36.3835, Summer Schools: Eighth Spring School on Cognitive Modelling (Netherlands)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-36-3835. Fri Dec 12 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.3835, Summer Schools: Eighth Spring School on Cognitive Modelling (Netherlands)

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Date: 12-Dec-2025
From: Stephen Jones [s.m.jones at rug.nl]
Subject: Eighth Spring School on Cognitive Modelling


Eighth Spring School on Cognitive Modelling

Host Institution: University of Groningen
Website: https://www.ai.rug.nl/springschool/

Dates: 30-Mar-2026 - 02-Apr-2026
Location: Groningen, Netherlands

Minimum Education Level: For PhD students and higher

Focus: ACT-R
Teachers: Jelmer Borst & Stephen Jones (University of Groningen)
Website: http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/
ACT-R is a high-level cognitive theory and simulation system for
developing cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction
time experiments to driving a car, learning algebra, and air traffic
control. ACT-R can be used to develop process models of a task at a
symbolic level. Participants will follow a compressed five-day version
of the traditional summer school curriculum. We will also cover the
connection between ACT-R and fMRI.
Nengo
Teacher: Terry Stewart (University of Waterloo)
Website: http://www.nengo.ca
Nengo is a toolkit for converting high-level cognitive theories into
low-level spiking neuron implementations. In this way, aspects of
model performance such as response accuracy and reaction times emerge
as a consequence of neural parameters such as the neurotransmitter
time constants. It has been used to model adaptive motor control,
visual attention, serial list memory, reinforcement learning, Tower of
Hanoi, and fluid intelligence. Participants will learn to construct
these kinds of models, starting with generic tasks like representing
values and positions, and ending with full production-like systems.
There will also be special emphasis on extracting various forms of
data out of a model, such that it can be compared to experimental
data.
PRIMs
Teacher: Niels Taatgen (University of Groningen)
Website: https://www.ai.rug.nl/~niels/prims/index.html
How do people handle and prioritize multiple tasks? How can we learn
something in the context of one task, and partially benefit from it in
another task? The goal of PRIMs is to cross the artificial boundary
that most cognitive architectures have imposed on themselves by
studying single tasks. It has mechanisms to model transfer of
cognitive skills, and the competition between multiple goals. In the
tutorial we will look at how PRIMs can model phenomena of cognitive
transfer and cognitive training, and how multiple goals compete for
priority in models of distraction.
Neuromorphic Intelligence
Teachers: Giacomo Indiveri (University of Zürich) &  Elisabetta Chicca
(University of Groningen)
Websites: https://www.ini.uzh.ch/en/research/groups/ncs.html &
https://www.rug.nl/research/zernike/bio-inspired-circuits-and-systems/chicca-group/
For the first time, the brand new course Neuromorphic intelligence
using asynchronous mixed-signal neural processing systems will be part
of the Cognitive Modeling Spring School! More details will be
announced soon on our website.
Description:
We are excited to announce the Eighth Spring School on Cognitive
Modelling in Groningen, from 30 March-2 April 2026!
Cognitive Modelling is a technique for developing precise hypotheses
about cognitive processes and testing these against human data, such
as data from psycholinguistic and cognitive linguistic experiments.
The Spring School will cover four different modelling paradigms:
ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMs, and for the first time Neuromorphic Intelligence!
Each of these topics consists of a series of lectures, as well as a
number of hands-on exercises (tutorials).
Highlights
ACT-R, Nengo, PRIMS, Neuromorphic Intelligence all in one place!
A deep immersion through hands-on-tutorials and lectures in one
modeling paradigm
Guest Lectures
Poster Session
Dinner
We recommend focusing primarily on one modeling paradigm with lectures
and hands-on-tutorials. You can choose a second modeling paradigm and
attend just the lectures. Of course, you are free to budget your time
more or less as you wish, but past experience has found this to be the
most fruitful for students.
To give students a broader picture of the field, there will be a
special session ‘Cognitive Modelling in Action’, which will present
practical applications of different modelling paradigms and give a
taster of modelling approaches not covered in the four main tracks.
There will also be two guest lectures. Participants are encouraged to
attend both of these events.
To kick off the program, there will be a poster session, where
students present themselves and their research. We will also get some
time together outside of lectures with a city tour and our traditional
spring school dinner!

Linguistic Field(s): Cognitive Science
                     Psycholinguistics

Registration Open until 23-Mar-2026

                Email: springschool at rug.nl

Apply on the web: https://santu.com/dnh753

Registration Instructions:
Fees are payable on registration. The early registration fee of €305
applies until February 28, 2026. After that, the fee rises to €355.



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