The neocortex, a defining feature of mammalian brains, is an evolutionary innovation that underpins complex behavior and intelligence. In primates, it comprises roughly half of the brain’s volume and governs sensory processing, motor control, language, and higher cognitive functions such as decision-making and memory. Evidence suggests that the cortex is built from replicated local circuits, each with common layered architecture, cell types, and recurrent connectivity. These units generate diverse computations through parallel, sequential, and recurrent interactions, with functional details shaped by development and experience.
For decades, efforts to fully understand canonical cortical computations were slowed by limited descriptions of cell types and connections, technical barriers to measuring and perturbing circuits in vivo, and the abstract nature of theoretical models. These challenges are now rapidly diminishing with advances in anatomy, biophysics, connectomics, developmental biology, and circuit-level tools, alongside powerful new computational and theoretical approaches. This progress creates an opportunity for a coordinated effort to elucidate the mechanisms of cortical computation at the circuit level, bringing together researchers across experimental and theoretical domains. The field is poised to build and test models that more faithfully capture brain function on the level of circuit computations informed and constrained by biology. We believe this will only be possible through a highly collaborative, vertically integrated collaboration between theorists and experimentalists working together to build a framework for thinking about canonical circuit computations in the cortex.
The Center for Computational Neuroscience (CCN) at the Flatiron Institute and the Simons Foundation Neuroscience Collaborations invite applications to participate in a workshop aimed at developing a potential collaborative project focused on a mechanistic understanding of canonical cortical computations at the circuit level.
This workshop represents a new model for fostering large-scale scientific collaborations between CCN researchers and external scientists. We particularly encourage applications from experimentalists working in rodent and/or non-human primate models. While the envisioned collaborative project will primarily support external experimental work, theoretical and computational neuroscientists are also welcome to apply.
Up to 30 workshop attendees will be selected from these applications. Participation in this workshop is not a guarantee of inclusion in a potential collaborative project or future funding.
To apply, please submit your biosketch and a one-page statement describing your scientific expertise, how it connects to the scientific vision outlined above, and what unique perspectives or contributions you will bring to the discussions.
The workshop will be held April 27-28, 2026 at the Simons Foundation in NYC. You will be notified by February 27, 2026 if you are selected to attend. The Simons Foundation will cover all travel expenses associated with the workshop. For those potentially traveling from abroad, we encourage you to make early preparations to enter the United States.
Applications are due by 1/5/2026, 5:00pm ET
You will be notified by 2/27/2026 if you are selected to attend.
For questions or issues with this application, please contact: corticalcomputations@simonsfoundation.org