I finished my first attempt at “live-tweeting” a conference (#cosyne) and I have to say that it was an enjoyable experience. In fact, writing 140 character responses/reports about specific talks forces one to comprehensively synthesize the material. Since not many people “follow” me yet, I received very few responses, but relished the ones that I did. I can see how powerful this mode of interaction and reporting can be, and for me, I’m convinced I will find it rewarding to both participate as the transmitter as well as the receiver.

I will continue my experiment at the end of the week when I provide comprehensive updates from the Keystone conference Epigenetic Basis of Neurodevelopment Disorders. As an added bonus, I will also be providing limited responses to material presented at The Molecular Basis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder, which is being held at the same site concurrently. Check out the programs and get in touch with me at noahwilliamgray if you have specific questions. Or want me to ask a particular question. Or dig up a specific piece of gossip. I will be using the hashtags #epidev09 and #molschiz09, respectively.

To archive my initial ramblings at COSYNE 09, I present below my "tweetscript’ of the meeting. Enjoy. (cont.)

[All date stamps from the date of this post]

noahwilliamgray: Heading to COSYNE ’09 (http://is.gd/kWLU). Will be sending updates via Twitter all meeting long. Include #cosyne when making inquiries.
4 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Beautiful weather in SLC, UT. Richard Axel to give keynote address tonight. #cosyne
4 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Wow. I mean the Temple is right there. Can’t miss it. In the middle of everything. Screws up the streets though… #cosyne
4 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: R. Axel “No spatial organization to odor representation in piriform ctx at the single cell level.” I mean, it is totally stochastic! #cosyne
4 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Abstract of the R. Axel talk – http://is.gd/l3T9. Accessing the piriform cortex for functional imaging is crazy hard. #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: RT @bobprior At MHT on the way to SLC for http://cosyne.org/. Free Wifi but possible flight delays. #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: @bobprior Quick search for Cosyne tweets found you. I am aggregating under this hashtag: #cosyne if you are interested for future tweets.
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: RT @neurocy Will be at COSYNE in Salt Lake City Thursday-Sunday! Should be a good time. Not presenting anything yet. #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: @neurocy Quick search for Cosyne found you. I am aggregating under this hashtag: #cosyne if you are interested for future tweets.
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Earl Miller (MIT)- “Encoding at different oscillation phases may disambiguate info RE: multiple objects in short-term memory.” #cosyne
3 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Nice review covering the technology used in EK Miller’s talk – http://is.gd/l748. Follow many populations of neurons simultaneously. #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: K. Deisseroth (Stanford) uses light-driven PV interneurons to produce gamma oscillation. Only theoretical before – http://is.gd/l7kA #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: @petewjones A tag for future #cosyne tweets! RT @petewjones morning session at Cosyne in Salt Lake City. Yay computational neuroscience!
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: A. Rangel ( CalTech)- “mOFC is a common currency valuator, assessing everything from appetitive goals to abstract charitable good.” #cosyne
3 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Value determination is clearly modulated by attention/gaze, but the real question is where are the value signals compared?? Unknown. #cosyne
3 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: L. Frank (UCSF)- Reward info can enhance ‘place cell’ reactivation, ensuring better L-T memory storage of location http://is.gd/l9iO #cosyne
3 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Ques- “Is it reward or expectation?” Frank/Singer- “Reward given unexpectedly still enhances reactivation.” A critical control. #cosyne
3 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: There are vendors here as well! Useful…if you like signal processors…(http://tdt.com) #cosyne http://twitpic.com/1qhia
3 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: J. Gallant (UC-Berk)- Bayesian decoding algorithm to reconstruct natural images seen by the observer based on brain activity. SciFi! #cosyne
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Gallant and colleagues are continuing to build on their earlier decoding work published here- http://is.gd/le2F #cosyne
2 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: SLC, UT update: Nice views. Bad restaurants… Someone please help me find a place to eat!! #cosyne http://twitpic.com/1r55i
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: @WWJDinSLC Jesus, you are a God-send. I have heard that there may be a good tapas place in town. Your thoughts? #cosyne
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: SLC tapas from Jesus! RT @WWJDinSLC: Martine 22E 100s, Medtrina 1394s W.Temple; & Panache Wine Bar 299s Main. Cafe Madrid is best. #cosyne
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Archer fish (http://is.gd/leHe) trained to “shoot” artificial stimuli code for ‘what’ at single-cell & ‘when’ at population levels. #cosyne
2 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Previous talk from Ronen Segev at Ben Gurion University- http://is.gd/leJQ. #cosyne
2 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: J.Tenenbaum (MIT)- “Describing learning of abstact knowledge in humans has moved beyond neural networks.” JT maxing out controversy. #cosyne
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: JT (to continue)- “Stop describing computation using double-E terms, circa 1975, and start applying computer science terminology.” #cosyne
2 days ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: S.Scott (Queens U)- Combine 3 B’s of motor control (brain, behavior, biomechanics) to overcome the ‘inconv. truth’-http://is.gd/lfXl #cosyne
2 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Li/Lisberger (UCSF)- Heterogeneous learning in FEFSEM neurons = eye pursuit circuit may modify distinct segments http://is.gd/lg3z #cosyne
2 days ago from web

noahwilliamgray: It’s not good to be less cool than the Amish- RT @ivanov: OH: well then the amish are way more hip. mormons gotta get with the times #cosyne
1 day ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: J. Raymond (Stanford, http://is.gd/ljlL)- Breaking down cerebellar learning into components; Multiple plasticity mechanisms engaged. #cosyne
1 day ago from web

noahwilliamgray: M. Stopfer (NIH)- Combining the power of insect physiology w/ assoc. conditioning behavior in moths. Recent work: http://is.gd/ljF7 #cosyne
1 day ago from web

noahwilliamgray: C. Petersen (EPFL)- Internal brain state regulates neuronal membrane potential (see video link here: http://is.gd/lk9t) #cosyne
1 day ago from web

noahwilliamgray: Ques- “Is activity different b/t whisker touch & free whisking?” CP- “It can be (Vm modulation) & future studies ongoing.” #cosyne
1 day ago from TwitterFon

noahwilliamgray: Fin. That ends this edition of “Conference Proceedings” by NG. Message me if you have more specific questions about talks/posters. #cosyne
1 day ago from TwitterFon