[CTN] CTN seminar: Prof. Robert Kass, Mar 22nd, 3:30pm, PAS 2464

[Matthijs van der Meer]

Dear all,

Please join us for next Tuesday's CTN seminar by Prof. Robert Kass
(Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh USA). Title and abstract are below.

Time and place are the usual, 3.30pm on Tuesday in PAS 2464. If you have
an updated slide on past, current or future work for the slideshow after
the talk, please send it to me Monday evening at the latest.

Thanks,

- Matt


Title: Statistical Models of Neural Activity

Robert E. Kass
Department of Statistics
Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
Machine Learning Department
Carnegie Mellon University

http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/~kass/

One of the most important techniques in learning about the functioning
of the brain has involved examining neuronal activity in laboratory
animals under differing experimental conditions. Neural information
is represented and communicated through series of action potentials,
or spike trains, and the central scientific issue in many studies
concerns the physiological significance that should be attached to a
particular neuron firing pattern in a particular part of the brain.
Because repeated presentations of stimuli often produce quite variable
neural responses, statistical models have played an important role in
advancing neuroscientific knowledge. In my talk I will briefly
outline some of the progress made, by many people, over the past 10
years, highlighting work my colleagues and I have contributed. I
will also comment on the perspective provided by statistical thinking.