[BIC-announce] August 10-11 Symposium in Nonlinear Dynamics

[Sylvain MILOT]

On behalf of Dr Bratislav Misic.
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We are delighted to host 2 star speakers as part of the CREATE Symposium
in Nonlinear Dynamics of Brain and Behaviour:

August 10, 1pm: Dr. Andre Longtin
Director, Centre for Neural Dynamics
University of Ottawa

"Nonlinear Dynamics of Brain Rhythms"

Brain rhythms provide a wonderful playground for those interested in
applying nonlinear dynamics to systems and cognitive neuroscience. Their
importance has been highlighted in a range of functions including
working memory, attention and navigation. But the origin of these
rhythms and how they respond to stimuli are still open questions in many
systems. I will review various nonlinear mechanisms for oscillation,
paying special attention to distinguishing endogeneous rhythms from
forced ones, and to stochastic effects. I will present a recent theory
on the burstiness of rhythms: how they often present in brief epochs.
Finally I will discuss techniques to decipher the circuitry behind
rhythms from data, which may lead to a personalized medicine approach to
correcting faulty rhythms.

August 11, 2pm: Dr. Shimon Amir
Director, Centre for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology
Concordia University

"Nature and Function of Circadian Clock Genes"

Circadian clocks are biological pacemakers that generate daily
oscillations in a variety of biological functions. Circadian clock genes
are present in all tissues and cell types. Disruption of clock genes in
the brain is associated with loss of circadian behavioral and
physiological rhythms, including changes in motivation and cognition. I
will describe work on circadian clock genes in the striatum, a critical
region for reward processing and appetitive and consummatory behaviors.
I will discuss the role of dopamine in the regulation of rhythmic clock
gene expression in medium spiny neurons. I will then describe the impact
of selective disruption of clock gene expression on alcohol drinking.
Results will show these circadian clocks exert a selective, sexually
dimorphic influence on alcohol consumption in mice, conferring
protection in males and risk in females without affecting reward
sensitivity or global circadian rhythms.

For the full program and registration: https://cd-create.org/events/