The Neuroarchitecture of Learning and Memory

The Neuroarchitecture of Learning and Memory is organized by Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies (NSAS) and will be held from Sep 26 - Oct 03, 2026 in Venice, Veneto, Italy.

Description:
Learning and memory are fundamental to adaptive behaviour across biological and artificial systems. Advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) are converging to reveal shared principles of how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. In rodent models, memory has been traced to sparse, distributed populations of neurons—engrams—that are both necessary and sufficient for memory expression. These discoveries have provided unprecedented mechanistic insight into how experiences are transformed into lasting neural representations. In parallel, deep learning and other AI approaches have modelled core features of memory processes, including pattern separation, generalisation, and flexible inference. Human neuroscience has further extended this framework, demonstrating that hippocampal and cortical circuits support abstract representations that enable reasoning, prediction, and complex decision-making.

This interactive Advanced Course will bring together researchers spanning systems neuroscience, cognitive psychology, computational modelling, and AI to address key questions: How do engrams support the richness of memory across different species? What computational principles link memory networks in the brain with artificial systems? How do oscillations in the brain contribute to memory? Do humans have engrams? By integrating insights from rodents to humans and from engrams to AI, we aim to chart a path toward a unified understanding of memory that bridges biological and artificial domains, with implications for treating memory disorders and building more adaptive intelligent systems.