The roles for neuromodulators can often be
characterised in terms of meta-learning, that is, regulation of global
parameters and the structure of a learning system. Their specific roles
include the prediction of reward and punishment, the allocation of selective
attention, the regulation of behavioral variability, and the control of
memory acquisition. Drugs influencing these modulatory systems have profound
effects on neural network dynamics and plasticity, and thus on cognition and
behavior. Computational modeling is essential to understand the effects of
such subtle cellular changes on the macroscopic function of neural networks.

The Special Issue will focus on the computational models of neuromodulators.
Contributed articles covering the range of neuromodulatory effects are
solicited, and integrative accounts will be specially welcome. The special
issue will include theories of meta-learning, such as automatic tuning of
learning rates and noise for exploration, and models of the roles of
particular neuromodulators in particular systems, such as acetylcholine in
the hippocampus and dopamine in the pre-frontal cortex. Models of the
activities and interactions of cells releasing the neuromodulators, their
roles in behavioral and cognitive functions, and models of invertebrate
neuromodulation will also be welcome.

******************************************************************
end.