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Proceedings (editor)2015Open access

Advances in Cognitive Neurodynamics (IV) : Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Cognitive Neurodynamics - 2013


Liljenström, Hans (ed.)

Abstract

Cognition in its essence is dynamic and multilayered, and the pursuit of new clues inevitably leads from one layer to the next, both bottom-up and top-down. Similarly, the nervous system can be described at different organizational levels, e.g. sub-cellular, cellular, network and the level of the entire brain, and each level is characterized by its dynamical states and processes. Knowledge and understanding of the great complexity of neural systems has increased tremendously in the last few decades. Experimental methods, such as patch clamp technique, EEG, MEG, PET, fMRI etc have provided a huge amount of data. At the same time, statistical, mathematical and computational analysis and modeling have contributed to an understanding of the intricate relations between structure, dynamics and function of neural systems at different scales. Both holistic and reductionist approaches have proven essential for a more comprehensive description. 

The young and rapidly growing research field of cognitive neurodynamics has evolved from the inter-play between experimental and theoretical/computational neuroscience and cognitive science. Inevitably, this field is highly interdisciplinary, where scientists from many different fields, such as neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, mathematics, physics, and computer science contribute to the advancement of the field. In particular, methods to describe, analyze and model nonlinear dynamics, including spiking, bursting, oscillating and chaotic behavior, often in combination with stochastic processes, need to be further developed and applied. Also, advanced techniques to implement the models in artificial systems, computers and robots, are called for. 
In order to promote the integration of cognitive science and neurodynamics as a whole, the International Conference on Cognitive Neurodynamics (ICCN) is held biennially since 2007 with support from the international journal Cognitive Neurodynamics (Springer). The first two conferences in the series were held in China (Shanghai and Hangzhou, respectively) and the third conference was held in Japan (Hokkaido). 
The 4th conference, ICCN2013, on which these proceedings are based, was for the first time organized outside Asia, in Sigtuna, Sweden on 23-27 June 2013, right after the Swedish Midsummer. The conference was held in the inspiring and creative atmosphere of the Sigtuna Foundation, offering a stimulating forum for scientists, scholars and engineers to review the latest progress in the field of cognitive neurodynamics, and to exchange experiences and ideas. The Sigtuna Foundation with its unique architecture on a hill near the shore of lake Mälaren, provided an excellent setting for the talks and intense discussions, often extending late into the bright midsummer nights. 
ICCN2013 attracted 153 participants from 20 different countries, who made this conference a successful and memorable event. There were four keynote talks by leading scientists in the field of cognitive neurodynamics, Prof. Walter Freeman, Prof. Riitta Hari, Prof. Fabio Babiloni, and Prof. Yoko Yamaguchi. In addition, eight plenary talks were given by Prof. Steven Bressler, Prof. Barry Richmond, Prof. Yanchao Bi, Prof. Scott Kelso, Prof. John Hertz, Prof. James Wright, Prof. Paul Rapp, and Prof. Aike Guo. In total 120 papers were presented in oral or poster sessions. The topics ranged from macro- and meso- to microscopic levels, from social and interactive neurodynamics, all the way down to neuronal processes at quantum levels. 
This volume fairly well reflects the large span of research presented at ICCN2013. The papers of this volume are grouped in ten parts that are organized essentially in a top-down structure. The first parts deal with social/interactive (I) and mental (II) aspects of brain functions and their relation to perception and cognition (III). Next, more specific aspects of sensory systems (IV) and neural network dynamics of brain functions (V), including the effects of oscillations, synchronization and synaptic plasticity (VI), are addressed, followed by papers particularly emphasizing the use of neural computation and information processing (VII). With the next two parts, the levels of cellular and intracellular processes (VIII) and finally quantum effects (IX) are reached. The last part (X), with the largest number of papers of mixed topics, is devoted to the contributions invited by the Dynamic Brain Forum (DBF), which was co-organized with ICCN2013. 

Published in

Advances in cognitive neurodynamics
2015, number: 4
ISBN: 978-94-017-9547-0, eISBN: 978-94-017-9548-7
Publisher: Springer

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Other Natural Sciences not elsewhere specified

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9548-7

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/65157