Description
Cognitive systems are devices that are designed to mimic cognitive skills of higher developed biological organisms at varying levels of complexity and performance. Models of these skills can be either abstract functional descriptions from the vast field of cognitive science or detailed simulations of brain circuits from neuroscience.
Novel hardware designs and the steadily increasing availability of cheap computing resources have recently yielded remarkable results especially with the latter models.
The goal of this course is to provide a definitive introduction to the theory of cognitive systems. Drawing from advances in brain research, the topic is approached from a computational-neuroscientific perspective rather than an abstract-psychological one, bridging the gap between the physical structure of the brain and the logical organization of its cognitive capabilities. Special focus is put on the role of robotics as a means to ground cognitive function in bodies that physically interact within different types of environments.
Workshop Structure
Lectures
Discussion sessions
German Museum visit
Lab visit
Social evening
Experiments
Application
This workshop is open to the whole student community and early post-docs upon application.
Applications from young female investigators are highly encouraged.
Application is required as space may be limited.
Applicants selected for participation will be informed within two weeks after the application deadline. Seven travel grants will be available upon request (European students only). Accommodation can be provided for 30 students (first come, first served).
Scientific Director
Alois Knoll | TUM
Florian Walter | TUM
Organised by
HBP Education Programme Office | MUI
Florian Walter | TUM
Upcoming Deadlines
Application deadline: 17 January 2018
Contact
HBP Education Programme Office
Medical University Innsbruck
Müllerstraße 59, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Phone: +43 512 9003 71244
E-mail: curriculum.edu@humanbrainproject.eu
Website: https://education.humanbrainproject.eu/web/cognitive-systems-workshop
Lectures
Alois Knoll, TUM
Welcome and Introduction
Introduction to Neurorobotics
Lars Muckli, UGLA
Internal models and counterfactual cognition predicting our environment
Cyriel Pennartz, UvA
Structure and Function of the brain
Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, NMBU
Introduction to Spiking Neural Network Simulation
Spiking Neural Network Simulation: Case Studies
Tony Prescott, USFD
tbc
Ron Sun, Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute
Computational Cognitive Architectures and Human Creativity
Florian Walter, TUM
Learning and Development
The Venue
The university was founded in 1868 to provide the state of Bavaria with a center of learning dedicated to the natural sciences. The university played a vital role in Bavaria’s transition from an agricultural to an industrial state – and accelerated the pace of technological advancement across Europe.
Now the Technical University of Munich is one of Europe’s top universities. It is committed to excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and the active promotion of promising young scientists. The university also forges strong links with companies and scientific institutions across the world. TUM was one of the first universities in Germany to be named a University of Excellence. Moreover, TUM regularly ranks among the best European universities in international rankings.
Keywords
Cognitive systems, counterfactual cognition, spiking neural network simulation, biological organisms, brain circuits, neuroscience