Summerschool "Neural metrics: Quantative analysis of neural organisation and function"

Neural metrics: Quantative analysis of neural organisation and function

Date: Monday 11 August - Friday 15 August 2014
Location: Nijmegen, at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour
Organisers: Dr. Marcel van Gerven, Prof. Tansu Celikel
Target audience: PhD students in the field of Neuroscience
Admission: 10 local + 20 international students, apply with CV
Further details: website

Description
To understand the neuronal substrate of human cognition, we view the working brain as a network whose malfunction can explain many neurological and mental disorders. The growing interest in brain networks is complemented by rapid theoretical and technical advances. We embrace these developments throughout the course to help us understand the human brain network. This is done by examining the theoretical background and by learning measurement and data analysis techniques used to study brain connectivity. The topics will be structured according to micro, meso and macro-scale connectivity.

Course contents
Micro-scale connectivity involves neuron communication at the cellular and synaptic level; mesa-scale connectivity addresses communication between brain regions; and macro-scale connectivity explores the structure and dynamics of large brain networks. We will strive to include components of electrophysiology, anatomy, functional blood flow measures, computational modelling and advanced data analysis at each level. While doing so, we will focus on both the animal and human brain. The course consists of lectures and computer exercises, supplemented with in-depth discussions. Lecture slides and exercises will also be distributed among the participants.