From ted.carnevale at yale.edu Wed Dec 2 10:32:33 2009 From: ted.carnevale at yale.edu (Ted Carnevale) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:32:33 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: 2010 NEURON Meeting and Parallel Network Course Message-ID: <4B168891.8080203@yale.edu> MEETING AND COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT What: two events in late March 2010-- "The 2010 NEURON Simulator Meeting" and "Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON" http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/meetings/nsm2010.html When: NEURON Meeting -- Monday and Tuesday, March 22-23, 2010 Network Course -- Wednesday - Friday, March 24-26, 2010 Where: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Organizers: M. Hines, T. Carnevale, J-M. Fellous, and J. Hildebrand Descriptions: --------------------------------- The 2010 NEURON Simulator Meeting --------------------------------- The purpose of this meeting is to bring together neuroscience experimentalists and theoreticians who are interested in using computational modeling in research and education -- not just current users of NEURON, but also those who are interested in using it -- for the purpose of sharing the latest knowledge and stimulating communication and collaboration. Special presentations on Python, parallel network modeling, and other topics are being planned, and registrants are invited to propose talks, symposia, tutorials and workshops on these and other topics relevant to computational neuroscience. Registration is limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first serve basis. -------------------------------------------------- Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON -------------------------------------------------- This is intended for individuals who have already developed their own network models with NEURON that run on "serial" computers, which they now want to port to parallel hardware. This is a "hands-on" course that alternates didactic presentations and discussions with intensive coding sessions with expert consultants close at hand. Registration is limited to 10 participants on a first-come, first serve basis. The registration deadline for these events is Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, but why wait--sign up now for the Meeting or the Course or both! For more information see http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/static/meetings/nsm2010.html or contact Ted Carnevale Neurobiology Dept. Yale University School of Medicine PO Box 208001 New Haven, CT 06520-8001 phone 203-494-7381 email ted.carnevale at yale.edu From sharpee at salk.edu Wed Dec 2 17:12:12 2009 From: sharpee at salk.edu (Tatyana Sharpee) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:12:12 -0800 Subject: Connectionists: Postdoctoral position in Systems/Computational Neuroscience Message-ID: <4B16E63C.6020003@salk.edu> A full-time postdoctoral position is available on a collaborative project in the Systems and Computational Neuroscience Laboratories of Drs. John Reynolds and Tatyana Sharpee at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The goal of the project is to use natural stimuli to understand high-level visual processing, and how it is modulated by attention. The ideal candidate would have a strong background in computational neuroscience and either experience in neurophysiological recording techniques or a strong interest in learning and then applying these techniques. Working knowledge of Matlab, C++, as well as parallel computing would be a plus. Completion of the PhD degree in computational neuroscience, physics, or a related field is required before the start date. The initial appointment will be for 1 year, and is renewable. The target starting date is April 1, 2010, but can be adjusted to either an earlier or later date. The Salk Institute, together with nearby University of California at San Diego, offers a highly collaborative first-class training and research environment in computational and systems neuroscience. At the Salk Institute, 14 laboratories conduct research on the visual system ranging from the work to understand its development and plasticity, the neural mechanisms of processing visual stimuli, and the link between visual perception and behavior. To apply, please send a cv, brief statement of research interests by email to ramona at salk.edu in PDF or text format. Please also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to the same address. Tatyana --------------------------------------------------- Tatyana O. Sharpee, PhD (858)453-4100x1857 Assistant Professor sharpee at salk.edu Computational Neurobiology Lab The Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA 92037 http://www.salk.edu/faculty/sharpee.html --------------------------------------------------- From phb1 at gmx.de Wed Dec 2 20:08:12 2009 From: phb1 at gmx.de (Philipp Berens) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:08:12 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Postdoctoral Fellow: Neural Mechanisms Of Perceptual Learning In Awake Primates Message-ID: <20091203010812.173080@gmx.net> On behalf of Andreas Tolias, I forward this job offer: In the lab of Andreas Tolias, one position at the level of postdoctoral fellow is available to study the neuronal mechanisms that underlie perceptual learning. To study the re-organization of cortical circuits in the visual system we employ methods that allow us to analyze the properties of network of neurons in vivo during behavior. Specifically, we use chronic arrays of tetrodes and multielectrode arrays combined with psychophysical and computational methods. We have developed the capability to record from the same individual neurons across multiple days in awake, behaving primates. This gives us the unique opportunity to study how circuits reorganize in vivo during learning. The postdoctoral fellow will use and further advance these technologies to record from interconnected neural circuits during perceptual learning in awake primates. He/She will also have the opportunity to explore how to manipulate perceptual learning using microstimulation or novel molecular and optical tools. Ideally, the candidate has a strong background in systems neuroscience, prior experience with circuit level electrophysiology in awake animals and strong analytic and quantitative skills. Baylor College of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. Send inquiries and applications to: Andreas Tolias, Ph.D Assistant Professor Department of Neuroscience Baylor College of Medicine Suite S553 Houston, Texas 77030 atolias at cns.bcm.edu http://neuro.bcm.edu/?sct=gfaculty&prf=27 -- Jetzt kostenlos herunterladen: Internet Explorer 8 und Mozilla Firefox 3.5 - sicherer, schneller und einfacher! http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/chbrowser From oby at cs.tu-berlin.de Thu Dec 3 07:09:46 2009 From: oby at cs.tu-berlin.de (Klaus Obermayer) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:09:46 +0100 (MET) Subject: Connectionists: faculty positions, theoretical and computational neuroscience Message-ID: Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin Technische Universit?t Berlin Applications are invited for three faculty positions. full professorship Mathematical Stochastics - Stochastic Processes in Neuroscience associate professorship (tenure track) Theory of Complex Systems and Neurophysics Junior Research Group Leader (4 1/2 yrs.) Nonlinear Dynamics and Control in Neuroscience Application deadline: January 31st, 2010 For a detailled description see the text appended below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and the Technische Universit?t Berlin (School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Theoretical Physics) invite applications for the position of a University professor - salary grade W3 Mathematical Stochastics - Stochastic Processes in Neuroscience Faculty II - Institute for Mathematics Reference number: II-847 The successful candidate shall develop mathematical techniques for the analysis of nonlinear stochastic systems, stochastic delay-differential equations, and stochastic networks and apply those techniques to understand the dynamics of noisy neural systems, ranging from single neurons and small neural circuits to large networks. The successful candidate is expected to forge links between the computationally and experimentally oriented research groups of the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin (http://www.bccn-berlin.de/), the Institutes for Mathematics of the Technische Universit?t (http://www.math.tu-berlin.de/IfM/index_en.html), and the DFG Research Center in Applied Mathematics (http://www.matheon.de/index.asp?lang=en). The successful candidate is expected to join the teaching faculty of the International Master-/PhD-program in Computational Neuroscience (http://www.bccn-berlin.de/Graduate+Programs/), the Master/PhD- program of the Berlin Mathematical School (http://www.math-berlin.de/), and of the teaching programs of the Institute of Mathematics of the Technische Universit?t. For more information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Klaus Obermayer (oby at cs.tu-berlin.de) or Prof. Dr. Michael Scheutzow (ms at math.tu-berlin.de). Applications containing the usual documents (CV, list of publications, certificates) and the job reference number should be submitted both in paper and electronic form (pdf-file) by January 31st, 2010 to the Pr?sident der Technischen Universit?t Berlin, Fakult?t II - Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Sekretariat MA 4-1, Stra?e des 17. Juni 136, 10623 Berlin, Germany, ring at fakII.tu-berlin.de. Please send only copies and not originals of documents, as they will not be returned by mail. Candidates must meet the requirements of the Berlin Higher Education Act (? 100 BerlHG, more de-tailed information available on request). To ensure equal opportunity between men and women, applications from women with the respective qualifications are explicitly desired. Handicapped applicants with the same qualifications are preferred. The vacancy is also available in the internet at http://www.personalabteilung.tu-berlin.de/menue/jobs/. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences I at Humboldt- Universit?t zu Berlin in cooperation with the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin (BCCN Berlin) invites applications for a W2-Professorship for Theory of Complex Systems and Neurophysics (tenure track) to be established at the Department of Physics with an appointment for 5 years. After 4 years the decision for a permanent appointment at the Department of Physics will be taken. The appointee is expected to develop theoretical techniques for the analysis of complex neural systems. The research focus will be the understanding of how properties of the constituting neural elements (synapses, neurons) can have an impact on the emergent properties of complex neural systems like in the intact brain. The professorship is expected to extend links between the computationally and experimentally oriented research groups of the Bernstein Center with those of the Departments of Physics and Computer Science. The candidates should have a convincing record in the area of statistical physics and/or nonlinear dynamics with specialization in the dynamics of neural systems. The candidate should be open for an active collaboration with research groups at the Department of Physics also in other fields. The appointee will be actively teaching in the master program on "Computational Neuroscience" as well as in the basic bachelor courses in theoretical physics and in the master program on macromolecules and complex systems at the Department of Physics. Applicants are invited to submit their applications by January, 31st, 2010. The material should be sent in written form to Humboldt- Universit?t zu Berlin, Dekan der Mathematisch- Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakult?t I, Prof. Dr. Sch?n (Sitz: Newtonstr. 14), Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany, by referring to code number PR/026/09 as well as in electronic form to https://www2.physik.hu-berlin.de/ssl/neurophys/. Application materials will not be returned. Therefore, applicants are requested to send only copies of the documents. Applicants must meet the requirements for a university professor as stipulated in ? 100 of the Berliner Hochschulgesetz. Humboldt- Universit?t zu Berlin seeks to increase the number of female employees in research and teaching and thus, in particular invites qualified female scientists to apply for this vacant position. Physically handicapped persons will be preferred, if they are equally qualified. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and the Technische Universit?t Berlin (School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Theoretical Physics) invite applications for the position of a Junior Research Group Leader - salary level Ia BAT Nonlinear Dynamics and Control in Neuroscience Faculty II - Inst. for Theoretical Physics Reference number: FO-215 The position is for 4 1/2 years. The successful candidate is expected to set up a research agenda in mathematical neuroscience establishing links between the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (http://www.bccn-berlin.de/Home), the Institutes for Theoretical Physics (http://www.itp.tu-berlin.de/menue/ institut_fuer_theoretische_physik/parameter/en/) and Mathematics, and the DFG Research Center in Applied Mathematics (http://www.matheon.de/). Research topics may include (but are not restricted to) the nonlinear dynamics and control of neural circuits and cortical network models, delayed-coupled systems, neural coding, stochastic dynamical systems, or pattern formation and nonlinear excitation waves in neural systems. Advanced mathematical techniques should be newly developed or extended, should be made available to the computational neuroscience community, and should be oriented towards practical applications - ideally together with the experimental and clinical partners of the Bernstein Center Berlin. Successful candidates should hold a doctoral degree in Physics or Mathematics. Candidates should have an excellent track-record in theoretical physics in the fields of non-linear dynamics and computational neuroscience. The successful candidate is also expected to join the teaching faculty of the Institute?s Master-/PhD-programs (http://www.itp.tu-berlin.de/lehre/parameter/en/) as well as the Master-/PhD-program of the Bernstein Center (http://www.bccn-berlin.de/Graduate+Programs). For more information about the position please contact Prof. Dr. Sch?ll (schoell at physik.tu-berlin.de). Please send your written application both in paper and electronic form (pdf) with the job reference number and with the appropriate documents by January 31st, 2010 to the Pr?sident der Technischen Universit?t Berlin, Faculty II, Inst. of Theoretical Physics, Prof. Dr. Sch?ll, Sekr. EW 7-1, Hardenbergstra?e 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany; schoell at physik.tu-berlin.de. Please send only copies and not originals of documents, as they will not be returned by mail. To ensure equal opportunity between men and women, applications from women with the respective qualifications are explicitly desired. Handicapped applicants with the same qualifications are preferred. The vacancy is also available in the internet at http://www.personalabteilung.tu-berlin.de/menue/jobs/. From gwestermann at brookes.ac.uk Thu Dec 3 11:24:59 2009 From: gwestermann at brookes.ac.uk (Gert Westermann) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:24:59 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: OXlearn - a new Matlab-based connectionist simulator Message-ID: <4B17E65B.3020803@brookes.ac.uk> We are announcing the official release of OXlearn, a new connectionist modeling tool for teaching and research. We see OXlearn as a successor to, and extension of, the well-known Tlearn simulator which is no longer stable. OXlearn is easy to use in teaching even beginners but is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of advanced users. OXlearn is based on Matlab. More information and download is available at http://psych.brookes.ac.uk/oxlearn/ OXlearn is a free, platform-independent MATLAB toolbox in which standard connectionist neural network models can be set up, run, and analyzed by means of a user-friendly graphical interface. Due to its seamless integration with the MATLAB programming environment, the inner workings of the simulation tool can be easily inspected and/or extended using native MATLAB commands or components. This combination of usability, transparency, and extendibility makes OXlearn an efficient tool for the implementation of basic research projects or the prototyping of more complex research endeavors, as well as for teaching. Both the MATLAB toolbox and a compiled version that does not require access to MATLAB can be downloaded from http://psych.brookes.ac.uk/oxlearn/. A description of OXlearn has been published in: Ruh, N and Westermann, G (2009): OXlearn: A new MATLAB-based simulation tool for connectionist models. Behavior Research Methods, 41, 1138-1143 For feedback and queries please email oxlearn at brookes.ac.uk Nicolas Ruh Gert Westermann -- ===================================================================== Dr. Gert Westermann gwestermann at brookes.ac.uk Department of Psychology, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP Tel +44 (0)1865 483772 Fax: +44 (0)1865 483887 http://www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/people/scientificstaff/gert/ ===================================================================== From erik at oist.jp Thu Dec 3 23:10:18 2009 From: erik at oist.jp (Erik De Schutter) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:10:18 +0900 Subject: Connectionists: Okinawa Computational Neuroscience Course 2010 Message-ID: <3B47966E-BF36-44BE-9FF5-E02F43F3E358@oist.jp> OKINAWA COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE COURSE 2010 Methods, Neurons, Networks and Behaviors June 13 - July 2, 2010. Okinawa, Japan http://www.irp.oist.jp/ocnc/2010 The aim of the Okinawa Computational Neuroscience Course is to provide opportunities for young researchers with theoretical backgrounds to learn the latest advances in neuroscience, and for those with experimental backgrounds to have hands-on experience in computational modeling. We invite graduate students and postgraduate researchers to participate in the course, held from June 13th through July 2nd, 2010 at an oceanfront seminar house of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. Applications are through the course web page only; they will open January 4th and close February 15th, 2010. Applicants are required to propose a project at the time of application. Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance in March. Like in preceding years, OCNC will be a comprehensive three-week course covering single neurons, networks, and behaviors with ample time for student projects. The first week will focus exclusively on methods with hands-on tutorials during the afternoons, while the second and third weeks will have lectures by international experts. We invite those who are interested in integrating experimental and computational approaches at each level, as well as in bridging different levels of complexity. The sponsor will provide lodging and meals during the course and support travel for those without funding. We hope that this course will be a good opportunity for theoretical and experimental neuroscientists to meet each other and to explore the attractive nature and culture of Okinawa, the southernmost island prefecture of Japan. Invited faculty: ? Amari, Shun-Ichi ? Arbuthnott, Gordon ? Brette, Romain ? Dayan, Peter ? De Schutter, Erik ? Doya, Kenji ? Izhikevich, Eugene ? Kawato, Mitsuo ? Kn?pfel, Thomas ? Kotaleski, Jeanette ? Nicolelis, Miguel ? Obermayer, Klaus ? Sharpee, Tatyana ? Spruston, Nelson ? Stiefel, Klaus ? Thomson, Alex ? More to be announced... From kirsch at bcf.uni-freiburg.de Thu Dec 3 12:19:40 2009 From: kirsch at bcf.uni-freiburg.de (Janina Kirsch) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:19:40 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: DEADLINE APPROACHING: PhD-Positions in Neuroinformatics, including Computational Neuroscience (Erasmus Mundus Program) Message-ID: <001901ca743c$ccdf5a90$669e0fb0$@uni-freiburg.de> The Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Program "EuroSPIN " (European Study Programme in Neuroinformatics) is inviting applications from students having a solid background in mathematics, physics, computer sciences, biochemistry or neuroscience (on a master level or equivalent), in all cases with computer science skills. Documented interest in research like activities (e.g. demonstrated in the form of master thesis work, or participation in research related activities) is of large importance. Also fluency in English is requested. Neuroinformatics combines neuroscience and informatics research to develop and apply computational tools and approaches that are essential for understanding the structure and function of the brain. Four partners participate in EuroSPIN: - KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden - University of Edinburg (UoE), UK - National Centre for Biological Science (NCBS), India - Albert-Ludwigs-Universit?t Freiburg (ALUF), Germany These four partners are all research leaders in the Neuroinformatics field, but they have complementary strengths. In addition, two associated partners, the Honda Research Institute and Nordita, participate. Each student will spend most of the time at two of the partner universities, and also receive a joint (or double) PhD degree following a successful completion of the studies. The mobility periods, as well as the courses a student will follow, are tailored individually based on: a) the PhD students background; b) which constellations of partners that are involved, as well as c) the specific research project. During the PhD period each student has one main supervisor from each of the two universities that grant the PhD degree. During the application process, the students are asked to indicate their preferences with regard to constellations of partners, and also preferred project ideas/areas can be indicated and motivated. There are excellent scholarship opportunities for students accepted to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate programme. A stipend or employment contract will be given to all selected PhD students during the study time, which is between 3-4 years. If you are interested, go to our homepage: http://www.kth.se/eurospin Deadline for Application: December 15, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091203/3d7a27bb/attachment-0001.html From Dave_Touretzky at cs.cmu.edu Fri Dec 4 02:40:40 2009 From: Dave_Touretzky at cs.cmu.edu (Dave_Touretzky@cs.cmu.edu) Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:40:40 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: Undergraduate summer program in computational neuroscience Message-ID: <5795.1259912440@ammon.boltz.cs.cmu.edu> Carnegie Mellon - University of Pittsburgh Joint Summer Undergraduate Program in Computational Neuroscience Undergraduates interested in receiving research training in computational neuroscience are encouraged to apply to an NIH-sponsored summer program at the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition in Pittsburgh. The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition is a joint interdisciplinary program of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. The 2010 program will run from May 24 through July 30. The final deadline for application is Feb 15. All participants must be United States citizens or permanent residents, must be enrolled at a 4-year accredited institution, and must be in their sophomore or junior year at the time of application. Any undergraduate may apply, but we are especially interested in attracting students with strong quantitative backgrounds with some experience in calculus, statistics and/or computer programming. Experience in neuroscience is not required. Students from groups underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply. The core of the program is the opportunity to carry out an individual mentored research project working closely with a faculty mentor. Other aspects of the scientific program include: 12 faculty lectures on computational neuroscience at the beginning, followed by student presentations and discussion of articles from the scientific literature, presentations on career options and scientific ethics, and a concluding symposium in which students present their research. The application form is available at: http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/summercompneuro . Applications can be returned via email or regular mail (see addresses below). In addition to the application, the following items are required for evaluation:    * A brief (one page) essay about your interest and experience in neural computation.    * Official transcript from the institution you are attending    * Two letters from professional references. You should contact your recommenders and ask them to mail or email a letter directly to us.    * SAT/ACT scores (do NOT have to be official; photocopies are acceptable) Documents should be mailed to: Computational Neuroscience Summer Program Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition Carnegie Mellon University 4400 Fifth Avenue Suite 115 Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2617 CNBC-summer-UG at andrew.cmu.edu List of CMU-Pitt CNBC faculty working in computational neuroscience (some are not available for summer 2010): John Anderson (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) -- not available. Aaron Batista (University of Pittsburgh, Bioengineering) Marlene Behrmann (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) Justin Crowley (Carnegie Mellon, Biology) Brent Doiron (University of Pittsburgh, Mathematics) William Eddy (Carnegie Mellon, Statistics) Bard Ermentrout (University of Pittsburgh, Mathematics) Robert Kass (Carnegie Mellon, Statistics) Charles Kemp (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) Tai Sing Lee (Carnegie Mellon, Computer Science) Tom Mitchell (Carnegie Mellon, Machine Learning) -- not available. Carl Olson (Carnegie Mellon, Neural Basis of Cognition) David Plaut (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) Steven Prescott (University of Pittsburgh, Neurobiology) Lynne Reder (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) Johnathan Rubin (University of Pittsburgh, Mathematics) Andrew Schwartz (University of Pittsburgh, Bioengineering) Daniel Simons (University of Pittsburgh, Neurobiology) Michael Tarr (Carnegie Mellon, Psychology) Dave Touretzky (Carnegie Mellon, Computer Science) -- not available. Robert Turner (University of Pittsburgh, Neurobiology) Valerie Ventura (Carnegie Mellon, Statistics) Douglas Weber (University of Pittsburgh, Physical medicine and Rehabilitation) Byron Yu (Carnegie Mellon, ECE/Biomedical Engineering) From wsenn at cns.unibe.ch Fri Dec 4 06:23:55 2009 From: wsenn at cns.unibe.ch (Walter Senn) Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:23:55 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Biological Cybernetics: vol 101, issue 5 Message-ID: <4B18F14B.8040804@cns.unibe.ch> Biological Cybernetics: vol 101, issue 5 --- Table of Content Original papers: "Inhibitory network of spiking neurons may express a sharp peak of synchrony at low frequency band" Pierre Meyrand, Daniel Cattaert, Hubert Ostaszewski & Tiaza Bem http://www.springerlink.com/content/ymx47n26537q365g/ "Using input minimization to train a cerebellar model to simulate regulation of smooth pursuit" Fredrick H. Rothganger & Thomas J. Anastasio http://www.springerlink.com/content/h5227j6n1q23x045/ "MODEM: a multi-agent hierarchical structure to model the human motor control system" Mehran Emadi Andani, Fariba Bahrami, Parviz Jabehdar Maralani & Auke Jan Ijspeert http://www.springerlink.com/content/7557n35871041xj2/ "Biologically plausible learning in neural networks: a lesson from bacterial chemotaxis" Yury P. Shimansky http://www.springerlink.com/content/r215218n05k42232/ "Event-based minimum-time control of oscillatory neuron models" Per Danzl, Jo?o Hespanha & Jeff Moehlis http://www.springerlink.com/content/c4v85l8838683263/ "Learning with incomplete information in the committee machine" Urs M. Bergmann, Reimer K?hn & Ion-Olimpiu Stamatescu http://www.springerlink.com/content/28820125p73v47l1/ "Emergence of network structure due to spike-timing-dependent plasticity in recurrent neuronal networks III: Partially connected neurons" Matthieu Gilson, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden, Doreen A. Thomas & J. Leo van Hemmen http://www.springerlink.com/content/t14625773m454588/ "Emergence of network structure due to spike-timing-dependent plasticity in recurrent neuronal networks IV" Matthieu Gilson, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden, Doreen A. Thomas & J. Leo van Hemmen http://www.springerlink.com/content/r17v618w422j1700/ ---- Biological Cybernetics, all issues: http://www.springerlink.com/content/100465/ From agutierrez at el.ub.es Thu Dec 10 05:33:52 2009 From: agutierrez at el.ub.es (Agustin Gutierrez Galvez) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:33:52 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Postdoc position at the University of Barcelona Message-ID: The Intelligent Signal Processing group at the University of Barcelona is looking for a Post-doctoral researcher to work in the area of biologically inspired signal processing. This position will be funded through the FP7 project NEUROCHEM, which involves 9 European Universities and research centres coordinated by the University of Barcelona. The position will be funded for 1 year starting as soon as the position is filled. Research The postdoctoral researcher will conduct research on information processing mechanisms inspired on the olfactory system. This involves working with models of the olfactory system to determine what chemical processing principles can be useful for machine olfaction. Requirements The candidate is required to have some experience with neural models and a good programming skills in C++. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the research to be conducted, candidates with the following backgrounds will also be considered: Signal processing, chemometrics, neural networks, neural computation, and computational neuroscience. Good command of English is also required. Group The Intelligent Signal Processing (ISP) group at the Universitat de Barcelona is currently composed by 12 members: 2 associate professors, 1 assistant professor, 2 postdoctoral scholars, 8 PhD students. Four additional associate professors cooperate in a regular basis with the ISP group (http://isp.el.ub.es). Application Send a CV and a short list of research interests to Dr. Agust?n Gutierrez ( agutierrez at el.ub.es) or Dr. Santiago Marco (santi at el.ub.es). -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Agust?n Guti?rrez-G?lvez, PhD Professor Lector / Assistant Professor Departament d'Electr?nica Universitat de Barcelona Mart? i Franqu?s 1 08028-Barcelona Phone: +34 93 4039157 Fax: +34 93 4021148 http://isp.el.ub.es/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091210/56be1c53/attachment.html From vcut at bu.edu Fri Dec 11 01:10:52 2009 From: vcut at bu.edu (Vassilis Cutsuridis) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:10:52 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: 2nd Call for Papers for the special Issue on "Saliency, attention, active visual search and picture scanning" References: Message-ID: ======================== SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS ======================== ---------------------------------------------------------------- Special Issue of the Cognitive Computation Journal (Springer) on "Saliency, attention, active visual search and picture scanning" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Guest Editors John G. Taylor, King's College, London, U.K. (john.g.taylor at kcl.ac.uk) Vassilis Cutsuridis, Boston University, USA (vcut at bu.edu) -------- Scope -------- How is a complex visual scene processed? How is the selection of one particular location in a visual scene accomplished? Does it involve bottom-up, sensory driven cues or top-down world knowledge expectations or both? How is the decision made when to terminate a fixation and move the gaze? How is the decision made where to direct the gaze in order to take the next sample? The goal of the special issue is to advance our understanding of the state-of-the-art on bottom-up and top-down approaches to active visual search and picture scanning. Neurocomputational, computer vision and experimental review papers on perceptual saliency, attention, learning and memory, decision making and gaze control are welcome. The manner in which attention is involved is considered a highly relevant topic to the special issue. ----------------- Important dates ---------------- Submission deadline: April 1, 2010 Review deadline: July 1, 2010 Author notification: July 2, 2010 Author?s response: August 1, 2010 Publication by journal: ~November/December, 2010 ----------- Submission ----------- Electronic submissions for the Cognitive Computation journal can be found under http://www.springer.com/biomed/neuroscience/journal/12559 Please indicate in your cover letter that your article is for the special issue "Computational models of saliency, attention, active visual search and picture scanning". ------------- Contact ------------- Dr. Vassilis Cutsuridis Psychology Department Boston University Boston, MA USA Email: vcut at bu.edu Web: http://people.bu.edu/vcut/ From gertito at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 23:53:42 2009 From: gertito at gmail.com (Gert Lanckriet) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:53:42 -0800 Subject: Connectionists: Launched: UCSD multiple kernel learning data repository Message-ID: Dear all, Concurrently with the NIPS 2009 "Workshop on Understanding Multiple Kernel Learning Methods", we're happy to announce the launch of the UCSD MKL data repository. The data repository, open to the entire community, is intended to support and stimulate research efforts on multiple kernel learning. It can be found at: http://mkl.ucsd.edu/ The repository mainly consists of "heterogeneous" data sets. It provides kernels as well as the underlying data, to allow comparing different multiple kernel learning algorithms, as well as alternative approaches to learning from heterogeneous data. We invite you to start using the repository and contribute data sets at: http://mkl.ucsd.edu/contribute best, gert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gert Lanckriet Computer Audition Lab (CALab) Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (CoSMaL) Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering U.C. San Diego http://cosmal.ucsd.edu/~gert/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091211/c8ab45ca/attachment-0001.html From kiebel at cbs.mpg.de Fri Dec 11 09:20:49 2009 From: kiebel at cbs.mpg.de (Stefan Kiebel) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:20:49 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Two post-doc positions Message-ID: <4B225541.2080509@cbs.mpg.de> Dear connectionists, find below an advert for two post-doc positions at the interface between experimental and computational neuroscience. Best wishes, Stefan Kiebel --------------------------------------------------------------- Two Post-doc Positions We are seeking two highly motivated and talented post-docs to work in the group ?Modelling of dynamic perception and action? (http://www.cbs.,pg.de/depts/n-3/dyn) at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI-CBS), in Leipzig, Germany. The goal of the group is to develop and experimentally test theoretical models for brain mechanisms of human perception and action. Current projects focus on the question how one can explain the speed and robustness of human action perception, action and decision making using dynamic systems theory and Bayesian recognition. An emphasis will be placed on linking theoretical models to experimental findings using neuroimaging and behavioural data. The candidates will be encouraged to actively contribute with their own ideas and proposals. The research will be conducted at the MPI-CBS in Leipzig, Germany, an internationally leading centre for cognitive and imaging neuroscience. For theoretical work, the institute is equipped with high-performance computing facilities. For experimental work, the institute is equipped with a 7.0 T MRI scanner, two 3.0 MRI scanners, a 306 channels MEG system, a TMS and several EEG systems. All facilities are supported by experienced physics and IT staff. The projects are partly in collaboration with the Mind and Brain School in Berlin, Germany, and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging in London, UK. The candidates must have a PhD (or equivalent) in neuroscience, psychology, physics, or a related field. Essential skills comprise matlab programming and experience in some aspect of computational or experimental neuroscience. Starting date for all positions is flexible. Salary is dependent on experience and based on MPI stipends or equivalent salary according to German Public service regulations. The MPI-CBS is an equal opportunity employers, committed to the advancement of individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender, age or disability. Interested candidates are encouraged to get in touch at their earliest convenience. Applications are considered until the positions are filled. For questions or an informal discussion about these posts please contact Dr. Stefan Kiebel (kiebel at cbs.mpg.de; +49 (0) 341-9940-2435). Please include the following documents in your application: Curriculum Vitae, names and contact details of two personal references, a description of your personal qualifications and future research interests. Applications should be sent to: dynamics at cbs.mpg.de or via post to: Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Dr. Stefan Kiebel Stephanstra?e 1A, 04103 Leipzig, Germany -- Dr. Stefan Kiebel Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany Phone: ++49 341/9940-2435 Fax: ++49 341/9940-2221 http://www.cbs.mpg.de/~kiebel -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: MPICBS_TN_postdoc.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 139435 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091211/287a8b43/MPICBS_TN_postdoc-0001.pdf From cardoso at bcos.uni-freiburg.de Fri Dec 11 07:32:24 2009 From: cardoso at bcos.uni-freiburg.de (Simone Cardoso de Oliveira) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:32:24 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Full professorship (W3) in Computational Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany Message-ID: <4B223BD8.5080302@bcos.uni-freiburg.de> University of Hamburg The Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg / University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf offers the position of a University Full-Professor (W3, tenure track) for Computational Neuroscience starting as soon as possible. The position is tenure track, with tenure option depending on evaluation after 6 years (according to ? 16 Abs. 2 Nr.4 Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz). Applications of women are specifically invited. In the case of similar qualification, competence, and specific achievements, women will be considered on preferential terms. Job description: The future holder of the position (male/female) must represent the field with regard to research and teaching. The professorship is associated with leadership of the group ?Computational Neuroscience? at the Medical Faculty. Candidates are expected to closely collaborate with the local cluster of excellence ?neurodapt!? (http://www.uke.de/forschungsverbuende/neurodapt/), the Neuroimaging Center ?NeuroImage Nord?, the national Bernstein Focus: ?Learning? (http://www.nncn.uni-freiburg.de/MitgliederNNCN/BFNL/mechanisms), and the Collaborative Research Centre SFB TRR 58 (?Fear, anxiety, anxiety disorders?). Teaching duties: 4 hours according to ? 10 LVVO. A reduction according to ? 15 LVVO is possible. Prerequisite Scientific achievements as established postdoctoral lecture qualification (habilitation), as a research scientist at a school or institution of higher education/university, at non-university institutes, industry, or comparable fields within or outside of Germany (according to ? 15 Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz 18.07.2001). The successful candidate (male/female) must have an internationally renowned research profile, recognized publications and peer-reviewed funding in the field of computational neuroscience with direct links to cognitive neuroscience. Experience in combining computational neuroscience with neurophysiological methods, in particular human neuroimaging is advantageous. Interactions with the Neuroscience Focus of Hamburg University should be established. Disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be given preference. Documents in support of an application, enclosing CV, scientific career, structured catalogue of publications (including impact factors), acquired external funds and reprints of the five most important publications should be submitted to the: Dean of the Faculty of Medicine University of Hamburg Fakult?tsservice -SV- Martinistra?e 52 20246 Hamburg until 7 January 2010, referring to ID: FK 03-101/3 7. -- Dr. Simone Cardoso de Oliveira Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience Head of the Bernstein Coordination Site (BCOS) Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Hansastr. 9A 79104 Freiburg, Germany phone: +49-761-203-9583 fax: +49-761-203-9585 cardoso at bcos.uni-freiburg.de www.nncn.de From hans.ekkehard.plesser at umb.no Fri Dec 11 17:11:22 2009 From: hans.ekkehard.plesser at umb.no (Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:11:22 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Post-doc and PhD position in computational neuroscience of vision Message-ID: <4B22C38A.4090005@umb.no> Dear Colleagues! I am pleased to announce that we currently have openings for a post-doc and a PhD student at the Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Technology in ?s Norway. In both positions, you will be working on computational models of the early visual system as a member of the Computational Neuroscience Group at the institute (http://compneuro.umb.no; Profs Einevoll, Indahl, Plesser, Wyller). PhD Position ------------ The PhD position is a three-year full-time position paid according to salary level 45 (NOK 355.600, approx EUR 42.000 per year). For this position, applications are invited for all fields of research at our institute. Applicants will be judged on their personal qualifications as well as on the quality of the PhD project they propose. If your are interested in this opportunity, please contact me by email (hans.ekkehard.plesser at umb.no) so I can send you a sketch for a project, which you then can work out for your application. The official advertisement for the position is at https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=63282 (click "English" at the top right to get the English version of the ad). Application deadline is 4 January 2010. Postdoc Position ---------------- The postdoc position is a full-time position for up to three years paid according to salary level 57-60 depending on qualifications and experience (NOK 438.700-463.000, approx EUR 52.500-55.400 per year). The position is part of the eNeuro grant from the Research Council of Norway to the Computational Neuroscience group. For more information, please see the official advertisement at https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=63476 Application deadline is 25 January 2010. Both positions are available immediately. Please feel free to contact me (hans.ekkehard.plesser at umb.no) or Gaute Einevoll (gaute.einevoll at umb.no) if you have any questions! Best regards, Hans Ekkehard Plesser -- Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Associate Professor Dept. of Mathematical Sciences and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences Email hans.ekkehard.plesser at umb.no Home http://arken.umb.no/~plesser From jcs77 at ufl.edu Sun Dec 13 15:10:54 2009 From: jcs77 at ufl.edu (Justin Sanchez) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:10:54 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: 6 Positions in Brain-Machine Interfaces Message-ID: <313C16BA-A10F-4FB3-95C2-1EA5B25234B3@ufl.edu> Six positions (3 Postdoc, 3 Ph.D. students) are available at the University of Florida to develop next generation brain-machine Interfaces (BMI). This project seeks to develop a transformative experimental and computational approach capable of translating a user?s intention into commands to control machines, facilitating the incorporation of artificial neural substrates into biological representation, and adapting to the context of a rich real-time environment for dexterous tasks. The overall project involves work with non-human primates and includes principal investigators with expertise in computational neuroscience, neurophysiology, neural engineering, advanced computing architectures, and brain-machine interfaces. The positions are open immediately. Expertise: We are seeking expertise in 3 areas (applicant does not require all). This project is highly multidisciplinary and the applicant is expected to interact with investigators in the Colleges of Medicine and Engineering at UF as well as collaborators at the State University of New York and University of California Berkeley. Candidates are expected to also have a strong quantitative background. ? Closed-Loop In vivo BMI Experimentation ? chronic multielectrode neurophysiology, motor and reward system coding, reinforcement learning in biological and artificial systems, animal behavioral experience ? Computational Modeling ? Sensory coding, spiking neurons, adaptive signal processing ? Advanced Computing ? Software interfaces, virtual machines, high-performance parallel computing Applicants should be highly motivated, critical thinkers who excel in fast-paced research environments with critical deliverable deadlines. The University of Florida has an outstanding research program in Brain-Machine Interfaces and will provide a unique experience for candidates. This position offers many opportunities to interact with research and clinical faculty in the College of Medicine as well as faculty in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Candidates will gain experience in neurotechnology, systems neurophysiology, computational neuroscience and its application to advanced therapies for disabled individuals. Please submit inquiries to: Justin C. Sanchez, Ph.D. jcs77 at ufl.edu Neuroprosthetics Research Group http://nrg.mbi.ufl.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091213/6859e817/attachment-0002.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 6 Positions in Brain Machine Interfaces.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 59546 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091213/6859e817/6PositionsinBrainMachineInterfaces-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091213/6859e817/attachment-0003.html From juergen at idsia.ch Mon Dec 14 03:04:26 2009 From: juergen at idsia.ch (Juergen Schmidhuber) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:04:26 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: The Great Ray Solomonoff (1926-2009) - AGI 2010 In Memoriam Ray Solomonoff Message-ID: <4B646306-A9DE-4F86-85D6-40C2D7117D3D@idsia.ch> The Great Ray Solomonoff, pioneer of Machine Learning, founder of Algorithmic Probability Theory, father of the Universal Probability Distribution, creator of the Universal Theory of Inductive Inference, passed away on Monday 7 December 2009 at age 83, from complications in the wake of a broken aneurism in his head. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Grace. Ray Solomonoff was the first to describe the fundamental concept of Algorithmic Information or Kolmogorov Complexity. In the new millennium his work became the foundation of the first mathematical theory of Optimal Universal Artificial Intelligence. Ray intended to deliver an invited lecture at the upcoming AGI 2010, the Conference on Artificial General Intelligence (March 5-8 2010) in Lugano (where he already spent time in 2001 as a visiting professor at the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA). The AGI conference series would not even exist without his essential theoretical contributions. With great sadness AGI 2010 will be held "In Memoriam Ray Solomonoff." http://agi-conf.org/2010/ Ray will live on in the many minds shaped by his revolutionary ideas. J?rgen Schmidhuber http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091214/5489525b/attachment.html From ahu at cs.stir.ac.uk Mon Dec 14 16:12:39 2009 From: ahu at cs.stir.ac.uk (Dr. Amir Hussain) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:12:39 -0000 Subject: Connectionists: Table of Contents Alert: "Cognitive Computation" (Springer, NY, USA) - Vol. 1, Issue 4, Dec 2009 Message-ID: <044CC067DE6042AEB37080EBC67E55DA@D253078> Dear Colleagues: (with advance apologies for any cross-postings!) We are delighted to announce the publication of the fourth (quarterly) Issue of Springer's exciting new multi-disciplinary journal in the neurosciences: "Cognitive Computation" - www.springer.com/12559 The list of published articles (Table of Contents) can be found at the end of this message. You will be pleased to know that ALL (full) articles in Cognitive Computation are FREELY AVAILABLE for access/download through December 31, 2009. Please ask your library to subscribe for 2010 and beyond! The full listing of Issue 4 can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/n0p15n7p7222/?p=dc8c1547af2641d38b3e2882e2f52dfa&pi=0 The full listing of the Inaugural Issue 1 can be viewed here (which includes invited authoritative reviews by leading researchers in their areas - including keynote papers from London University's John Taylor, Igor Aleksander and Stanford University's James McClelland, and invited papers from Kevin Gurney, Ron Sun, Pentti Haikonen, Geoff Underwood, Claudius Gross, Anil Seth and Tom Ziemke): http://www.springerlink.com/content/w2826455k852/?p=603724902f224ec4ab2a0e52213f8d3e&pi=0 The full listing of Issue 2 can be viewed here (which includes invited reviews and original research contributions from leading researchers, including Giacomo Indiveri, Rodney Douglas, Jurgen Schmidhuber, Thomas Wennekers, Pentti Kanerva and Friedemann Pulvermuller): http://www.springerlink.com/content/n6134575mg14/?p=0ae0e58e2b8444c48fc62261e6b6a13f&pi=0 The full listing of Issue 3 can be viewed here: http://springerlink.com/content/m224t1178m77/?p=61f9d0eb786e434783d7e55414ff013f&pi=0 Other 'Online First' published articles not yet in a print issue can be viewed here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/121361/?Content+Status=Accepted For further information and to sign up for electronic "Table of Contents alerts" please visit the Cognitive Computation homepage: http://www.springer.com/biomed/neuroscience/journal/12559 Finally, we would like to invite you to submit short or regular papers describing original research or timely review of important areas - our aim is to peer review all papers within approximately six-eight weeks of receipt. We also welcome relevant high quality proposals for Special Issues. With our very best wishes for the holiday season and the New Year to all aspiring readers and authors of Cognitive Computation, Amir Hussain, PhD (Editor-in-Chief: Cognitive Computation) E-mail: ahu at cs.stir.ac.uk Igor Aleksander, PhD (Honorary Editor-in-Chief: Cognitive Computation) John Taylor, PhD (Chair, Advisory Board: Cognitive Computation) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents: Springer's Cognitive Computation, Vol.1, No.4, Dec 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Full listing of Articles, in PDF, is available here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/n0p15n7p7222/?p=dc8c1547af2641d38b3e2882e2f52dfa&pi=0 ) Articles Learning the Fr?chet Mean over the Manifold of Symmetric Positive-Definite Matrices Simone Fiori http://www.springerlink.com/content/k6vk1llw44921265/fulltext.pdf A Cognitive Model of Saliency, Attention, and Picture Scanning Vassilis Cutsuridis http://www.springerlink.com/content/n0xm28140185418g/fulltext.pdf An Adaptive Genetic-Based Incremental Architecture for the On-Line Coordination of Embedded Agents Elias Tawil and Hani Hagras http://www.springerlink.com/content/c50326x2vttqm214/fulltext.pdf Biologically Inspired Tensor Features Yang Mu, Dacheng Tao, Xuelong Li and Fionn Murtagh http://www.springerlink.com/content/dx172tt378u53606/fulltext.pdf Sub-Symbols and Icons Andreas Wichert http://www.springerlink.com/content/n520t8585582338t/fulltext.pdf -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091214/bc3fe062/attachment.html From tetiana.aksenova at cea.fr Tue Dec 15 09:04:39 2009 From: tetiana.aksenova at cea.fr (AKSENOVA Tetiana 218551) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:04:39 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Postdoctoral Fellowship in neural engineering at CEA Grenoble, France. Message-ID: Postdoctoral Fellowship in neural engineering at CEA Grenoble, France. Applicants are invited for a postdoctoral position in the field of neural engineering with the focus on Brain Computer Interface (BCI). The successful applicant will perform research in the fields of signal processing, adaptive modeling, machine learning and fast calculations for real time applications in the frame of project ICOBI (Brain-Computer Interface. Self-learning adaptive embedded solution) of Foundation "Nanoscience at the limits of Nanoelectronics". The particular goal of the project is the development of self paced ECoG based BCI with multiple degrees of freedom. The postdoctoral scientist will contribute to study of movement related brain dynamics. He/she will collaborate within an interdisciplinary team of researchers whose expertise spans mathematics, computer science, microelectronics, nanoscience and neuroscience with the goal of performing functional BCI system. The ideal candidate will have a doctoral degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline (Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics) with an emphasis on computational approaches to the neuronal systems analyses. Programming in Matlab and C/C++ will be part of the project. Candidates with the experience in EEG/ECoG based BCI or in EEG/ECoG data analysis will be preferred. The work will be performed at the Centre of Atomic Energy (CEA, Grenoble, France) at the Research Group of Microelectronics for Health, LETI-Minatec in frame of project Clinatec. For more information look at http://www-leti.cea.fr/scripts/home/publigen/content/templates/show.asp? P=256&L=EN The position is open for one or two years. Salary is commensurate with experience and the position carries a full social security and health coverage. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications including a CV, a motivation letter and the names of two references must be sent electronically to Tetiana Aksenova (tetiana.aksenova at cea.fr ), Corinne Mestais (corinne.mestais at cea.fr). Selected candidates will be interviewed in Grenoble. For more information please e-mail Tetiana Aksenova (tetiana.aksenova at cea.fr ). Tetiana AKSENOVA Chair of excellence RTRA Thematic Network for Advanced Research Foundation "Nanoscience at the limits of Nanoelectronics" 23 rue des Martyrs, F-38000 Grenoble France Tel : +33 4 38 78 03 20 Fax : +33 4 38 78 54 56 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091215/7f746439/attachment-0001.html From arjen.van.ooyen at falw.vu.nl Wed Dec 16 10:19:39 2009 From: arjen.van.ooyen at falw.vu.nl (Arjen van Ooyen) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:19:39 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: 2-year Postdoc position in Computational Neuroscience in Amsterdam Message-ID: <4B28FA8B.800@falw.vu.nl> Postdoc position in Computational Neuroscience Applications are invited for a postdoc position in the Neuroinformatics Group of the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The position is funded by the EU-FP7 grant for the Collaborative Large-scale Integrating Project Self-Constructing Computing Systems (SECO - http://www.seco-project.eu/). Using a combined computational and experimental approach, the SECO project investigates the principles by which populations of real or artificial neurons can grow and assemble themselves into functioning circuits. Our group participates in the SECO project in one of the workpackages on the identification of a minimal set of growth strategies for developing cortico-cortical and thalamocortical connectivity. On the basis of principles of cortical development, axon outgrowth and guidance strategies will be explored to form cortical connectivity. In particular we want to focus on the implications of competition and selectivity for the emerging connectivity. Axon outgrowth strategies will be implemented as algorithmic procedures into the 3D network generators used in the consortium (NETMORPH and CX3D). The patterns of connectivity arising from these strategies will be investigated as well as the robustness of these results. Both 3D network generators NETMORPH and CX3D are themselves subject of other workpackages within the SECO project aiming at creating algorithmic models for neuronal morphogenesis in which cells develop through growth cone migration and branching, and formation of synaptic connections in interaction with their environment. Ideal candidates should combine a strong neurobiological interest and knowledge of cortical development with a solid background in neuro-biophysics and extensive experience in computational modeling and computer programming. A candidate at Postdoc level is preferred (project duration is 2 years, at the latest starting at the 1st of March 2010). The candidate will contribute significantly to the collaborative effort of the SECO consortium. For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Arjen van Ooyen, arjen.van.ooyen at cncr.vu.nl, or Dr. Jaap van Pelt, jaap.van.pelt at cncr.vu.nl. Application letters including a CV, research experience, a short statement of research interests, and contact details of two referees should be sent by email to Dr. Arjen van Ooyen before 17 January 2010. -- Dr. Arjen van Ooyen Neuroinformatics Group Department of Integrative Neurophysiology Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research VU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands E-mail: arjen.van.ooyen at cncr.vu.nl Phone: +31.20.5987090 Fax: +31.20.5987112 Room: B-451 Web: http://www.bio.vu.nl/enf/vanooyen From A.Cangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk Wed Dec 16 11:48:52 2009 From: A.Cangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk (Angelo Cangelosi) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:48:52 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: Student Travel Bursaries, Cognitive Robotics Research Methods Workshop, Plymouth March 9-11 (RobotDoC ITN) Message-ID: <1038F6B357C5004FA619C32FB3DB99575A162EFA91@ILS130.uopnet.plymouth.ac.uk> Travel Bursaries for Cognitive Robotics Research Methods Workshop Plymouth, UK, March 9-11 2010 RobotDoC Marie Curie ITN www.robotdoc.org Thanks to the support of the EUCogII network (eucognition.org), there are 5 Travel Bursaries for PhD students, external to the RobotDoc Collegium, who want to participate to this training event on cognitive robotics research. The workshop is aimed at first year PhD students. To apply for these Travel Bursaries: * send an email to the RobotDoc Administrator, Elena Dell'Aquila (elena.dellaquila at plymouth.ac.uk) * include cover letter explaining why you want to participate and how this will benefit your PhD work * include your CV. The application deadline is January 15 2010. Results will be announced by February 1. Each of the Travel Bursaries will cover travel and accommodation expenses up to 1120 euro per person. For more information on the Workshop, visit: www.robotdoc.org Regards, Angelo Cangelosi RobotDoC Coordinator ---------------- Angelo Cangelosi, PhD ---------------- Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Cognition Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition Lab School of Computing and Mathematics University of Plymouth Portland Square Building (A316) Plymouth PL4 8AA (UK) E-mail: acangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/staff/angelo (tel) +44 1752 586217 (fax) +44 1752 586300 Visit: www.robotdoc.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091216/d1922d87/attachment.html From terry at salk.edu Wed Dec 16 13:16:36 2009 From: terry at salk.edu (Terry Sejnowski) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:16:36 -0800 Subject: Connectionists: NEURAL COMPUTATION - January, 2010 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Neural Computation - Contents - Volume 22, Number 1 - January 1, 2010 ARTICLE How to Modify a Neural Network Gradually Without Changing its Input-Output Functionality Christopher DiMattina and Kechen Zhang NOTE Current Source Density Reconstruction from Incomplete Data Daniel Wojcik and Szymonleski LETTERS Spiking Neuron Model for Temporal Sequence Recognition Sean Byrnes, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden, and Hamish Meffin Mean, Variance, and Autocorrelation of Subthreshold Potential Fluctuations Driven by Filtered Conductance Shot Noise Lars Wolff and Benjamin Lindner The Computational Structure of Spike Trains Robert Haslinger, Kristina Lisa Klinker, and Cosma Rohilla Shalizi On The Use of Dynamic Bayesian Networks in Reconstructing Functional Neuronal Networks from Spike Train Ensembles Seif Eldawlatly, Yang Zhou, Rong Jin, and Karim G. Oweiss Visuotactile Representation of Peripersonal Space: A Neural Network Study Elisa Magosso, Melissa Zavaglia1, Andrea Serino, Giuseppe di Pellegrino, and Mauro Ursino Discrete States of Synaptic Strength in a Stochastic Model of Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity Terry Elliott Hebbian Self-Organizing Integrate-and-Fire Networks for Data Clustering Florian Landis, Thomas Ott, and Reudi Stoop ----- ON-LINE - http://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/neco SUBSCRIPTIONS - 2010 - VOLUME 22 - 12 ISSUES USA Others Electronic only Student/Retired $65 $128 $60 Individual $115 $178 $107 Institution $962 $1,025 $860 Canada: Add 5% GST to USA prices MIT Press Journals, 238 Main Street, Suite 500, Cambridge, MA 02142-9902. Tel: (617) 253-2889 FAX: (617) 577-1545 journals-orders at mit.edu http://mitpressjournals.org/neuralcomp ----- From btuller at nsf.gov Wed Dec 16 14:33:41 2009 From: btuller at nsf.gov (Tuller, Betty K.) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:33:41 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: Positions at NSF In-Reply-To: <4B28FA8B.800@falw.vu.nl> References: <4B28FA8B.800@falw.vu.nl> Message-ID: <1D6FC73B2F5DFD4CAD5F54416E5DA2C202974137@NSF-BE-02.ad.nsf.gov> Betty Tuller, Ph.D. Director, Program in Perception, Action, and Cognition National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22230 Tel: 703.292.7238 Fax: 703.292.9068 New proposal guidelines will be effective January 2010; see http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf10_1/index.jsp?org=NSF There are currently several Program Officer positions available at NSF and others should be advertised soon. All NSF openings are listed on the usajobs.gov website. Two that are currently listed are for the?Developmental and Learning Sciences Program, position numbers E20100018 and E20100019.? They currently have a close date of January 15, 2010. Another listing for a Program Officer for Perception, Action, and Cognition, and one for Social Psychology, are likely to be posted shortly. Generally, these are two year rotating positions. Why rotate? For people unfamiliar with the NSF Rotator Program, it allows a Professor or advanced Research Scientist to come to Washington for a year or two and assume the role and responsibilities of a program officer. They are both Program and Review; they run the review meetings ("Panels" at NSF), and make funding decisions. One year is a bit too short to do anything truly innovative, such as start a new program, but with a two-year stint you can have a permanent effect in shaping the field. That is how many people start in science administration. Others go back to their university much better informed about funding opportunities and about how NSF works. Important note: You don't have to 'waste' a sabbatical to do it, as most institutions will allow you to take a leave of absence (the NSF pays your full salary either through your university or as a federal employee). You will learn a lot about how the grants process works, and get to enjoy all that Washington has to offer. Please forward this announcement to anyone you think might be interested. Thank you. From julian at togelius.com Wed Dec 16 18:08:24 2009 From: julian at togelius.com (Julian Togelius) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:08:24 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: First CfP: 2010 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games Message-ID: <230e463e0912161508r3f8289baub375b88978735be3@mail.gmail.com> First call for papers Call for tutorial and special sessions proposals 2010 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark, August 18-21, 2010 http://game.itu.dk/cig2010/ Games have proven to be an ideal domain for the study of computational intelligence as not only are they fun to play and interesting to observe, but they provide competitive and dynamic environments that model many real-world problems. Additionally, methods from computational intelligence promise to have a big impact on game development, assisting designers and developers and enabling new types of computer games. The 2010 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games brings together leading researchers and practitioners from academia and industry to discuss recent advances and explore future directions in this quickly moving field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: * Learning in games * Coevolution in games * Neural-based approaches for games * Fuzzy-based approaches for games * Player/Opponent modeling in games * CI/AI-based game design * Multi-agent and multi-strategy learning * Applications of game theory * CI for Player Affective Modeling * Intelligent Interactive Narrative * Imperfect information and non-deterministic games * Player satisfaction and experience in games * Theoretical or empirical analysis of CI techniques for games * Comparative studies and game-based benchmarking * Computational and artificial intelligence in: o Video games o Board and card games o Economic or mathematical games o Serious games o Augmented and mixed-reality games o Games for mobile platforms The conference will consist of a single track of oral presentations, tutorial and workshop/special sessions, and live competitions. The proceedings will be placed in IEEE Xplore, and made freely available on the conference website after the conference. Paper submission deadline March 15 Tutorial and special session proposal deadline January 31 -- Julian Togelius Assistant Professor IT University of Copenhagen Rued Langgaards Vej 7, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark mail: julian at togelius.com, web: http://julian.togelius.com mobile: +46-705-192088, office: +45-7218-5277 From jbednar at inf.ed.ac.uk Thu Dec 17 10:24:53 2009 From: jbednar at inf.ed.ac.uk (James A. Bednar) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:24:53 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: UK PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience, Edinburgh Message-ID: <19242.19781.283162.106538@cortex.inf.ed.ac.uk> PhD studentships in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience, Edinburgh We invite applications for 12 fully-funded PhD studentships for UK students at the University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience. The DTC is a world-class centre for research at the interface between neuroscience and the engineering, computational, and physical sciences. Our four-year programme is ideal for students with strong computational and analytical skills who want to employ cutting-edge methodology to advance research in neuroscience and related fields. The first year consists of courses in neuroscience and informatics, as well as lab projects. This is followed by a three-year PhD project done in collaboration with one of the many departments and institutes affiliated with the DTC. The DTC focuses on research into understanding the brain and the nervous system using computational models and experiments, and also includes applying findings from neuroscience to build better software and hardware (robots and microcircuits), and using advanced methods to improve data handling and analysis, including clinical diagnosis. PhD topics fall into five main areas: * Computational neuroscience: Using analytical and computational models, potentially supplemented with experiments, to gain quantitative understanding of the nervous system. Current projects focus on the development and function of sensory and motor systems, including neural coding, learning, and memory. * Biomedical imaging algorithms and tools: Using advanced data analysis techniques, such as machine learning and Bayesian approaches, for imaging-based diagnosis and research. * Cognitive science: Studying human cognitive processes and analysing them in computational terms. * Neurorobotics and VLSI: Using insights from neuroscience to help build better hardware, such as neuromorphic VLSI circuits and robots that perform robustly under natural conditions. * Software systems and applications: Using discoveries from neuroscience to develop software that can handle real-life data. Edinburgh has a world-class research community in these areas and leads the UK in creating a coherent programme in neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience. Edinburgh has often been voted 'best place to live in Britain', and has many exciting cultural and student activities. Students with a strong background in computer science, mathematics, physics, or engineering are particularly welcome to apply. Highly motivated students with other backgrounds will also be considered. Up to 12 full studentships (including stipend of 13,320-16,400 UK pounds/year) are available to UK citizens or permanent residents. EU students can be funded for tuition and fees, but will need to provide evidence of external funding for living costs. Other overseas students can be accepted only with full external funding. Further information and application forms can be obtained from: http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/dtc For full consideration for entry in September 2010, please apply by 30 January 2010. -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. From bowlby at bu.edu Thu Dec 17 13:29:04 2009 From: bowlby at bu.edu (Brian Bowlby) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:29:04 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: 14th ICCNS: Call for Abstracts and Confirmed Invited Speakers Message-ID: FOURTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COGNITIVE AND NEURAL SYSTEMS May 19?22, 2010 Boston University 677 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02215 USA http://www.cns.bu.edu/meetings/ Sponsored by the Boston University Center for Adaptive Systems, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems (http://www.cns.bu.edu/), and Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (http://celest.bu.edu) with financial support from the National Science Foundation This interdisciplinary conference is attended each year by approximately 300 people from 30 countries around the world. As in previous years, the conference will focus on solutions to the questions: HOW DOES THE BRAIN CONTROL BEHAVIOR? HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY EMULATE BIOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE? The conference is aimed at researchers and students of computational neuroscience, cognitive science, neural networks, neuromorphic engineering, and artificial intelligence. It includes invited lectures and contributed lectures and posters by experts on the biology and technology of how the brain and other intelligent systems adapt to a changing world. The conference is particularly interested in exploring how the brain and biologically-inspired algorithms and systems in engineering and technology can learn. Single-track oral and poster sessions enable all presented work to be highly visible. Three-hour poster sessions with no conflicting events will be held on two of the conference days. Posters will be up all day, and can also be viewed during breaks in the talk schedule. CONFIRMED INVITED SPEAKERS Moshe Bar (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School) The proactive brain: Predictions in visual cognition Leon Chua (University of California, Berkeley) [Plenary Speaker] Memristor minds Carol Colby (Carnegie Mellon University) Active vision Heiner Deubel (University of Munich) Attention before goal-directed actions Stephen Grossberg (Boston University) Linking What and Where in visual attention, recognition, navigation, and planning Earl Miller (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) [Plenary Speaker] The prefrontal cortex: Brain rhythms and cognition Anthony Movshon (New York University) Reading visual information from neuronal populations Steven Petersen (Washington University) Using network analysis tools to study the brain's control systems Russell Poldrack (UCLA) Stopping ourselves: The neural basis of response inhibition Josef Rauschecker (Georgetown University Medical Center) A functional and computational role for the dorsal stream in space and speech Barry Richmond (National Institutes of Health) Neuropsychological, physiological, and theoretical studies of stimulus-outcome learning in monkeys Linda Smith (Indiana University) Head, hand and eye: Action, attention, and learning in toddlers Xiao-Jing Wang (Yale University) Computational neurobiology of decision making WORKSHOP ON ?TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM? Steffen Gais (Ludwig Maximilians University) Cholinergic and other neurotransmitter influences on memory processing during sleep Michael Hasselmo (Boston University) Modulation of grid cells and head direction cells during waking and sleep Bruce McNaughton (University of Lethbridge) Memory trace reactivation in sleep Cliff Saper (Harvard Medical School) Sleep switches Robert Stickgold (Harvard Medical School) Sleep, memory, and dreams: Beyond consolidation Erin Wamsley (Harvard Medical School) Memories in the sleeping brain: A function for our dreams? Matt Wilson (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Hippocampal memory reactivation during sleep WORKSHOP ON ?NEUROMORPHIC COMPUTING: FROM BRAINS TO NANOCHIPS? Ralph Etienne-Cummings (Johns Hopkins University) Implementing a spike-based HMAX vision system with a silicon neural array Henry Markram (Ecole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne) The Blue Brain Project: Insights into the design of the neocortical microcircuitry Karlheinz Meier (University of Heidelberg) Neuromorphic computing ? Are we ready for a big step? Dharmendra Modha (IBM) Cool, compact cognitive computing chips Narayan Srinivasan (HRL Laboratories LLC) Low power analog neuromorphic hardware for large scale cortical computations CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Session Topics: * vision * object recognition * image understanding * neural circuit models * audition * neural system models * speech and language * mathematics of neural systems * unsupervised learning * robotics * supervised learning * hybrid systems (fuzzy, evolutionary, digital) * reinforcement and emotion * neuromorphic VLSI * sensory-motor control * industrial applications * cognition, planning, and attention * other * spatial mapping and navigation Contributed abstracts must be received, in English, by January 31, 2010. Email notification of acceptance will be provided by February 28, 2010. A meeting registration fee must accompany each abstract. The fee will be refunded if the abstract is not accepted for presentation. Fees of accepted abstracts will be returned upon written request only until April 9, 2010. Abstracts must not exceed one 8.5"x11" page in length, with 1" margins on top, bottom, and both sides in a single-column format with a font of 10 points or larger. The title, authors, affiliations, surface, and email addresses should begin each abstract. A separate cover letter should include the abstract title; name and contact information for corresponding and presenting authors; requested preference for oral or poster presentation; and a first and second choice from the topics above, including whether it is biological (B) or technological (T) work [Example: first choice: vision (T); second choice: neural system models (B)]. Contributed talks will be 15 minutes long. Posters will be displayed for a full day. Overhead, slide, and computer projector facilities will be available for talks. Accepted abstracts will be printed in the conference proceedings volume. No extended paper will be required. Abstracts should be submitted electronically as Word files to cindy at bu.edu using the phrase ?14th ICCNS abstract submission? in the subject line or as paper hard copy (four copies of the abstract with one copy of the cover letter and the registration form) to Cynthia Bradford, Boston University, CNS Department, 677 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02215 USA. Fax submissions of the abstract will not be accepted. REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Early registration is recommended using the registration form below. Student registrations must be accompanied by a letter of verification from a department chairperson or faculty/research advisor. STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS: Funding is not available at this time for graduate student and postdoctoral travel fellowships, but may become available later. If funding becomes available, then information will be posted at the conference web site with further details about how to apply. REGISTRATION FORM Fourteenth International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems May 19?22, 2010 Boston University Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems 677 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02215 USA Fax: +1 617 353 7755 Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof:_____________________________________________________ Affiliation:_________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________ City, State, Postal Code:______________________________________________ Phone and Fax:_____________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________ The registration fee includes a copy of the conference proceedings volume, a reception on Friday night, and 3 coffee breaks each day. CHECK ONE: ( ) $95 Conference (Regular) ( ) $65 Conference (Student) METHOD OF PAYMENT: [ ] Enclosed is a check made payable to "Boston University" Checks must be made payable in US dollars and issued by a US correspondent bank. Each registrant is responsible for any and all bank charges. [ ] I wish to pay by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover Card only) Name as it appears on the card:___________________________________________ Type of card: _____________________________ Expiration date:________________ Account number: _______________________________________________________ Signature:____________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091217/60b753a1/attachment-0002.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: brochure.doc Type: application/msword Size: 265728 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091217/60b753a1/brochure-0001.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091217/60b753a1/attachment-0003.html From yann.renard at irisa.fr Fri Dec 18 12:21:02 2009 From: yann.renard at irisa.fr (Yann Renard) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:21:02 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: New release of OpenViBE 0.5.0 Message-ID: <4B2BB9FE.1080003@irisa.fr> New release of *OpenViBE* 0.5.0 "Christmas edition" is now available for download at : === Overview ========================================= OpenViBE is an opensource platform that enables to design, test and use Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). Broadly speaking, OpenViBE can be used in many real-time Neuroscience applications. The OpenViBE platform stands out for its high modularity. It addresses the needs of different types of users (programmers and non-programmers) and proposes a user-friendly graphical language which allows non-programmers to design a BCI without writing a single line of code. OpenViBE is portable, independent of hardware or software targets, can run under Windows and Linux and is entirely based on free and open-source software. OpenViBE is compatible with MATLAB programming. OpenViBE comes with preconfigured scenarios and runs already existing applications such as : * BCI based on motor imagery * P300 speller * Neurofeedback * Real-time visualization of brain activity in 2D or 3D OpenViBE is available under the terms of the LGPL-v2+. The whole software is developed in C++. It consists of a set of software modules that can be integrated easily and efficiently to design BCI applications such as for Virtual Reality interaction. === Where to get more information ==================== If you want more details, check these links : *Website* *Quick introduction video* : *Software download* : *One-hour training session video* : *Screenshots and videos* : === What changed since 0.4.0 ? ======================= In this new release, you will find the following modifiactions (+ for adds, * for modifications, - for removes) : + We added a new driver : brain products vAmp acquisition device + We added a new driver : g.Tec's gUSBamp acquisition device + We updated the sample scenarios + We propose a new P300-based pipeline based on the xDAWN algorithm + We added an online comparison of different processing pipelines performance (e.g. multiple classifiers) * We updated the dependencies installation for windows so that Visual C++ Runtime gets included in the package * We updated the dependencies installation for windows so that the lack of internet connection does not abort the installation when DirectX is not present * We updated the online documentation and tutorials * We fixed lots of bugs ! === What's coming in the next release(s) ============= Here is a snapshot of what we are currently doing and what you can expect from the next release : + A Neuroscan acquisition driver + A MitsarEEG driver + More documentation on the sample scenarios * GUI definition will move from glade to gtk-builder * VR demos will move from OpenMASK to native Ogre3D === Closing words ==================================== Feel free to join us and to contribute as others are doing... ! Looking forward to hearing your feedback, we hope you'll enjoy working with OpenViBE as we do. The whole team wishes you a happy Christmas and happy new year... Best regards, The OpenViBE consortium *Contact* : Project Leader : Anatole L?cuyer, INRIA (anatole.lecuyer at irisa.fr) Lead Software Engineer : Yann Renard, INRIA (yann.renard at irisa.fr) From jjost at mis.mpg.de Fri Dec 18 08:58:35 2009 From: jjost at mis.mpg.de (Juergen Jost) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:58:35 +0100 (CET) Subject: Connectionists: PhD position in Theoretical and Mathematical Neuroscience Message-ID: PhD position in Theoretical and Mathematical Neuroscience, in cooperation with experimental neurobiologists, at Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences Dear scientists, we are offering the following PhD opportunity: Max-Planck-Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences Doctoral Student Position (TV-L 13/2) A position for a doctoral student at the Max-Planck-Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences is available in the Research Group of Prof. J?rgen Jost, Cognitive structures and neuronal networks: ?Modelling of auditory brainstem networks? This is a joint project with Prof. Rudolf R?bsamen, Institute of Biology-II, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig as part of the DFG-funded Graduate College "InterNeuro" (GRK 1097) (www.uni-leipzig.de/~ineuro/). Funding of the PhD project is for 3 years. We are looking for a mathematician, a physicist or a computer scientist with a strong interest in neurobiological systems. The project will be concerned with the modelling of circuits in the auditory brainstem . The experimental data will be provided from pre- and postsynaptic recordings of extracellular electrical fields in specific neurons of the auditory system. We expect to combine an ability for conceptual thinking with advanced methods of data analysis. A specific feature and the anticipated strength of the project will be the close interaction between modelling and experimental verification of model-based predictions. The student will be embedded in an active multidisciplinary research group studying many diverse complex systems at the Max Planck Institute. The Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences is an equal opportunity employer encouraging female scientists and scientists with disabilities to apply. Please send application material only in copy without folder or by e-mail. They will be discarded after a retention period. Contact address: Prof. J?rgen Jost Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences Inselstrasse 22, 04103 Leipzig Phone: +49 (0)341-9959-550 Email: jost at mis.mpg.de Web: http://www.mis.mpg.de ______________________________________________________________ Juergen Jost Max-Planck-Institut fuer Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften Inselstrasse 22 - 26 D-04103 Leipzig Germany Tel.: +49-341-9959-550 +49-341-9959-552 (secretary) Fax: +49-341-9959-555 email: jost at mis.mpg.de ______________________________________________________________ From Harel.Shouval at uth.tmc.edu Fri Dec 18 12:05:07 2009 From: Harel.Shouval at uth.tmc.edu (Harel Shouval) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:05:07 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: Summer training for undergraduates in theoretical neuroscience Message-ID: <6B1DCCBA-66CE-4131-9DB0-3AD6897EC0A3@uth.tmc.edu> Dear Colleagues, The Gulf Coast Consortium for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience is accepting applications, through February 15, for 12 summer 2010 undergraduate internships. The program runs June 1 through August 6, 2010 and includes $4650 stipend plus $800 travel allowance * Free Housing in Rice University Graduate Apartments 1 week of tutorials on Mathematical and Computational Methods in Neuroscience 9 weeks of research in a Neuroscience Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University or the University of Texas Medical School at Houston with funding from NSF REU and the University of Texas for details and application info please visit http://www.neurotheory.org * Note - there is a small number of slots open for no US residents funded by other sources. Compensation for these positions will differ from the sums above. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091218/b4dc57cc/attachment.html From bressler at fau.edu Fri Dec 18 22:20:11 2009 From: bressler at fau.edu (Steven Bressler) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:20:11 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: Neurocognitive Networks Conference Message-ID: <0BD6DC004CE84CB5B5B058F2FABF14F2@opal> Dear Colleagues, We would like to bring this upcoming event to your attention, and ask that you please distribute this announcement to your department. Best regards, Steven Bressler, Craig Richter (Organizers) Neurocognitive Networks 2010 will be held at Florida Atlantic University on January 29-30, 2010 http://www.ccs.fau.edu/~bressler/NCNC10/NCNC10.html Sponsored by the National Science Foundation with support from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Neurocognitive Networks 2010 is a multi-disciplinary conference that aims to increase understanding of all aspects of neurocognitive networks. There is growing evidence that cognitive brain function must be understood in terms of distributed, interacting systems. Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience have been made possible by analysis of the large-scale brain networks underlying cognition, or neurocognitive networks for short. The study of neurocognitive networks has provided new and exciting insights into brain function. Advances have come from the cooperative work of multiple disciplines, including functional neuroimaging, electrophysiology, network modeling, and cognitive science. An abiding lesson is that a synthesis of experimental, analytical, and theoretical approaches is required to understand neurocognitive networks, since no single discipline or methodology in itself is adequate. The guiding principle for the conference is that progress can be made toward understanding the neural basis of cognition by cross-fertilization at the intersection of four contemporary research themes: (1) neuroimaging of neurocognitive network function; (2) electrophysiology of neurocognitive network dynamics; (3) computational modeling of neurocognitive networks; (4) theory of neurocognitive networks. The conference schedule will be organized according to this scheme, with one session for each theme. Registration (http://www.ccs.fau.edu/~bressler/NCNC10/Registration.html) is open to interested faculty and students, as well as those from the community-at-large. Seating is limited, and advanced registration is required for admission. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091218/06165b6f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/bmp Size: 164422 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091218/06165b6f/attachment-0001.bin From bressler at fau.edu Fri Dec 18 16:55:02 2009 From: bressler at fau.edu (Steven Bressler) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:55:02 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: PHD POSITION IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS & BRAIN SCIENCES Message-ID: <0348E6539AE34C18991A1E49ED5ED049@opal> PHD POSITION IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS & BRAIN SCIENCES CENTER FOR COMPLEX SYSTEMS & BRAIN SCIENCES FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Applications are currently being accepted for interdisciplinary training in the PhD Program in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences at FAU, under the joint mentorship of Drs. Steven Bressler (http://www.ccs.fau.edu/~bressler) and Vaibhav Diwadkar (http://brain.wayne.edu/Vaibhav/vaibhav.htm). The program of training will take a quantitative approach to the study of neural and cognitive function, with emphasis on normal and impaired development of large-scale brain networks through childhood and adolescence. The position will focus on understanding the development of connectivity and dynamics of large-scale brain networks underlying memory, attention and affect in healthy children and adolescents, and in populations with impaired neurodevelopment. It will emphasize: * Investigation of the integration of structural and functional connectivity of large-scale brain networks through development. * Application of causality analysis to fMRI BOLD time-series data from both control subjects and adolescents at risk for psychiatric disorders. The goal is to study the development of cortico-limbic structures underlying fundamental processes of attention, memory, and affect, and its progressive disruption in populations with impaired neurodevelopment. The program offers competitive, multi-year stipends and tuition remission. The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications: * Prior training in neuroscience and experimental psychology * Programming experience (Matlab, C/C++, Python) * English speaking and writing skills Interested students are encouraged to submit a CV, contact details of two referees, and a short statement of research interests to Dr. Bressler (bressler at ccs.fau.edu). Please visit the Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences web site at http://www.ccs.fau.edu for more information. The Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences at Florida Atlantic University is in Boca Raton, situated between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with easy access to the beautiful beaches and rich cultural life of the Miami-Dade metropolitan area. Committed to Equal Opportunities. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091218/d3a754ae/attachment-0001.html From P.Tino at cs.bham.ac.uk Sun Dec 20 17:45:44 2009 From: P.Tino at cs.bham.ac.uk (Peter Tino) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:45:44 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: special session on reservoir computing at IJCNN Message-ID: 2010 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN'10) Call for Papers: Special Session on Reservoir Computation Scope: Recently there has been an outburst of research activity in the field of reservoir computation. Reservoir based techniques rely on dynamical models for processing time series that make a conceptual separation of the temporal data processing into two parts: 1) representation of temporal structure in the input stream through a non-adaptable dynamic "reservoir", and 2) a memoryless easy-to-adapt readout from the reservoir. Such models have been successfully used in many application domains, for example time-series prediction, speech recognition, noise modelling, dynamic pattern classification, reinforcement learning and language modelling. The field of reservoir computation has been growing rapidly with dedicated special sessions at conferences and special issues of journals. However, reservoir computation has been rightfully criticized for not being principled enough. There have been several attempts to address the question of what exactly is a `good' reservoir for a given application, but no coherent theory has yet emerged. The largely black-box character of reservoirs prevents a deeper theoretical investigation of the dynamical properties of successful reservoirs. Reservoir construction is largely driven by a series of (more-or-less) ad-hoc randomized model building stages, with both the researchers and practitioners having to rely a series of trials and errors. Often reservoirs have been evolved in a costly and difficult-to-analyze evolutionary computation setting. The aim of the special session is to conceptualize the field of reservoir computation in the context of recent developments, so as to enable its systematic study. Topics In particular we encourage submissions addressing the following issues: ? Measures of the `reservoir quality' . ? Putting reservoir models in the context of other state-of-art learning methods operating on temporal data . ? Applications of reservoir computation . ? New extensions/formulations of reservoir models . ? Combination of reservoir models with other statistical or natural computation techniques . ? Theoretical analysis of reservoirs. Paper submission All instructions and templates for submission can be found in the WCCI'10 web site (http://www.wcci2010.org/submission). Please, contact to the special session organizers if you are planning to submit any paper. Important Dates Deadline for paper submission January 31, 2010 Notification of acceptance March 15, 2010 Final Paper Submission May 2, 2010 Organizers - Peter Tio, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, UK. P.Tino at cs.bham.ac.uk - Pedro A. Gutierrez, Dept. of Computer Science and Numerical Analysis, University of Cordoba, Spain. pagutierrez at uco.es - Ali Rodan. School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, UK A.A.Rodan at cs.bham.ac.uk -- Peter Tino The University of Birmingham School of Computer Science Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK +44 121 414 8558 http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~pxt/ From marcel.van.gerven at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 03:51:52 2009 From: marcel.van.gerven at gmail.com (Marcel van Gerven) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:51:52 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Data analysis competition Biomag2010: Connectivity and multivariate classification approaches Message-ID: <15120515-6065-42A2-8F7E-BE17E78A5FA6@gmail.com> Dear all, We would like to point you all to the data analysis competition at Biomag2010: http://megcommunity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=24 We would like as many as possible to participate so please consider this and/or spread the word! Best wishes for the holidays, Ole Jensen and Jan Mathijs Schoffelen -- Ole Jensen Principal Investigator Neuronal Oscillations Group Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging P.O. Box 9101 NL-6500 HB Nijmegen The Netherlands -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091221/05377e62/attachment.html From jeremy at lewi.us Mon Dec 21 12:00:57 2009 From: jeremy at lewi.us (jeremy@lewi.us) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:00:57 -0700 Subject: Connectionists: Full Time Engineering Scientist for brain based algorithms at Intellisis (San Diego) Message-ID: <20091221100057.r5emlwwv6s4skkg8@host162.hostmonster.com> Engineering Scientist ? Position To Be Filled Immediately The Intellisis Corporation is immediately seeking a highly motivated and independent problem solver to join the company as a full time Engineering Scientist. This individual will work on the development and application of brain based algorithms for various perceptual tasks. Successful applicants will have the following skills or attributes: * Ph.D. in bioengineering, neuroscience, computer science, or related fields * Demonstrable research level experience in neural networks and/or biological neuroscience principles * Experience with machine learning and embedded experience * Experience with Linux, C/C++, JAVA Eclipse or Matlab/Simulink * Experience in multiprocessor and multithreaded systems * Excellent oral and written communication skills The ideal candidate would be a creative thinker that enjoys tackling complex technical problems in a collaborative environment. Strong preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated intellectual curiosity and the ability to independently solve problems. Individuals seeking a hierarchical company that is working on standard AI applications or similar routine commercial solutions should not apply! This position is located in the La Jolla/Sorrento Valley area in San Diego. Successful candidates will be eligible to work in the United States. Salary is commensurate with experience and the company does offer health insurance and an employee funded 401k. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to careers at intellisis.com. No phone calls please. From lars.schwabe at uni-rostock.de Tue Dec 22 04:23:58 2009 From: lars.schwabe at uni-rostock.de (Lars Schwabe) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:23:58 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: 3 years fully-funded PhD in Computational Neuroscience (Germany) Message-ID: <8A571BBC-17D6-47D7-BD34-E22F2F33E165@uni-rostock.de> Dear Colleagues, we currently have an opening for a PhD position for an intensive 3 years training program at the intersection of Computational Neuroscience, Neuroinformatics, and Systems Biology at the University of Rostock, Germany. The candidate will receive a full stipend in the graduate school DIEMOSIRIS (http://wwwmosi.informatik.uni-rostock.de/diemosiris), which focuses on regenerative systems in general, and the process of cell differentiation in particular. The goal is to investigate the dynamics of connectivity in large "spiking" networks with synaptic plasticity (using modeling, simulation, and machine learning techniques), how these dynamics can be described at multiple levels of granularity (multi-level modeling), and how to engineer and control such networks in order to optimally interface with differentiating progenitor cells. The ideal candidate has a strong background in at least one of these fields: applied math, graph theory, statistics, or machine learning. Good programming skills are mandatory. The University of Rostock (founded 1419) is located at the baltic coast, its computer science and electrical engineering dept is regularity high-ranked in Germany, and it provides an excellent environment to foster the interaction of life science and engineering. The position is available immediately. Please send your application material via email to lars.schwabe at uni-rostock.de. Application deadline is 22 January 2010. Please feel free to contact me (lars.schwabe at uni-rostock.de) if you have questions. Best regards (and merry xmas), Lars Schwabe Contact address: Prof. Dr. Lars Schwabe Adaptive and Regenerative Software Systems Dept of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 21 18059 Rostock, Germany Web: http://ars.informatik.uni-rostock.de From ncpw12 at googlemail.com Tue Dec 22 09:09:52 2009 From: ncpw12 at googlemail.com (NCPW12) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:09:52 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: EXTENDED CfP for NCPW12 Message-ID: <63e97b060912220609n340fdcd6ofbf7630e4223fdfd@mail.gmail.com> ***Apologies for cross-postings*** *** EXTENDED CALL FOR ABSTRACTS *** NCPW12 12th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop London, UK 8-10 April 2010 http://www.bbk.ac.uk/psyc/staff/academic/eddyjdavelaar/ncpw12/index.php ********************** We cordially invite you to participate in the 12th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop (NCPW12), to be held at Birkbeck, University of London, from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th April 2010. This well-established and lively workshop aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, neurobiology, philosophy and psychology to discuss their work on models of cognitive processes. Previous themes have encompassed categorisation, language, memory, development, action. This year?s theme is From Theory to Applications, and papers must be about emergent models -- frequently, but not necessarily -- of the connectionist/neural network kind, applied to cognition. These workshops have always been characterised by their limited size, high quality papers, the absence of parallel talk sessions, and a schedule that is explicitly designed to encourage interaction among the researchers present in an informal setting. ********************** EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: 12 January 2010 Abstract submission is open. For more information see the conference website at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/psyc/staff/academic/eddyjdavelaar/ncpw12/index.php Notification of acceptance: before 15 January 2010. ********************** Dates & Deadlines Abstract submission: 12 January 2010 Notification of acceptance: 15 January 2010 Early-bird registration: until 4 March 2010 On-line registration: until 31 March 2010 Conference: 8-10 April 2010 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dr Eddy J. Davelaar Department of Psychological Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, WC1E 7HX http://www.bbk.ac.uk/psyc/staff/academic/eddyjdavelaar -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091222/49e3e7ae/attachment.html From brandon.s.minnery at ugov.gov Tue Dec 22 16:43:12 2009 From: brandon.s.minnery at ugov.gov (Brandon S Minnery) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:43:12 +0000 (GMT+00:00) Subject: Connectionists: pre-solicitation notice for IARPA's ICArUS Program In-Reply-To: <2017157405.1257181261518076683.JavaMail.root@linzimmb02o.imo.intelink.gov> Message-ID: <711904957.1257581261518192460.JavaMail.root@linzimmb02o.imo.intelink.gov> Greetings, Please note the following announcement by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) regarding an upcoming Proposers' Day Conference for the Integrated Cognitive-Neuroscience Architectures for Understanding Sensemaking (ICArUS) Program. http://www.iarpa.gov/solicitations_icarus.html The purpose of the conference will be to provide information on the ICArUS Program, to address questions from potential proposers and to provide a forum for potential proposers to present their capabilities for teaming opportunities. This announcement serves as a pre-solicitation notice and is issued solely for information and planning purposes. The Proposers' Day Conference does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. Conference attendance is voluntary and is not required to propose to future solicitations (if any) associated with this program. If you are interested in attending the conference, please visit the registration site referenced in the announcement to request an invitation. Note: Space is limited, so I recommend applying early. Best Regards, Brad Minnery, Ph.D. Program Manager IARPA Office of Incisive Analysis brandon.s.minnery at ugov.gov From thomas.shultz at mcgill.ca Tue Dec 22 17:56:02 2009 From: thomas.shultz at mcgill.ca (Thomas Shultz, Dr.) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:56:02 -0500 Subject: Connectionists: 9th International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) CFP Message-ID: 9th International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA http://www.icdl-2010.org August 18-21, 2010 Call for Papers ICDL is the premiere venue for interdisciplinary research that blends the boundaries between robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. The scope of development and learning covered by this conference includes perceptual, cognitive, motor, behavioral, emotional and other related capabilities that are exhibited by humans, higher animals, artificial systems and robots. While most other conferences focus on either mechanisms or organisms, ICDL focuses on both! The papers presented at the conference are split approximately 50-50 between the "natural intelligence side," such as neuroscience and psychology, and the "artificial intelligence side," such as machine intelligence and robotics. This diversity is mirrored in the composition of the organizing committee and the ICDL governing board. Please join us in 2010 when we celebrate our 10-th anniversary. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: * General principles of development * Cognitive and perceptual development * Developmental learning: schedules and architectures * New methodologies to study natural and artificial intelligence. * Statistical learning in humans and machines * Embodied cognition * Play and exploration in animals, infants and robots * Interactive learning * Cultural learning * Social and emotional development * Theory of mind * Language acquisition * Skill acquisition * Intrinsic motivation * Dynamic systems * Attention mechanisms and their role in development * Philosophical issues of development and learning * Differences between learning and development * Interactions of learning and development with evolution * Grounding of knowledge and representations * Studies and models of developmental disorders, e.g., autism * Using robots to study development and learning * Human-Robot interaction * Visual, auditory, and tactile systems and their development * Motor systems and their development * Biological and biologically inspired developmental architectures * Neural plasticity during development. ICDL 2010 will accept two types of submissions: 1) Full six-page paper submissions. Accepted papers will be included in the conference proceedings and will be selected for either an oral presentation or a featured poster presentation. Featured posters will have a 1 minute "teaser" presentation as part of the main conference session and will be showcased in the poster sessions. 2) Two-page poster abstract submissions. To encourage late-breaking results or for work that is not sufficiently mature for a full paper, ICDL will accept 2-page abstracts. These submissions will NOT be included in the conference proceedings. Accepted abstracts will be presented during the evening poster sessions. Important dates: Feb 6, 2010 Special session proposals due Feb 20, 2010 Full 6-page paper submissions due May 20, 2010 Notification of accept/reject for papers May 27, 2010 2-page poster abstracts due June 10, 2010 Notification of accept/reject for abstracts June 20, 2010 Camera-Ready Copy due July 20, 2010 Early Registration Deadline Aug. 18-21, 2010 Conference General Chairs: * Benjamin Kuipers, University of Michigan * Thomas Shultz, McGill University Program Chairs: * Alexander Stoytchev, Iowa State University * Chen Yu, Indiana University, Bloomington Publicity chairs: * Ian Fasel, University of Arizona, USA (for North America) * Jochen Triesch, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Germany (for Europe) * Jun Tani, RIKEN, Japan (for Asia). Sponsored by: * IEEE Computational Intelligence Society * Cognitive Science Society For more information please check the conference web site: http://www.icdl-2010.org/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Shultz, Professor, Department of Psychology McGill University, 1205 Penfield Ave., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1. Associate Member, School of Computer Science E-mail: thomas.shultz at mcgill.ca Updated 3 September 2009: http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/perpg/fac/shultz/personal/default.htm Phone: 514 398-6139 Fax: 514 398-4896 ----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091222/672b6c67/attachment-0001.html From martin.giese at tuebingen.mpg.de Wed Dec 23 10:21:32 2009 From: martin.giese at tuebingen.mpg.de (Martin Giese) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:21:32 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: PhD / Postdoc Positions in Tuebingen (GER) Message-ID: POSTDOC / PHD POSITION: LEARNING OF FLEXIBLE REPRESENTATIONS FOR THE ONLINE GENERATION OF BODY MOVEMENT (University of Tuebingen, Germany) ================================================= The Institute for Computational Sensomotorics at the Center for Integrative Neurosciences and the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research at the University of Tuebingen invites applications for a Postdoc or a PhD student available immediately, with a maximum duration of 3 years. The position is funded within the EC research project AMARSI with many other European partners. This highly interdisciplinary project aims at the development of flexible biologically inspired learning-based architectures for the representation of complex motor behavior. Models for the synthesis of body movements will be learned from motion capture data applying biologically-inspired techniques from machine learning. The developed models will be validated by comparison to human data, application in computer graphics, and by integrating them into humanoid robot platforms available at other partners of the European project. Our group has long expertise with the modeling and perception of human body motion. We are part of the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Science ), one of the leading European institutions in Clinical Neuroscience and of the Excellence Center for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), that hosts a variety of experimental and theoretical groups at the University and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. Ideal candidates should have the following qualifications: * Masters (PhD) degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering,?Physics, or related fields * programming experience (Matlab, C/C++, ...) * Knowledge about motor control or machine learning * English speaking and writing skills. Committed to Equal Opportunities. Please send applications preferentially electronically (including CV, marks and 2 letters of reference) as soon as possible to Prof. Dr. Martin Giese, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research & Center for Integrative Neuroscience, Frondsbergstr. 23, 72070 Tuebingen, Germany; email: martin.giese at uni-tuebingen.de ================================================== Section for Theoretical Sensomotorics Dept. for Cognitive Neurology ?Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research & Center for Integrative Neuroscience ?University of Tuebingen ?Frondsbergstr. 23 ?D-72070 Tuebingen ?GERMANY ?Tel.: +49 7071 2989124 ?Fax: +49 7071 294790 ?Email: martin.giese at uni-tuebingen.de ?Web: http://www.compsens.uni-tuebingen.de/ ============================================== -------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Martin Giese Section for Computational Sensomotorics Dept. for Cognitive Neurology Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research & Center for Integrative Neurocience University Clinic Tuebingen Frondsbergstr. 23 D-72076 Tuebingen GERMANY Tel.: +49 7071 29 89124 Fax: +49 7071 360 021 Email: martin.giese at uni-tuebingen.de Web: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/uni/knv/arl/ -------------------------------------------------------- From grzes at cs.york.ac.uk Wed Dec 23 12:43:00 2009 From: grzes at cs.york.ac.uk (Marek Grzes) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:43:00 +0000 Subject: Connectionists: CFP ALA 2010 workshop on Adaptive and Learning Agents @ AAMAS'10 Message-ID: <4B3256A4.5070406@cs.york.ac.uk> We apologize if you receive more than one copy. Paper deadline: FEBRUARY 2, 2010 * The workshop with a long and successful history now in its 10th edition * ACM proceedings format with up to 8 pages * Special issue of the Advances in Complex Systems (ACS) journal after the workshop ******************************************************* 1st Call for Papers ALA 2010: Adaptive and Learning Agents Workshop at AAMAS 2010 The ALA workshop has a long and successful history and is now in its 10th edition. The workshop is a merger of European ALAMAS and the American ALAg series which is usually held at AAMAS. Details may be found at the workshop web site: http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/~grzes/ala10/ ******************************************************* * Submission Deadline: February 2, 2010 (tentative) * Notification of acceptance: March 2, 2010 (tentative) * Camera-ready copies: March 15, 2010 (tentative) ******************************************************* Adaptive and Learning Agents, particularly those in a multiagent setting are becoming more and more prominent as the sheer size and complexity of many real world systems grows. How to adaptively control, coordinate and optimize such systems is an emerging multi-disciplinary research area at the intersection of Computer Science, Control theory, Economics, and Biology. The ALA workshop will focus on agent and multiagent systems which employ learning or adaptation. The goal of this workshop is to increase awareness and interest in adaptive agent research, encourage collaboration and give a representative overview of current research in the area of adaptive and learning agents and multiagent systems. It aims at bringing together not only scientists from different areas of computer science but also from different fields studying similar concepts (e.g., game theory, bio-inspired control, mechanism design). This workshop will focus on all aspects of adaptive and learning agents and multiagent systems with a particular emphasis on how to modify established learning techniques and/or create new learning paradigms to address the many challenges presented by complex real-world problems. The topics of interest include but are not limited to: * Novel combinations of reinforcement and supervised learning approaches * Integrated learning approaches that work with other agent reasoning modules like negotiation, trust models, coordination, etc. * Supervised multiagent learning * Reinforcement learning (single and multiagent) * Planning (single and multiagent) * Reasoning (single and multiagent) * Distributed learning * Adaptation and learning in dynamic environments * Evolution of agents in complex environments * Co-evolution of agents in a multiagent setting * Cooperative exploration and learning to cooperate and collaborate * Learning trust and reputation * Communication restrictions and their impact on multiagent coordination * Design of reward structure and fitness measures for coordination * Scaling learning techniques to large systems of learning and adaptive agents * Emergent behaviour in adaptive multiagent systems * Game theoretical analysis of adaptive multiagent systems * Neuro-control in multiagent systems * Bio-inspired multiagent systems * Applications of adaptive and learning agents and multiagent systems to real world complex systems * Learning of Co-ordination Papers in the workshop that focus on multiagent approaches are eligible to be extended for inclusion in a special issue of the Advances in Complex Systems (ACS) journal. A review cycle is scheduled for summer 2010, details will be given on the workshop site. Only papers presented at the workshop are eligible for inclusion in the special issue. ******************************************************* Submission Details Paper submissions may be emailed in the pdf format to grzes at cs.york.ac.uk with the subject Submission ALA-10. Submissions may be up to 8 pages in the ACM proceedings format (i.e., the same as AAMAS papers in the main conference track). Accepted work will be allocated time for oral presentation during the one day workshop. ******************************************************* Organization Workshop chairs: Marek Grzes (University of York, UK) Matthew Taylor (University of Southern California, USA) If you have any questions about the ALA workshop, please contact the chairs by e-mail: grzes at cs.york.ac.uk Senior Steering Committee Members: Franziska Kl?gl (University of Orebro, Sweden) Daniel Kudenko (University of York, UK) Ann Now? (Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium) Lynne E. Parker (University of Tennessee, USA) Sandip Sen (University of Tulsa, USA) Peter Stone (University of Texas at Austin, USA) Kagan Tumer (Oregon State University, USA) Karl Tuyls (Maastricht University, The Netherlands) ******************************************************* From zilles at cs.uregina.ca Thu Dec 24 10:57:39 2009 From: zilles at cs.uregina.ca (Sandra Zilles) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:57:39 -0600 Subject: Connectionists: COLT 2010 Call for Papers Message-ID: <8B030D1A-D583-4277-944C-CAE61512CB6D@cs.uregina.ca> COLT 2010 - Call for Papers The 23rd Annual Conference on Learning Theory (COLT 2010) will take place in Haifa, Israel, on June 27-29, 2010 and will be co-located with ICML 2010. We invite submissions of papers addressing theoretical aspects of machine learning and empirical inference. We strongly support a broad definition of learning theory, including: ? Analysis of learning algorithms and their generalization ability ? Computational complexity of learning ? Bayesian analysis ? Statistical mechanics of learning systems ? Optimization procedures for learning ? Kernel methods ? Inductive inference ? Boolean function learning ? Unsupervised and semi-supervised learning and clustering ? On-line learning and relative loss bounds ? Learning in planning and control, including reinforcement learning ? Learning in games, multi-agent learning ? Mathematical analysis of learning in related fields, e.g., game theory, natural language processing, neuroscience, bioinformatics, privacy and security, machine vision, data mining, information retrieval We are also interested in papers that include viewpoints that are new to the COLT community. We welcome experimental and algorithmic papers provided they are relevant to the focus of the conference by elucidating theoretical results in learning. Also, while the primary focus of the conference is theoretical, papers can be strengthened by the inclusion of relevant experimental results. Papers that have previously appeared in journals or at other conferences, or that are being submitted to other conferences, are not appropriate for COLT. Papers that include work that has already been submitted for journal publication may be submitted to COLT, as long as the papers have not been accepted for publication by the COLT submission deadline (conditionally or otherwise) and that the paper is not expected to be published before the COLT conference (June 2010). Feedback on Review Quality There will be no rebuttal phase this year. However, authors will be given the opportunity to assess the quality of reviews and provide feedback to the reviewers, after the decisions have been made. These assessments will be used in particular to determine the Best Reviewer award (see below). Paper and Reviewer Awards This year, COLT will award both best paper and best student paper awards. Best student papers must be authored or coauthored by a student. Authors must indicate at submission time if they wish their paper to be eligible for a student award. This does not preclude the paper to be eligible for the best paper award. To further emphasize the importance of the reviewing quality, this year, COLT will also award a best reviewer award to the reviewer who has provided the most insightful and useful comments. Open Problems Session We also invite submission of open problems (see separate call). These should be constrained to two pages. There is a shorter reviewing period for the open problems. Accepted contributions will be allocated short presentation slots in a special open problems session and will be allowed two pages each in the proceedings. Paper Format and Electronic Submission Instructions Formatting and submission instructions will be available in early December at the conference website. Submissions should include the title, authors' names, and a 200-word summary of the paper suitable for the conference program. Papers should not exceed 13 pages (including bibliography) and should be formatted according to the following style file and sample LaTeX source (colt10e.sty, colt10- sample.tar.gz). Authors not using latex should ensure that their document complies with similar formatting (similar margins, 11pt font, single column). Shorter papers are strongly encouraged. Additional material beyond the 13 page limit can be placed in the appendix and might be read, at the discretion of the program committee. Important Dates Preliminary call for papers issued October 15, 2009 Electronic submission of papers (due by 5:59pm PST) February 19, 2010 Electronic submission of open problems March 13, 2010 Notice of acceptance or rejection May 07, 2010 Submission of final version May 21, 2010 Feedback on reviews due May 28, 2010 Joint ICML/COLT workshop day June 25, 2010 2010 COLT conference June 27-29, 2010 OrganizationProgram Co-chairs: ? Adam Tauman Kalai (Microsoft Research) ? Mehryar Mohri (Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Google Research) Program Committee: Shivani Agarwal Mikhail Belkin Shai Ben-David Nicol? Cesa-Bianchi Ofer Dekel Steve Hanneke Jeff Jackson Sham Kakade Vladimir Koltchinskii Katrina Ligett Phil Long Gabor Lugosi Ulrike von Luxburg Yishay Mansour Ryan O?Donnell Massimiliano Pontil Robert Schapire Rocco Servedio Shai Shalev-Shwartz John Shawe-Taylor Gilles Stoltz Ambuj Tewari Jenn Wortman Vaughan Santosh Vempala Manfred Warmuth Robert Williamson Thomas Zeugmann Tong Zhang Publicity Chair: ? Sandra Zilles (University of Regina) Local Arrangements Chair: ? Shai Fine (IBM Research Haifa) From inaki.navarro at upm.es Mon Dec 28 14:08:47 2009 From: inaki.navarro at upm.es (=?ISO-8859-1?Q?I=F1aki_Navarro?=) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:08:47 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: (Deadline Extension) BICS 2010 - Call for papers, workshops and tutorials Message-ID: <8cc3f3ce0912281108g795f5edew7e279deac5fbabf@mail.gmail.com> *We apologize if you receive multiple copies of this message. Due to several requests, the submission deadline for BICS 2010 has been extended to: January 18, 2010. ============================================================================== ____ _____ _____ _____ ___ ___ __ ___ | _ \_ _/ ____|/ ____| |__ \ / _ \/_ |/ _ \ | |_) || || | | (___ ) | | | || | | | | | _ < | || | \___ \ / /| | | || | | | | | |_) || || |____ ____) | / /_| |_| || | |_| | |____/_____\_____|_____/ |____|\___/ |_|\___/ BRAIN-INSPIRED COGNITIVE SYSTEMS CONFERENCE Madrid, Spain, July 14-16, 2010 www.bicsconference.org Ricardo Sanz, General Chair Sponsored by ICSC ============================================================================== BICS 2010 is a multitrack conference organised around four strongly related symposia (NC 2010, BIS 2010, CNS 2010 and MoC 2010). The three previous BICS conferences were BICS 2008 (Sao Luis, Brasil), BICS 2006 (Lesbos, Greece) and BICS 2004 (Stirling, UK). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conference Symposia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sixth International ICSC Symposium on Neural Computation (NC 2010) Fifth International ICSC Symposium on Biologically Inspired Systems (BIS 2010) Fourth International ICSC Symposium on Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS 2010) Third International ICSC Symposium on Models of Consciousness (MoC 2010) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Motivation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brain Inspired Cognitive Systems - BICS 2010 aims to bring together leading scientists and engineers who use analytic and synthetic methods both to understand the astonishing processing properties of biological systems and, specifically those of the living brain, and to exploit such knowledge to advance engineering methods for building artificial systems with higher levels of cognitive competence. BICS 2010 is a meeting point of cognitive systems engineers and brain scientists where cross-domain ideas are fostered in the hope of getting new emerging insights on the nature, operation and extractable capabilities of brains. This multiple approach is necessary because the progressively more accurate data about brains is producing a growing need of both a quantitative and theoretical understanding and an associated capacity to manipulate this data and translate it into engineering applications rooted in sound theories. BICS 2010 is intended for both researchers that aim to build brain inspired systems with higher cognitive competences, and as well to life scientists who use and develop mathematical and engineering approaches for a better understanding of complex biological systems like the brain. BICS 2010 is organized around four major interlaced focal symposia that are organized into patterns that encourage cross-fertilization across the symposia topics. This emphasizes the role of BICS as a major meeting point for researchers and practitioners in the areas of biological and artificial cognitive systems. Debates across disciplines will enrich researchers with complementary perspectives from diverse scientific fields. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Call for Workshops and Tutorials ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Organizing Committee for BICS 2010 requests proposals for a full or half day workshop or tutorial, to be held on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at the Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. This day of workshops and tutorials will precede the main conference. The workshops and tutorials have consistently provided high-quality, topically-focused forums for researchers at the forefront of basic and applied research in brain inspired cognitive systems. Workshops should be focused on interactions of participants to exchange new ideas and explore new directions in research. Tutorials should provide self-contained descriptions of established research topics. The primary criteria for selection are anticipated level of interest, impact, novelty or creativity, and technical background of presenters. We request that workshop and tutorial organizers initially email a brief, single-paragraph description of the proposed topic and a list of organizers by January 18, 2010 to the BICS Program manager at ipc at bicsconference.org. A template for the final proposal of approximately 3 pages will be mailed to all interested parties. The full proposal submission should include a title, an abstract and a description of the proposed content, a tentative schedule, and the expected requirements for space and equipment. Full proposals for review will be due by January 18, 2010. All decisions will be made by January 30, 2010. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conference: July 14-16, 2010 Workshops and tutorials: July 13, 2010 Paper submission Submission of contributions: January 18, 2010 Notification of acceptance: March 10, 2010 Final contributions due: May 15, 2010 Workshops and Tutorials submission Submission of proposals: January 18, 2010 Notification of acceptance: January 15, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conference Publications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All accepted papers will be included in the Conference Proceedings, which will be published in electronic format. Attendant authors will receive a copy of them on CD. * BICS'10 book by Springer Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit an extended version of them after the conference, to be included as book chapters in the BICS'10 book to be published by Springer. * Special Issue of Cognitive Computation A post-conference Special Issue of the journal Cognitive Computation will also be published by Springer with extended versions of selected BICS'2010 papers chapters and invited contributions. * Special Issue of the International Journal of Machine Consciousness A post-conference Special Issue of the International Journal of Machine Consciousness will also be published with extended versions of selected contributions to the Symposium on Models of Consciousness of BICS'10. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Venue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The conference will be held at the Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM ETSII). Address: Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid Spain Geo:lat=40.4404 lon=-3.6902 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conference Scope ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neural Computation (NC) NeuroComputational (NC) Systems ? NC Hybrid Systems ? NC Learning ? NC Control Systems ? NC Signal Processing ? NC Architectures ? NC Devices ? NC Perception and Pattern Classifiers ? Support Vector Machines ? Fuzzy or Neuro-Fuzzy Systems ? Evolutionary Neural Networks ? Biological Neural Network Models ? NC Applications Biologically Inspired Systems (BIS) Brain Inspired (BI) Systems ? BI Vision ? BI Audition and sound processing ? BI Other sensory modalities ? BI Motion processing ? BI Robotics ? BI Adaptive and Control systems ? BI Evolutionary systems ? BI Oscillatory systems ? BI Signal processing ? BI Learning ? Neuromorphic systems Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) CN of vision ? CN of non-vision sensory modalities ? CN of volition ? Systems Neuroscience ? Attentional Mechanisms ? Affective Systems ? Language ? Cortical Models ? Sub-Cortical Models ? Cerebellar Models ? Neural correlates Models of consciousness (MoC) World awareness ? Self-awareness ? Imagination? Qualia models ? Virtual Machine Approaches ? Formal Models of Consciousness ? Control Theoretical Models ? Developmental/Infant Models ? Will and Volition ? Emotion and Affect Philosophical implications ? Neurophysiological Grounding ? Enactive approaches ? Heterophenomenology ? Analytic/Synthetic phenomenology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Program Committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jaime G?mez (Technical University of Madrid), Chair of the PC Amir Hussain (University of Stirling, UK), NC Chair Leslie Smith (University of Stirling, UK), BIS Chair Igor Aleksander (Imperial College, UK), CNS Chair Antonio Chella (University of Palermo, UK), MoC Chair David Gamez (Imperial College, London, UK) Hugo Gravato Marques (University of Essex, UK) Alexei Samsonovich (George Mason University, VA, USA) Raul Arrabales (Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain) Pentti Haikonen (University of Illinois, Springfield, IL, USA) Tom Ziemke (University of Sk?vde, Sweden) David Balduzzi (University of Wisconsin, WI, USA) Riccardo Manzotti (IULM, Milan, Italy) James Albus (George Mason University, VA, USA) James Austin (Cybula Ltd, UK) Giacomo Indiveri (University of Zurich, Switzerland) Alister Hamilton (University of Edinburgh, UK) F. Claire Rind (Newcastle University, UK) Sue Denham (University of Plymouth, UK) Philip Hafliger (University of Oslo, Norway) David Windridge (University of Surrey, UK) Luis Rocha (Indiana University, Bloomington, USA) Shun-ichi Amari (RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan) Jose C. Principe (University of Florida, USA) Professor Ron Sun (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA) Anil K Seth (University of Sussex, UK) Bernard Widrow (Stanford University, USA) Stephen Grossberg (Boston University, USA) Umamaheshwari Ramamurthy (University of Memphis, TN, USA) Hans-Heinrich Bothe (Technical University of Denmark Lyngby, Denmark) Marcilio Souto (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) Irene Macaluso (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) Will Browne (University of Reading, UK) Petros A. M. Gelepithis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece) Mark Humphries (University of Sheffield, UK) Robert Lowe (University of Sk?vde, Sweden) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Organizing Committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ramon Gal?n, Chair of the OC Carlos Hern?ndez I?aki Navarro Manuel Rodr?guez Pascual Campoy Paloma de la Puente Adolfo Hernando Miguel Olivares Guadalupe S?nchez ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ General requests: info at bicsconference.org Organization committee: oc at bicsconference.org Program committee: pc at bicsconference.org Conference website: www.bicsconference.org Conference mailist: http://lists.aslab.upm.es/mailman/listinfo/bics ============================================================================== From listig at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 10:44:30 2009 From: listig at gmail.com (listig@gmail.com) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:44:30 +0100 Subject: Connectionists: Up to nine PhD and Postdoctoral Stipends in Germany Message-ID: <57a0212d0912290744v1bc23becv6b5d0d2695814245@mail.gmail.com> The Mercator Research Group (MRG) Structure of Memory at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany invites applications for *up to nine PhD and Postdoctoral Stipends* The MRG is funded by the Mercator Foundation and investigates episodic and semantic memory processes and their relation to other cognitive functions. It comprises a diverse and interdisciplinary team of philosophers and experimental as well as theoretical neuroscientists. The main language of communication is English. PhD students will be encouraged to join the International Graduate School of Neuroscience. Postdocs will have moderate teaching obligations. Stipends will be competitive. Available are PhD stipends in A. *Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience* to define the contribution of brain areas of interest to memory function B. *In-vitro Electrophysiology and Computational Neuroscience* with focus on the neural mechanisms supporting memory C. *Computational Neuroscience of Learning and Memory* D. *Philosophy of Mind and Language* with expertise in logic/formal semantics and interests in neurophilosophy as well as PhD or postdoctoral stipendiary fellowships in E. *Neurolinguistics or Cognitive Neuroscience* with expertise in human EEG and interests in semantic processing F. *Cognitive Neuroscience* with expertise in human fMRI and interests in higher cognition For futher information see www.rub.de/mrg/memory/jobs. Please address inquiries and applications to Prof. Magdalena Sauvage (A), Dr. Motoharu Yoshida (B), Prof. Sen Cheng (C), or Prof. Markus Werning (D, E, F). To apply please send a letter stating your motivation and your research interests, a complete CV, and the names and email addresses of three referees to mrg1 at rub.de by February 14th, 2010. The Ruhr University Bochum is one of Germany?s leading research universities. The University draws its strengths from both the diversity and the proximity of scientific and engineering disciplines on a single, coherent campus. This highly dynamic setting enables students and researchers to work across traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. Host to 32,600 students and 4,700 staff, the Ruhr University is a vital institution in the Ruhr area, which has been selected as European Capital of Culture for the year 2010. The Ruhr University Bochum is committed to equal opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from qualified women and persons with disabilities. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20091229/801e733a/attachment.html From wic-office at wi-consortium.org Wed Dec 30 11:12:38 2009 From: wic-office at wi-consortium.org (wic-office@wi-consortium.org) Date: 31 Dec 2009 01:12:38 +0900 Subject: Connectionists: Brain Informatics 2010 - Call for Papers Message-ID: <20091230161238.10977.qmail@earth.azu.com> [Apologies if you receive this more than once] ############################################################### Brain Informatics 2010 CALL FOR PAPERS ############################################################### 2010 International Conference on Brain Informatics (BI 2010) August 28-30, 2010, Toronto, Canada Homepage: http://www.wici-lab.org/amtbi10 Mirror page: http://www.yorku.ca/amtbi10 Co-organized by Web Intelligence Consortium (WIC) IEEE Task Force on Brain Informatics (IEEE TF-BI) Co-sponsored by York University, Toronto, Canada University of Regina, Regina, Canada Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science ################################################################## # Papers Due: *** 31 March 2010 *** # Accepted papers will be published by Springer as a volume of # the series of LNCS/LNAI. # Extensions of selected papers from the proceedings will be # considered for publication in special issues of journals, ################################################################## Brain Informatics (BI) is an emerging interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research field that focuses on studying the mechanisms underlying the human information processing system (HIPS). BI investigates the essential functions of the brain, ranging from perception to thinking, and encompassing such areas as multi- perception, attention, memory, language, computation, heuristic search, reasoning, planning, decision-making, problem-solving, learning, discovery, and creativity. One goal of BI research is to develop and demonstrate a systematic approach to an integrated understanding of macroscopic and microscopic level working principles of the brain, by means of experimental, computational, and cognitive neuroscience studies, as well as utilizing advanced Web Intelligence (WI) centric information technologies. Another goal is to promote new forms of collaborative and interdisciplinary work. New kinds of BI methods and global research communities will emerge, through infrastructure on the wisdom Web and knowledge grids that enables high speed and distributed, large-scale analysis and computations, and radically new ways of data/knowledge sharing. The series of Brain Informatics Conferences started with The First WICI International Workshop on Web Intelligence meets Brain Informatics (WImBI'06), held at Beijing, China, December 15-16, 2006. The second conference, Brain Informatics 2009, was held again in Beijing, China, October 22-24, 2009. The Brain Informatics Conferences provide a leading international forum to bring together researchers and practitioners from diverse fields, such as computer science, information technology, artificial intelligence, Web intelligence, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical science, life science, economics, data mining, data and knowledge engineering, intelligent agent technology, human computer interaction, complex systems, and system science, to explore the main research problems in BI lie in the interplay between the studies of human brain and the research of informatics. On the one hand, one models and characterizes the functions of the human brain based on the notions of information processing systems. WI centric information technologies are applied to support brain science studies. For instance, the wisdom Web and knowledge grids enable high-speed, large-scale analysis, simulation, and computation as well as new ways of sharing research data and scientific discoveries. On the other hand, informatics-enabled brain studies, e.g., based on fMRI, EEG, MEG significantly broaden the spectrum of theories and models of brain sciences and offer new insights into the development of human-level intelligence on the wisdom Web and knowledge grids. Brain Informatics 2010 will be jointly held with the 2010 International Conference on Active Media Technology (AMT 2010). The two conferences will have a joint opening, keynote, reception, and banquet. Attendees only need to register for one conference and can attend sessions, exhibits and demonstrations across the two conferences. +++++++++++++++++++ Topics of Interest +++++++++++++++++++ CONFERENCE TOPICS AND AREAS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO - Thinking and perception-centric investigations of HIPS: * Human reasoning mechanisms (e.g., principles of human deductive/inductive reasoning, common-sense reasoning, decision making, and problem solving) * Human learning mechanisms (e.g., stability, personalized user/student models) * Emotion, heuristic search, information granularity, and autonomy related issues in human reasoning and problem solving * Human higher cognitive functions and their relationships * Human multi-perception mechanisms and visual, auditory, and tactile information processing * Methodologies for systematic design of cognitive experiments * Investigating spatiotemporal characteristics and flow in HIPS and the related neural structures and neurobiological process * Cognitive architectures; their relations to fMRI/EEG/MEG * HIPS meets complex systems * Modeling brain information processing mechanisms (e.g., neuro-mechanism, mathematical, cognitive and computational models of HIPS). - Information technologies for the management and use of brain data: * Human brain data collection, pre-processing, management, and analysis * Databasing the brain and constructing data brain models * Data brain modeling and formal conceptual models of human brain data * Multi-media brain data mining and reasoning * Multi-aspect analysis in fMRI/EEG/MEG activations * Simulating spatiotemporal characteristics and flow in HIPS * Developing brain data grids and brain research support portals * Knowledge representation and discovery in neuroimaging * Multimodal information fusion for brain image interpretation * Statistical analysis and pattern recognition in neuroimaging - Applications * Neuro-economics and neuro-marketing * Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) * Brain/Cognition inspired artificial systems * Wisdom Web systems based on new cognitive and computational models * MCI and AD diagnosis * e-Science and e-Medicine ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ On-Line Submissions and Publication ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ High-quality papers in all BI related areas are solicited. Papers exploring new directions will receive a careful and supportive review. All submitted papers will be reviewed on the basis of technical quality, relevance, significance, and clarity. The proceeding of the conference will be published by Springer as a volume of the series of Lecture Notes in Computer Science/Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNCS/LNAI). (Pending for approval.) Authors are strongly encouraged to use Springer LNCS/LNAI manuscript submission guidelines (available at http://www.springer.de/comp/lncs/authors.html) for their initial submissions (a maximum of 12 pages in Springer LNCS/LNAI style file). All papers must be submitted electronically in PDF format only, using the conference management tool. We will also have poster, demonstration, and late breaking result paper sessions. More detailed instructions and a paper submission form can be found the BI'10 Web page at http://www.wici-lab.org/amtbi10/ ++++++++++++++ Special Issues ++++++++++++++ A selected number of BI 2010 accepted papers will be expanded and revised for inclusion in several international journals. +++++++ Awards +++++++ BI 2009 best paper awards and student paper awards will be conferred on the authors at the conference. ++++++++++++++++ Important Dates ++++++++++++++++ Electronic submission of full papers (12 pages in Springer LNAI/LNCS style file): *** 31 March 2010 *** Notification of paper acceptance: June 1, 2010 Camera-ready of accepted papers: June 24, 2010 Conference: August 28-30, 2010 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Conference Organization ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Conference General Chairs: * Tomaso Poggio, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA * Jiming Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, HK Program Chairs: * Yiyu Yao, University of Regina, Canada * Ron Sun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA Organizing Chair: * Jimmy Huang, York University, Toronto, Canada Publicity Chairs: * Jian Yang, International WIC Institute/BJUT, China * Daniel Tao, Queensland University of Technology, Australia IEEE-CIS-TFBI Chair * Ning Zhong, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Japan WIC Co-Chairs/Directors: * Ning Zhong, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Japan * Jiming Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, HK WIC Advisory Board: * Edward A. Feigenbaum, Stanford University, USA * Setsuo Ohsuga, University of Tokyo, Japan * Benjamin Wah, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA * Philip Yu, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA * L.A. Zadeh, University of California, Berkeley, USA WIC Tech. Committee & WI/IAT Steering Committee: * Jeffrey Bradshaw, UWF/Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, USA * Nick Cercone, York University, Canada * Dieter Fensel, University of Innsbruck, Austria * Georg Gottlob, Oxford University, UK * Lakhmi Jain, University of South Australia, Australia * Jianchang Mao, Yahoo! Inc., USA * Pierre Morizet-Mahoudeaux, Compiegne University of Technology, France * Hiroshi Motoda, Osaka University, Japan * Toyoaki Nishida, Kyoto University, Japan * Andrzej Skowron, Warsaw University, Poland * Jinglong Wu, Okayama University, Japan * Xindong Wu, University of Vermont, USA * Yiyu Yao, University of Regina, Canada *** Contact Information *** Email: Yiyu Yao Jimmy Huang From wachtler at biologie.uni-muenchen.de Thu Dec 31 04:49:29 2009 From: wachtler at biologie.uni-muenchen.de (Thomas Wachtler) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:49:29 +0100 (CET) Subject: Connectionists: G-Node Winter Course in Neural Data Analysis 2010 Message-ID: 2nd G-Node Winter Course in Neural Data Analysis March 1-5, 2010 in Munich, Germany The German Neuroinformatics Node (G-Node) organizes its second training course to promote state-of-the-art methods of neural data analysis among PhD students and postdocs. During 4 days the course offers hands-on experience with model-driven analysis of data from intra- and extracellular electrophysiology. We encourage applications from students/postdocs with an experimental background that want to widen their repertoire of analysis methods as well as from students with a theoretical background that have developed an interest analyzing physiological data in order to test model predictions. Keywords: synaptic transmission - spike train analysis - neural correlations - phase analysis For more information visit www.g-node.org/dataanalysis-course-2010/ Regards, Sonja Gruen, RIKEN Brain Science Institute Thomas Wachtler, German Neuroinformatics Node From wic-office at wi-consortium.org Wed Dec 30 21:37:09 2009 From: wic-office at wi-consortium.org (WIC Office) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:37:09 +0900 Subject: Connectionists: Brain Informatics 2010 - Call for Papers Message-ID: <4B3C0E55.4080705@wi-consortium.org> [Apologies if you receive this more than once] ############################################################### Brain Informatics 2010 CALL FOR PAPERS ############################################################### 2010 International Conference on Brain Informatics (BI 2010) August 28-30, 2010, Toronto, Canada Homepage: http://www.wici-lab.org/amtbi10 Mirror page: http://www.yorku.ca/amtbi10 Co-organized by Web Intelligence Consortium (WIC) IEEE Task Force on Brain Informatics (IEEE TF-BI) Co-sponsored by York University, Toronto, Canada University of Regina, Regina, Canada Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science ################################################################## # Papers Due: *** 31 March 2010 *** # Accepted papers will be published by Springer as a volume of # the series of LNCS/LNAI. # Extensions of selected papers from the proceedings will be # considered for publication in special issues of journals, ################################################################## Brain Informatics (BI) is an emerging interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research field that focuses on studying the mechanisms underlying the human information processing system (HIPS). BI investigates the essential functions of the brain, ranging from perception to thinking, and encompassing such areas as multi- perception, attention, memory, language, computation, heuristic search, reasoning, planning, decision-making, problem-solving, learning, discovery, and creativity. One goal of BI research is to develop and demonstrate a systematic approach to an integrated understanding of macroscopic and microscopic level working principles of the brain, by means of experimental, computational, and cognitive neuroscience studies, as well as utilizing advanced Web Intelligence (WI) centric information technologies. Another goal is to promote new forms of collaborative and interdisciplinary work. New kinds of BI methods and global research communities will emerge, through infrastructure on the wisdom Web and knowledge grids that enables high speed and distributed, large-scale analysis and computations, and radically new ways of data/knowledge sharing. The series of Brain Informatics Conferences started with The First WICI International Workshop on Web Intelligence meets Brain Informatics (WImBI'06), held at Beijing, China, December 15-16, 2006. The second conference, Brain Informatics 2009, was held again in Beijing, China, October 22-24, 2009. The Brain Informatics Conferences provide a leading international forum to bring together researchers and practitioners from diverse fields, such as computer science, information technology, artificial intelligence, Web intelligence, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical science, life science, economics, data mining, data and knowledge engineering, intelligent agent technology, human computer interaction, complex systems, and system science, to explore the main research problems in BI lie in the interplay between the studies of human brain and the research of informatics. On the one hand, one models and characterizes the functions of the human brain based on the notions of information processing systems. WI centric information technologies are applied to support brain science studies. For instance, the wisdom Web and knowledge grids enable high-speed, large-scale analysis, simulation, and computation as well as new ways of sharing research data and scientific discoveries. On the other hand, informatics-enabled brain studies, e.g., based on fMRI, EEG, MEG significantly broaden the spectrum of theories and models of brain sciences and offer new insights into the development of human-level intelligence on the wisdom Web and knowledge grids. Brain Informatics 2010 will be jointly held with the 2010 International Conference on Active Media Technology (AMT 2010). The two conferences will have a joint opening, keynote, reception, and banquet. Attendees only need to register for one conference and can attend sessions, exhibits and demonstrations across the two conferences. +++++++++++++++++++ Topics of Interest +++++++++++++++++++ CONFERENCE TOPICS AND AREAS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO - Thinking and perception-centric investigations of HIPS: * Human reasoning mechanisms (e.g., principles of human deductive/inductive reasoning, common-sense reasoning, decision making, and problem solving) * Human learning mechanisms (e.g., stability, personalized user/student models) * Emotion, heuristic search, information granularity, and autonomy related issues in human reasoning and problem solving * Human higher cognitive functions and their relationships * Human multi-perception mechanisms and visual, auditory, and tactile information processing * Methodologies for systematic design of cognitive experiments * Investigating spatiotemporal characteristics and flow in HIPS and the related neural structures and neurobiological process * Cognitive architectures; their relations to fMRI/EEG/MEG * HIPS meets complex systems * Modeling brain information processing mechanisms (e.g., neuro-mechanism, mathematical, cognitive and computational models of HIPS). - Information technologies for the management and use of brain data: * Human brain data collection, pre-processing, management, and analysis * Databasing the brain and constructing data brain models * Data brain modeling and formal conceptual models of human brain data * Multi-media brain data mining and reasoning * Multi-aspect analysis in fMRI/EEG/MEG activations * Simulating spatiotemporal characteristics and flow in HIPS * Developing brain data grids and brain research support portals * Knowledge representation and discovery in neuroimaging * Multimodal information fusion for brain image interpretation * Statistical analysis and pattern recognition in neuroimaging - Applications * Neuro-economics and neuro-marketing * Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) * Brain/Cognition inspired artificial systems * Wisdom Web systems based on new cognitive and computational models * MCI and AD diagnosis * e-Science and e-Medicine ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ On-Line Submissions and Publication ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ High-quality papers in all BI related areas are solicited. Papers exploring new directions will receive a careful and supportive review. All submitted papers will be reviewed on the basis of technical quality, relevance, significance, and clarity. The proceeding of the conference will be published by Springer as a volume of the series of Lecture Notes in Computer Science/Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNCS/LNAI). (Pending for approval.) Authors are strongly encouraged to use Springer LNCS/LNAI manuscript submission guidelines (available at http://www.springer.de/comp/lncs/authors.html) for their initial submissions (a maximum of 12 pages in Springer LNCS/LNAI style file). All papers must be submitted electronically in PDF format only, using the conference management tool. We will also have poster, demonstration, and late breaking result paper sessions. More detailed instructions and a paper submission form can be found the BI'10 Web page at http://www.wici-lab.org/amtbi10/ ++++++++++++++ Special Issues ++++++++++++++ A selected number of BI 2010 accepted papers will be expanded and revised for inclusion in several international journals. +++++++ Awards +++++++ BI 2009 best paper awards and student paper awards will be conferred on the authors at the conference. ++++++++++++++++ Important Dates ++++++++++++++++ Electronic submission of full papers (12 pages in Springer LNAI/LNCS style file): *** 31 March 2010 *** Notification of paper acceptance: June 1, 2010 Camera-ready of accepted papers: June 24, 2010 Conference: August 28-30, 2010 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Conference Organization ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Conference General Chairs: * Tomaso Poggio, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA * Jiming Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, HK Program Chairs: * Yiyu Yao, University of Regina, Canada * Ron Sun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA Organizing Chair: * Jimmy Huang, York University, Toronto, Canada Publicity Chairs: * Jian Yang, International WIC Institute/BJUT, China * Daniel Tao, Queensland University of Technology, Australia IEEE-CIS-TFBI Chair * Ning Zhong, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Japan WIC Co-Chairs/Directors: * Ning Zhong, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Japan * Jiming Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, HK WIC Advisory Board: * Edward A. Feigenbaum, Stanford University, USA * Setsuo Ohsuga, University of Tokyo, Japan * Benjamin Wah, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA * Philip Yu, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA * L.A. Zadeh, University of California, Berkeley, USA WIC Tech. Committee & WI/IAT Steering Committee: * Jeffrey Bradshaw, UWF/Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, USA * Nick Cercone, York University, Canada * Dieter Fensel, University of Innsbruck, Austria * Georg Gottlob, Oxford University, UK * Lakhmi Jain, University of South Australia, Australia * Jianchang Mao, Yahoo! Inc., USA * Pierre Morizet-Mahoudeaux, Compiegne University of Technology, France * Hiroshi Motoda, Osaka University, Japan * Toyoaki Nishida, Kyoto University, Japan * Andrzej Skowron, Warsaw University, Poland * Jinglong Wu, Okayama University, Japan * Xindong Wu, University of Vermont, USA * Yiyu Yao, University of Regina, Canada *** Contact Information *** Email: Yiyu Yao Jimmy Huang