Connectionists: Final Call for CNS 07 " Cortical Microcircuits" workshop

[Vassilis Cutsuridis]

 *******Final Call for Participation***************
 
 Workshop on Cortical Microcircuits: Structure, Function and Theory
 
 Toronto, Canada, 11-12 July, 2007
 http://www.cnsorg.org/cns_meeting_workshops.htm
 
 
 Description:
============
To understand how perception, action, learning and memory work, we need to 
 gather data from multiple levels of complexity and from various brain states 
 (normal and diseased). We need to identify the neuronal groups involved in 
 these functions, identify their different types of neurons, draw detailed 
 circuit diagrams, determine the forms of synaptic transmission and 
 plasticity between different neurons and study the dynamics of the cortical 
 microcircuits at the cellular and synaptic level that comprise these 
 neuronal groups. Mathematical and computer models are then essential in 
 exploring how these microcircuits can account for a given function.
 
 The goal of the present workshop is to bring together experts from 
 experimental and computational neuroscience in order to review some of the 
 ongoing experimental and theoretical research concerning cortical 
 microcircuits with particular emphasis on the functional roles of the 
 various inhibitory interneurons in the pertinent information processing.
 
 
 Topics:
=======
Specific topics will include (but are not limited to):
 
 a.. Microcircuit architectures of
            - Neocortex
            - Hippocampus
            - Sensory and motor systems
 b.. Cross-comparison of architectures from different brain areas
 c.. Identified functionality of specific microcircuits
 d.. Identified functionality of specific neuronal types
 e.. Plasticity and learning
 
 Format and Attendance:
=================
The workshop will consist of:
 
 Short Presentations: A number of selected speakers will be invited to give 
 short presentations of their work and/or ideas to be followed by extensive 
 discussion.
 
 Panel Discussion: Our invited speakers will be asked to engage each other on
the various issues concerning cortical microcircuits at the end of the 
 workshop. The audience will be strongly encouraged to participate in the 
 discussion.
 
 Workshop will run for a half day. 
 
Attendance is open to all CNS attendees, whether or not an abstract is 
 submitted (see below).

Confirmed contributors: Drs.  Stefan Rotter, Markus Butz and Mayank Mehta
--------------------------- 
 
 Submission:
===========
Prospective attendees are invited to submit a short abstract (100-200 words) 
 on the topics outlined above or other related issues. Speakers will be 
 selected by the organisers on the basis of these abstracts. Both position 
 and technical reports will be considered for this workshop. To promote a 
 lively event, with plenty of discussion, the organizers are very interested 
 in papers taking strong positions on the issues listed above.
 
 Submissions should be made electronically in plain text, PDF or Postscript 
 format and should be sent (no later than May 15th) by email to Vassilis 
 Cutsuridis or Bruce Graham:
 
 vcu at cs.stir.ac.uk or b.graham at cs.stir.ac.uk


Organizers:
===========
Vassilis Cutsuridis
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
U.K.
Email: vcu at cs.stir.ac.uk
 
Bruce P. Graham
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
U.K.
Email: b.graham at cs.stir.ac.uk


Workshop Website:
=================
http://www.cnsorg.org/cns_meeting_workshops.htm
 
 
 
 

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