Neuromodulation of Neural Microcircuits NM² Conference

The Blue Brain Project is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a three-day conference, “Neuromodulation of Neural Microcircuits NM²” from September 18^th to 20^th, 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