Brain Plasticity: Neural Basis of Individuality

Brain Plasticity: Neural Basis of Individuality is organized by Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies (NSAS) and will be held from Sep 27 - Oct 04, 2025 at Veneto Institute of Sciences, Letters and Arts c/o Palazzo Loredan, Venice, Veneto, Italy.

Description:
Plasticity allows organisms to form lasting adaptive changes in neural structures in response to interactions with the environment. It serves both species-general functions and individualized skill acquisition. To better understand human plasticity, we need to strengthen the dialogue between human research and animal models. This Advanced Course will foster this dialogue by assembling a mixed group of accomplished scientists from either field of research.

The discussions will address how to:

• enhance the mechanistic interpretability of macroscopic methods used in human research;
• launch dedicated cross-species research programs, using either well-controlled experimental paradigms, such as motor skill acquisition or more naturalistic environments, where individuals of either species are observed in their habitats;
• develop conceptual and computational models that link molecular and fine-structural events to phenomena accessible by macroscopic methods.