Three members of the consortium participated in the following workshop (highlighted in grey) as
a dissemination activity:
Metastable Dynamics of Neural
Ensembles Workshop CNS 2013
Date: July 14–18 2013
This workshop will have the participation of some of the
most recognized European experts in neural modelling
in the context of the 23th Conference on Computational
Neuroscience CNS 2013.
Organizers

Emili Balaguer–Ballester School of Engineering and Computing,
Bournemouth University, UK. Bernstein Center for Computational
Neuroscience, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

Gustavo Deco Department of Technology, University Pompeu Fabra,
Barcelona, Spain.
Collaborator

Dr. Abdelhamid Bouchachia, BU
Scope of the workshop
Is the traditional view on brain activity dynamics, in which the cognitive
flow of information wanders through multiple stable states driven by task–
dependent inputs, still a robust model? This picture has been recently
challenged both empirically and from the modelling perspective. In this
workshop we will address a range of recent complementary views of
cortical activity dynamics.
In several contemporary models, intrinsic activity fluctuations drive default
transitions between metastable states shaped by anatomical connectivity,
even in the absence of external stimuli. Noise enriches the dynamical
repertoire of deterministic states; creating flexible "ghost" attractors which
permit the effective processing of task–related cognitive entities. Another
proposed metaphor of transient brain dynamics consisted of successions
of metastable saddle states; dynamical objects which are particularly
reliable but form which neural activity eventually switches among them,
even without the intervention of noise.
In this workshop we will have modelling and data analysis contributions
which focus on metastable activity dynamics, analyses of non–stationary
neural recordings and transient dynamics during cognitive processing. The
next topics will be discussed:

Attracting and transient dynamics of neural ensembles

Non–stationary neural recordings and data analyses

Cortical activity dynamics at resting state

Transient dynamics during perception

Travelling waves in cortex

Cognitive processing dynamics.
Schedule:
This event will take place on the July 17 2013.
Morning

9:25 Welcome

9:30 Daniel Durstewitz, Bernstein-Center for Computational
Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty
Mannheim/ Heidelberg University | Abstract
Highly Chaotic Yet Ordered: Cortical Dynamics as Stochastic
Transitions Among Semi-Attracting States

10:00 Pablo Varona | Abstract
Models and novel experimental tools to address information
processing in transient neural dynamics

10:30 Coffee break

10:45 Ruben Moreno–Bote, Foundation Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
| Abstract
Poisson–like spiking and contrast invariant sampling in multistable networks with probabilistic synapses

11:15 Gustavo Deco, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
The link between Structure and Dynamics in Whole Brain
Models

11:45 Short discussion
Afternoon

13:30 Marcello Massimini, Department of Clinical Sciences "Luigi
Sacco", University of Milan | Abstract
Consciousness and brain complexity: from theory to practice

14:00 Mavi Sanchez-Vives, IDIBAPS, Barcelona
Organization of emergent patterns of activity in control and
altered cortical networks

14:30 Coffee break

14:45 Maurizio Mattia, Instituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome |Abstract
Multiscale nonlinear dynamics of slow oscillations across
cortical surface

15:15 Emili Balaguer-Ballester, Bournemouth University and Bernstein
Centre for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg-Mannheim.
| Abstract
Can we Identify Latent Non-Stationary Dynamics in Neural
Populations?