- NM2 Conference to address understanding the mechanisms by which neuromodulators operate which is both fundamental to Blue Brain’s pioneering work in simulating brain function and dysfunction, and for the global neuroscience community
- Leading experts from around the world and EPFL to present and take part in panel discussions across the three days
- NM2 Conference to provide a unique platform for students and junior researchers to interact with leaders in the field to collectively take part in shaping the future course of neuromodulatory research
The Blue Brain Project is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a three-day conference – Neuromodulation of Neural Microcircuits NM² from September 18th to 20th, 2017.
Neuromodulators – the master switches – dynamically reconfigure neural microcircuits and shape brain states by controlling the function of neurons and glia, dendrites, and synapses. Recently, the Blue Brain Project discovered that neocortical microcircuit activity shifts from synchronous to asynchronous network states that is tightly controlled by neuronal and synaptic physiology. This effect is strikingly similar to the function of neuromodulators, which control neurons and synapses to sculpt the emergence of brain states. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which neuromodulators operate is not only fundamental to Blue Brain’s pioneering work in simulating brain function and dysfunction, but also the global neuroscience community.
- The Conference will bring together world-leading experts to:
- Identify the state-of-the-art mechanisms of the neuromodulation of neural microcircuits
- Illuminate various strategies enabling the measurement of neuromodulatory states in brain health and disease
- Integrate knowledge to build a unifying view of the neuromodulation of different brain regions
- Inform and attract new talent to drive forward neuromodulation research
- Inspire future directions that will transform our understanding of the neuromodulation of brain function and dysfunction and therapeutic intervention
The NM2 Conference will also provide a unique platform for students and junior researchers to interact with leaders in the field to collectively take part in shaping the future course of neuromodulatory research. Students and postdocs attending the event are invited to submit abstracts during registration to present a poster at the Conference.
Conference Host and Blue Brain Senior Scientist, Srikanth Ramaswamy is greatly looking forward to the event; “The NM2 Conference will bring together researchers to bridge a variety of disciplines using state-of-the-art techniques in different brain regions towards the common goal of understanding the mechanisms and principles of neuromodulation.”
Founder and Director of the Blue Brain Project, Prof. Henry Markram commented; “The NM2 Conference is designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations that will pave the way to enable the next breakthroughs in understanding the neuromodulatory control of brain states. We look forward to welcoming all conference speakers and participants.”
The first two days of the Conference 18-19 September, are being held at the SwissTech Convention Center on the EPFL Campus in Lausanne, before the Conference moves on 20 September to the Headquarters of Blue Brain at the Campus Biotech in Geneva.
Registration is now open on the NM2 Conference website with an early bird option available until July 31 2017.
#nm2conf #epfl
Blue Brain Project contacts
Srikanth Ramaswamy – Conference Leader
Henry Markram – Conference Leader
Kate Mullins – Communications and Press
About Blue Brain
The aim of the Blue Brain Project, a Swiss brain initiative founded and directed by Professor Henry Markram, is to build accurate, biologically detailed digital reconstructions and simulations of the rodent brain, and ultimately, the human brain. The supercomputer-based reconstructions and simulations built by Blue Brain offer a radically new approach for understanding the multilevel structure and function of the brain. http://bluebrain.epfl.ch