NeuroBridges 2026
A Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Summer School in Neuroscience
“International gatherings of intellectuals […] respond to a deep-seated need. People seek out mutuality and friendship outside of structured groups, political frameworks, and nationalistic affinities.” — Emmanuel Levinas, 1957
Program Dates: October 4–15, 2026
Venue:
Cluny, France
Application Deadline: TBA
Course Description
Decision making is the process of selecting a course of action from multiple alternatives. Decisions may rely on sensory, perceptual, memory, or social cues, and their study spans neuroscience, psychology, computer science, robotics, and economics.
Recent advances in animal training and neural recording allow researchers to study complex decision-making behaviors across species, from rats to humans. Theoretical models have become increasingly precise, providing quantitative frameworks that can now be tested with modern experimental techniques.
NeuroBridges 2026 provides a comprehensive overview of experimental and theoretical approaches to decision-making, covering mechanisms from neural circuits to behavior.
In addition to scientific training, the program promotes international collaboration. By bringing together researchers from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, it encourages personal relationships that foster cross-cultural understanding.
Program Structure
The ten-day summer school combines lectures and group projects:
- Lectures: Delivered by leading experimentalists and theoreticians, addressing fundamental questions in decision-making and neuroscience.
- Group Projects: Students work in teams on small research projects, applying concepts from lectures in practical settings.
The program is intended for graduate students and postdocs, primarily from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, though applicants from other regions with relevant backgrounds are welcome.
Application Process
Applicants will submit the following through the online system:
- Personal details and academic background
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Academic transcript
- Letter of intent
- Letter of recommendation
Financial Support: All registration and accommodation costs are covered by the organizers. A limited number of travel grants are also available.
Location
The summer school will take place in Cluny, Burgundy, France :
- ~400 km southwest of Paris; reachable by high-speed TGV to Mâcon-Loché, then a short local connection
- ~100 km northwest of Lyon; accessible via regional train or bus
- ~170 km west of Geneva; limited public transport
Course Directors
- Ahmed El Hady (Max Planck Institute)
- David Hansel (CNRS)
- Carole Levenes (CNRS)
- Yonatan Loewenstein (Hebrew University)
Faculty
- Larry Abbott (Columbia University)
- Alaa Ahmed (University of Colorado)
- Eiman Azim (Salk Institute)
- Sharona Ben Haim (UC San Diego)
- Rava Azeredo da Silveira (IOB)
- Rasha Kardosh
- Israel Nelken (Hebrew University)
- Mathias Pessiglione (Paris Brain Institute)
- Drazen Prelec (MIT)
- Reza Shadmehr (John Hopkins University)
