Connectionists: 4th Call for Papers & **New** Submission deadline - Special issue on "Neural modelsof brain disorders"

[Cutsuridis, Vassilis]

====================================
4th CALL  FOR  PAPERS &  NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE
====================================
----------------------------------------------------------------
Special Issue of the Neural Networks Journal (Elsevier)
on "Neural models of brain disorders"
----------------------------------------------------------------

*****************************************************
* NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE : October 1st, 2010  *
 ****************************************************

Guest Editors
Vassilis Cutsuridis, Boston University, USA
(vcut at bu.edu)
Ciska Heida, University of Twente, The Netherlands
(t.heida at utwente.nl)
Wlodek Duch, Nicolaos Copernicus University, Poland
(wduch at is.umk.pl)
Kenji Doya, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
(doya at oist.jp)


--------
Scope
--------

Recent decades have witnessed dramatic accumulation of knowledge about the 
genetic, molecular, pharmacological, neurophysiological, anatomical,
imaging and psychological characteristics of brain disorders. Despite these 
advances, however, experimental brain science has offered very little
insight into the theoretical framework for integrating neurobiological and 
psychological data.

Surgical treatment of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, 
dystonia and epilepsy were until recently mainly based on applying lesions
at specific parts of the brain. While these procedures nowadays have been 
replaced by more reversible neurostimulation methods, most therapies for
brain disorders are still based on trial-and-error and effective mechanisms 
remain unknown.

Mathematical and neurocomputational models play an instrumental role in 
bridging the gap between the brain and behavior, and may help to unravel
the underlying mechanisms of therapy and to simulate and test new 
therapeutic strategies.

The goal of the special issue is to provide a snapshot and a resume of the 
current state-of-the-art of the ongoing research avenues concerning the
neural basis of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, 
dementia, psychosis, affective disorders, anxiety, autism, dyslexia,
Altzheimer's disease, epilepsy, etc. The emphasis will be on computational 
models that are tightly grounded on experimental data.


---------------
Specific Aims
---------------
The special issue specifically aims at providing insights in neuronal 
network processes and interactions underlying normal and abnormal behavior
based on computational models. These models may describe network behavior at 
a microscopic (cellular) or macroscopic (system) level. The usefulness of 
the models in understanding neural organization and behavior will be 
emphasized. The neuroanatomical and neurophysiological principles that are
included in the models are clearly stated including the simplifications that 
are adopted. Experimental data is presented that form the basis for the
acceptance of the model and its reductions both in describing normal and 
abnormal behaviour.

Therapeutic methods based on medication as well as targeted electrical or 
magnetic stimulation of the brain may be explored using these models.
Existing therapeutic methods may be challenged while the outcome of novel 
(neurostimulation) methods may be predicted.


-----------------
Important dates
----------------

**New** Submission deadline: October 1st, 2010

Review deadline: December 1, 2010

Revised submission deadline: February 1, 2011

Final decision: March 1, 2011

Appearance in journal: ~April, 2011


-----------
Submission
-----------

Electronic submission instructions for the Neural Networks journal can be 
found under http://ees.elsevier.com/neunet/

Please indicate in your cover letter that your article is for the special 
issue "Neural Models of Brain Disorders".