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Conference Handbook 17 th meeting of the Association for the scientific study of consciousness july 12-15, 2013 san diego,sheraton hotel and marina hosted by the neurosciences institute Conference handbook Contents Introduction Welcome to San Diego .............................................................................................................................................. ii Committees, Executive Board, and Volunteer Staff................................................................................................... vi Past ASSC Meetings.................................................................................................................................................... viii ASSC 17 ExhiBitors...................................................................................................................................................... ix Schedule Program Overview..................................................................................................................................................... x Venue Maps & Locations .......................................................................................................................................... xi San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Marina Wifi Login...................................................................................................... xvii Detailed Program ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Posters............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Abstracts Keynote Lectures .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Symposia ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Tutorials .................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Special Roundtable Discussion: Debating the Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of Consciousness..................... 24 Special Event: From Matter to Mind: Talks and Music in Honor of Gerald M. Edelman, MD, PhD.......................... 25 Concurrent Sessions.................................................................................................................................................. 27 Posters ...................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Author Index ............................................................................................................................................................ 123 i A Warm Welcome to Southern California and America’s Finest City! And welcome to the 17th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC 17), hosted this year by The Neurosciences Institute. Although 2013 doesn’t mark a singular benchmark in the history of either the ASSC or its annual meetings, it is significant that we find ourselves in Southern California, not far from Pomona and the Claremont Colleges, where the late, great Bill Banks and the indefatigable Patrick Wilken oversaw the first annual meeting and the idea of the ASSC was born. It is also notable that ASSC 17 is convening in San Diego: for many years, a rich and vibrant center for neurobiological research and a veritable ‘hothouse’ for ideas about the nature and seat of consciousness. These ideas have run the gamut, from the exciting, and groundbreaking terrain of neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) first charted by Francis Crick and a young Christof Koch at the Salk Institute, to the robust theoretical framework laid out by Gerald Edelman and his colleagues at The Neurosciences Institute in an attempt to place consciousness firmly back into nature; an ambition well in keeping with the long Darwinian arc that has traced the rise of all of modern biology. Not surprisingly, work presented at the earliest annual ASSC meetings confronted the most fundamental issues in the nascent science of consciousness: namely, the anatomical and physiological underpinnings of consciousness (e.g., the NCC) and even the problem of how to apprehend and characterize those underpinnings experimentally. Needless to say, these issues are still at the core of our annual discourse. But, now, the combination of ever more sophisticated physiological techniques, imaging technologies, modeling paradigms, and robust theoretical frameworks (about which much will be offered and discussed during this meeting) is finally bearing fruit, and recent work certainly suggests a new and exciting phase of growth in the life of consciousness science. The study of consciousness is no longer an armchair enterprise. It has grown strong, muscular legs and is now treading down both basic and applied paths. From promising paradigms for assessing possible conscious states in non-human animals to the characterization of previously vexing neuropsychiatric disorders, to a profound reinterpretation of the diagnosis of a spectrum of coma states, serious inroads have been made. Given perhaps little more than three decades since consciousness gained respectability as a legitimate object of scientific inquiry, progress has been measureable and in many ways rather dramatic. And though few would argue that we’re on the verge of unraveling one of the greatest of human mysteries, it now appears that our armamentarium is well stocked, and we’re fighting the good fight and gaining the upper hand. As in previous years, the breadth, depth, and overall quality of ASSC 17 will rest largely on the efforts and involvement of ASSC members from around the globe. This year, the Scientific Program Committee reviewed a total of 250 abstracts submitted by researchers and scholars from at least 24 countries and 146 colleges, universities, and public and private research institutions. Though this number doesn’t even approach the stunning record set at last year’s meeting, the breadth, depth, and richness of salient findings reported and scientific thought represented in this year’s submissions nevertheless presented the Scientific Program Committee with a significant challenge, particularly in selecting the roster of concurrent talks. As in past years, neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy are equally well represented this year; moreover, research from the clinical arena is in evidence at ASSC 17, as this area takes its place as an established staple of the annual meetings. ii The variety and substance of this year’s keynote talks, symposia, and tutorials are testament to the conclusion that the scientific study of consciousness is a robust and growing enterprise. Moreover, the subject matter of this year’s satellite symposium, ‘Action and Perception in Immersive Worlds,’ speaks to what will be possible in the future, as virtual, interactive systems are increasingly incorporated into both experimental research paradigms and everyday life. In particular, though, we must thank Professors Giulio Tononi, Christof Koch, Gary Marcus, and Stuart Firestein, and Ms. Jennifer Goldman, who gave freely of their time to participate in what promises to be a compelling, spirited, and fun roundtable discussion of the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness. And so, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of you—speakers and poster presenters alike—not only for your contributions to this and other ASSC meetings, but also for being the dynamic and sustaining force behind a robust science of consciousness. As in previous ASSC meetings, student participation has been, and will be, critical to both the quality of scientific content and the overall flavor and functioning of ASSC 17. Student posters and talks this year account for a substantial number of high quality submissions. Under the chairmanship of Kingson Man, the Student Committee has been both deliberative and proactive in organizing such events as the Student Social, poster judging, and the Mentor Lunch, which affords students an important opportunity to interact with senior researchers representing a wide variety of fields and perspectives. Moreover, members of the Student Committee have been active in social media; their online journal clubs, in which the ideas and findings of a number of senior researchers presenting at ASSC 17 have been discussed, is a shining example of the involvement and earnest commitment of the Student Committee and, indeed, student members of the ASSC overall. This year, ASSC 17 is convening on Harbor Island, situated across from the beautiful San Diego skyline and harbor. Noted for an unmistakable naval presence (three super carriers and a number of Los Angeles attack-class nuclear submarines are berthed minutes from our venue), as well as occasional America’s Cup trials, San Diego Harbor is both a sailor’s delight and a veritable playground for water sports of all types. But most notable for us is our proximity to greater San Diego County and easy access to the vibrant research community that resides along Torrey Pines Road; the laboratories of the Salk Institute, UCSD, The Scripps Research Institute, and The Burnham Institute are a mere 25 minutes away by car. In this vein,
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