Perceptual and Cognitive Dynamics 
Organisers: James Rankin, NYU and John Rinzel, NYU

The neural activity elicited by sensory inputs is dynamic, involves a
complex hierarchy of brain areas and goes far beyond a simple encoding
of stimulus features and temporal markers.  Patterns of activation in
sensory cortical areas follow stimulus onset and encode its features
(say a visual location, or an auditory pitch). In higher cognitive
areas, a representation of a stimulus can be maintained in working
memory and provide context for the processing and interpretation of
subsequent stimuli. Competition can take place in order to classify
and make decisions based on sensory inputs. When sensory inputs are
ambiguous , populations encoding different interpretations of a
stimulus can enter into competition resulting in switches between
perceptual states. These are active areas of research in cognitive
neuroscience where mathematical tools are helping to deepen our
understanding. With a focus on dynamics, this minisymposium will bring
together a range modeling and analysis techniques that are providing
insights into the neural mechanisms underlying perception.

Speakers, affiliations, tentative titles:
1) KongFatt Wong-Lin
Affiliation: Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, UK
Title: Neural dynamics of perceptual decision making

2) Rafal Bogacz
Affiliation: MRC Unit for Brain Networks Dynamics, University of Oxford, UK
Title: Perceptual inference implemented through neural dynamics

3) Maurizio Mattia
Affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
Title: Hierarchical and modular nature of multistable perception

4) Rodica Curtu
Affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Delta Center, University of Iowa, USA 
Title: Is the neurometric buid-up function the right tool to study auditory perception?