Global Brain

Representational drift poses the question of how sensory perception, memory, motor behavior, and task performance are maintained over time, and provides a window into the adaptive properties of neural circuits on long timescales. Elucidating the underlying causes and implications of this phenomenon may be crucial to our understanding of how neuronal function underlies basic sensory, motor, and cognitive processes. Proper characterization of drift across the nervous system, both in terms of its function and underlying mechanism, will require concerted effort and cooperation on both experimental and theoretical fronts. This conference will spur these efforts across species, brain regions, cell types and behaviors, and provide a forum for experimentalists and theorists to debate the causes and implications of drift as well as formulate promising directions to gain traction on this question. Application deadline: January 10, 2023

The IBRO-Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo, or isiCNI is an opportunity for African and international students to learn about cutting edge research techniques in computational neuroscience. The format of the school will be a combination of intensive lectures on advanced topics in computational and theoretical neuroscience as well as practical exercises in simulation and data analysis. In addition, students will perform a mini-research project under the supervision of one of the school tutors, to be presented at the end of the school. Application deadline: Thursday 20 Oct 2022

This workshop aims to provide a community-building forum for researchers at all career stages interested in the interface between zebrafish neuroscience and computation to come together, share tools, explore ideas, and chart a collaborative path forward. This hands-on workshop will focus equal parts on theory and computational tools. Application Deadline: Jan 6, 2022 (11:59 p.m. EST)

The aim of this seminar is to bring together outstanding young scientists with a keen interest in neural underpinnings of behavior. The focus of the seminar is to present a wide range of approaches to understanding brain function in behavior, spanning from molecular mechanisms to complex circuit level computations. We will also highlight avenues for combining various methodologies with a goal of converging on common ideas. Application deadline: April 22, 2023.

This conference will focus on how brains adjust information processing and optimize behaviors in response to ever-changing environmental demands. This astonishing flexibility relies on the modulation of brain functions in multifarious ways that can change neural excitability, synaptic communication and neural circuit output. The modulation of brain functions regulates basic biological states such as feeding, sleep or sex, and is of key importance for cognitive brain functions such as attention and learning. Mechanistic insights into neuromodulation are not only critical to understand the neural basis of intelligence and behavior but also to understand brain dysfunctions underlying disease. The 2023 GRC conference on “Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior” will bring together scientists with diverse backgrounds to discuss current concepts and exciting new results in this broad field. Applications for this meeting must be submitted by April 23, 2023.

Understanding the links between activity in neural circuits and behavior is a fundamental problem in neuroscience. Attacking this problem requires detailed information about the cell types in neural circuits and their connectivity, and recording the spatiotemporal patterns of activity in the intact brain during behaviour. This course will highlight the new anatomical, genetic, optical, electrophysiological, optogenetic, and pharmacogenetic approaches that are available for addressing these challenges. The faculty will discuss tool development through to their implementation in diverse model systems, including mice and zebrafish. Students will learn the potential and limitations of these techniques, allowing them to both design and interpret experiments correctly. Application deadline: January 10, 2023

MCN introduces students to the computational and mathematical techniques that are used to address how the brain solves problems at levels of neural organization ranging from single membrane channels to operations of the entire brain. This course is appropriate for graduate students, postdocs and faculty in a variety of fields, from zoology, ethology, and neurobiology, to physics, engineering, and mathematics. Students are expected to have a strong background in one discipline, and to have made some effort to introduce themselves to a complementary discipline. Application due date: Mar 31, 2023

The goal of this course is to help produce a community of leaders that is equally knowledgeable in neuroscience, cognitive science, and computer science and will lead the scientific understanding of intelligence and the development of true biologically inspired AI. Application due date: Apr 19, 2023