MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Jan 10-12, 2023
Workshop on “Physics Modeling of Thought”

  • 09:00 to 18:00
  • Workshop
  • Dept. I
  • Several Speakers
  • Rocco Gaudenzi
  • Hanoch Gutfreund
  • Jürgen Renn
  • Larry Abbot
  • Tobias Bonhoeffer
  • Yoram Burak
  • Mazviita Chirimuta
  • Winfried Denk
  • Yuval Dolev
  • Itzhak Fried
  • Moritz Helmstaedter
  • Jürgen Jost
  • Jonathan Kadmon
  • Ayelet Landau
  • Yontan Loewenstein
  • Christoph von der Malsburg
  • Pina Marsico
  • Marc Mézard
  • Edvard Moser
  • Marco Pettini
  • Kanaka Rajan
  • Oron Shagrir
  • Orly Shenker
  • Wolf Singer
  • Haim Sompolinsky
  • Alessandro Treves
  • Misha Tsodyks
  • Fredrik Ullén

This is the first of a series of workshops planned within the framework of a four-year program at the Max Planck Institute dedicated to the Modeling of Thought. For some years now, the Institute has carried out a historical-critical investigation of the theory and practices of modeling in different scientific realms, from fundamental physics to earth systems. The present workshop, on Physics Modeling of Thought, will offer the opportunity to examine the various physics-based approaches to the modeling of thought and its underlying brain mechanisms.

The general themes of the workshop include:

  • The Neural Network Paradigm: From historical, conceptual, and structural aspects of the “neural networks” to the dynamical aspects of development and learning.
  • The complex and dynamic brain: Energy landscapes, neural representations, fluctuations and thought.
  • Macro vs. Micro: The role of abstraction and explanation in brain modeling.
  • Space-time Representations and the emergence of higher-level perception of space and time from various brain computations.

Program

  • Tuesday January 10

    (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion)

    9:00

    Gathering and Registration

     

    9:30

    Jürgen Renn (MPIWG) - Opening Remarks
    Pina Marsico (University of Salerno) - Future Workshop

     

    10:00

    Session I. Modeling of the Brain: Historical-Critical Perspectives (Chair: Rocco Gaudenzi)
    Mazviita Chirimuuta (University of Edinburgh),
    From the Reflex Machine to the Changeable Brain
    Hanoch Gutfreund (HUJI)
    The Formative Years of Neural Network Models

     

    11:50

    Session II. Space-Time Representations (Chair: Jürgen Renn)
    Itzhak Fried (UCLA and Tel-Aviv University)
    Representation of Space, Time and Object by Single Neurons in the Human Brain
    Yoram Burak (HUJI)
    Population Dynamics Residing on Low Dimensional Manifolds
    Ayelet Landau (HUJI)
    Time and Temporal Structure in the Brain
    Yuval Dolev (Bar-Ilan University)
    The Passing of Time: Science, Experience and Normativity
    Edvard Moser (Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience)
    Using Attractor Network Models as a Platform for Understanding Neural Population Dynamics in Space and Time-Coding Brain Circuits
    Joint Discussion (with all session II speakers)

  • Wednesday January 11

    (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion)

    9:00

    Session III. The Neural Network Paradigm: From Structure to Dynamics to Mind
    (Chair: Tobias Bonhoeffer)
    Haim Sompolinsky (HUJI)
    Geometrical Principles Underlying Neural Representation of Concepts
    Larry Abbott (Columbia University)
    Synaptic Plasticity as Dynamics
    Christoph von der Malsburg (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and Institute for Neuro-informatics ETH-UZH Zurich)
    The Objects of the Mind as Emerging Patterns
    Oron Shagrir (HUJI)
    How Neural Networks Have Changed Our Philosophical Theories of Computation
    Joint Discussion (with all session III speakers)

     

    14:15

    Session IV. The Complex Brain: From Energy Landscapes to Neural Representations (Chair: Alessandro Treves)
    Marc Mézard (Bocconi University, Milano)
    Memorizing and Computing with Noisy Elements
    Misha Tsodyks (IAS & Weizmann Institute)
    Mathematical Models of Human Memory
    Kanaka Rajan (School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York)
    Curriculum Learning to Probe Solution Spaces Found by Neural Network Models
    Orly Shenker (HUJI) 
    Modeling Thought vs. Modeling the Brain
    Joint Discussion (with all session IV speakers)

     

    20:30

    Concert by Fredrik Ullén (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)
    Introduction and Piano Execution of a Series of Piano Studies by Ligeti

  • Thursday January 12

    (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion)

    9:00

    Session V. The Dynamic Brain: Fluctuations and Thought (Chair: Marco Pettini)
    Jonathan Kadmon (HUJI)
    Between Order and Chaos: Understanding Computations in Neuronal Networks
    Wolf Singer (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research)
    The Cerebral Cortex, a Delay Coupled Recurrent Oscillator Network
    Yonatan Loewenstein (HUJI)
    Noise, Heterogeneity and Symmetry Breaking in Decision Making
    Jürgen Jost (Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences)
    The Relation between Brain Dynamics, Information Processing and Perception and Cognition
    Joint Discussion (with all session V speakers)

     

    14:00

    Session VI. Macro vs. Micro: The Role of Abstraction and Explanation (Chair: Haim Sompolinsky)
    Winfried Denk (Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence)
    Connectomics: Testing Theories of Thought at Scale
    Moritz Helmstadter (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research)
    Connectomics: The Physical Realities of the Neuronal Network in Our Brains
    Alessandro Treves (Cognitive Neurosciences SISSA Trieste)
    The Sky Is the Limit
    Joint Discussion (with all session VI speakers)

     

    17:00

    Haim Sompolinsky - Closing Remarks

Organizer(s)
Address
Harnack-Haus, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
Lise-Meitner-Saal
Contact and Registration

Attendance only by registration (rennoffice@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de)

2023-01-10T09:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2023-01-10 09:00:00 2023-01-12 18:00:00 Workshop on “Physics Modeling of Thought” This is the first of a series of workshops planned within the framework of a four-year program at the Max Planck Institute dedicated to the Modeling of Thought. For some years now, the Institute has carried out a historical-critical investigation of the theory and practices of modeling in different scientific realms, from fundamental physics to earth systems. The present workshop, on Physics Modeling of Thought, will offer the opportunity to examine the various physics-based approaches to the modeling of thought and its underlying brain mechanisms. The general themes of the workshop include: The Neural Network Paradigm: From historical, conceptual, and structural aspects of the “neural networks” to the dynamical aspects of development and learning. The complex and dynamic brain: Energy landscapes, neural representations, fluctuations and thought. Macro vs. Micro: The role of abstraction and explanation in brain modeling. Space-time Representations and the emergence of higher-level perception of space and time from various brain computations. Program Tuesday January 10 (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion) 9:00 Gathering and Registration   9:30 Jürgen Renn (MPIWG) - Opening Remarks Pina Marsico (University of Salerno) - Future Workshop   10:00 Session I. Modeling of the Brain: Historical-Critical Perspectives (Chair: Rocco Gaudenzi) Mazviita Chirimuuta (University of Edinburgh), From the Reflex Machine to the Changeable Brain Hanoch Gutfreund (HUJI) The Formative Years of Neural Network Models   11:50 Session II. Space-Time Representations (Chair: Jürgen Renn) Itzhak Fried (UCLA and Tel-Aviv University) Representation of Space, Time and Object by Single Neurons in the Human Brain Yoram Burak (HUJI) Population Dynamics Residing on Low Dimensional Manifolds Ayelet Landau (HUJI) Time and Temporal Structure in the Brain Yuval Dolev (Bar-Ilan University) The Passing of Time: Science, Experience and Normativity Edvard Moser (Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience) Using Attractor Network Models as a Platform for Understanding Neural Population Dynamics in Space and Time-Coding Brain Circuits Joint Discussion (with all session II speakers) Wednesday January 11 (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion) 9:00 Session III. The Neural Network Paradigm: From Structure to Dynamics to Mind (Chair: Tobias Bonhoeffer) Haim Sompolinsky (HUJI) Geometrical Principles Underlying Neural Representation of Concepts Larry Abbott (Columbia University) Synaptic Plasticity as Dynamics Christoph von der Malsburg (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and Institute for Neuro-informatics ETH-UZH Zurich) The Objects of the Mind as Emerging Patterns Oron Shagrir (HUJI) How Neural Networks Have Changed Our Philosophical Theories of Computation Joint Discussion (with all session III speakers)   14:15 Session IV. The Complex Brain: From Energy Landscapes to Neural Representations (Chair: Alessandro Treves) Marc Mézard (Bocconi University, Milano) Memorizing and Computing with Noisy Elements Misha Tsodyks (IAS & Weizmann Institute) Mathematical Models of Human Memory Kanaka Rajan (School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York) Curriculum Learning to Probe Solution Spaces Found by Neural Network Models Orly Shenker (HUJI)  Modeling Thought vs. Modeling the Brain Joint Discussion (with all session IV speakers)   20:30 Concert by Fredrik Ullén (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics) Introduction and Piano Execution of a Series of Piano Studies by Ligeti Thursday January 12 (talks are 30-35 minute-long, followed by a 10-15 minutes discussion) 9:00 Session V. The Dynamic Brain: Fluctuations and Thought (Chair: Marco Pettini) Jonathan Kadmon (HUJI) Between Order and Chaos: Understanding Computations in Neuronal Networks Wolf Singer (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research) The Cerebral Cortex, a Delay Coupled Recurrent Oscillator Network Yonatan Loewenstein (HUJI) Noise, Heterogeneity and Symmetry Breaking in Decision Making Jürgen Jost (Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences) The Relation between Brain Dynamics, Information Processing and Perception and Cognition Joint Discussion (with all session V speakers)   14:00 Session VI. Macro vs. Micro: The Role of Abstraction and Explanation (Chair: Haim Sompolinsky) Winfried Denk (Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence) Connectomics: Testing Theories of Thought at Scale Moritz Helmstadter (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research) Connectomics: The Physical Realities of the Neuronal Network in Our Brains Alessandro Treves (Cognitive Neurosciences SISSA Trieste) The Sky Is the Limit Joint Discussion (with all session VI speakers)   17:00 Haim Sompolinsky - Closing Remarks Harnack-Haus, 14195 Berlin, Germany Lise-Meitner-Saal Jürgen RennHanoch GutfreundRocco GaudenziHaim SompolinskyAriel Fürstenberg Jürgen RennHanoch GutfreundRocco GaudenziHaim SompolinskyAriel Fürstenberg Europe/Berlin public