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This program has been archived.


Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences


Cognitive Neuroscience  (CogNeuro)


Next Frontiers in Consciousness Research workshop

A workshop on Next Frontiers in Consciousness Research, co-funded by NSF’s Cognitive Neuroscience Program, was held in Bethesda, MD from June 26 to 18, 2023. In-person attendance was by invitation only, but sessions were live streamed.

The objective of this workshop was to bring together experts from different disciplines relevant to consciousness research in order to synthesize the current state of knowledge about the neural mechanisms of consciousness (defined as conscious awareness), discuss theoretical and empirical approaches, define the most exciting avenues to advance the field, and develop a roadmap for future discoveries in the science of consciousness.

In conjunction with the workshop, Dr. Sharif Kronemer at NIH developed a mini-course on consciousness for Howard undergraduates. Twenty Howard students participated in four pre-workshop class sessions, joined by Dr. Dominique Pritchett of Howard University, and Dr. Jonathan Fritz of NSF. The students attended the Next Frontiers in Consciousness Research workshop, and concluded the mini-course with a post-workshop discussion and final paper. The aim of the mini-course was to introduce the students to neuroscience and consciousness research and encourage them to pursue further study in the field.

“I hope for these students, the course and workshop will be a spark for the continued pursuit of consciousness,” said Dr. Kronemer. “The topic of consciousness is universally compelling - the people who study it should represent that ubiquity.”

"I loved this seminar because it introduced me to all of the fascinating complexities of consciousness which I never knew existed," said Howard student Talia Coryat. "As a recent graduate of the psychology department at Howard University, we briefly touched upon consciousness in different class discussions, but we never did a deep dive into the topic so I learned a lot over the past five weeks."


BRAIN Initiative Meeting to host NSF networking opportunity on June 12, 2023

NSF program directors and funded researchers from the Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems Program (NCS) will host a networking session at the 9th Annual Brain Initiative Meeting. You are invited to come to hear presentations on NCS funded research, explore exciting new scientific developments, and identify areas for collaboration and interdisciplinary research coordination.

The networking session, with presentations from NCS-funded researchers and NSF program directors, will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 12.

The 9th Annual BRAIN Initiative Meeting aims to build a dynamic and collaborative research community. This year’s meeting will provide attendees with the opportunity to visit a selection of in-person and virtual exhibit booths and learn about the scientific endeavors of multiple exhibiting organizations. Whether you are in-person or virtual, you will be able to engage with all meeting participants using this website and the 2023 BRAIN Meeting app.

For more information and to register to attend virtually, visit the 9th Annual BRAIN Initiative Meeting website.


CONTACTS
Name Email Phone Room
Dwight  Kravitz dkravitz@nsf.gov (703) 292-4502   
Elizabeth  F. Chua echua@nsf.gov (703) 292-5187   
Kenyatta  Johnson kenjohns@nsf.gov (703) 292-4850   


PROGRAM GUIDELINES

PD 15-1699

Important Information for Proposers

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 22-1), is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after October 4, 2021. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 22-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.


DUE DATES

Archived


SYNOPSIS

The National Science Foundation announces the area of Cognitive Neuroscience within the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. 

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of research to understand the neural basis of human cognition. The cognitive neuroscience program therefore seeks to fund highly innovative proposals that employ brain-based measurements in order to advance our understanding of the neural systems that mediate cognitive processes. Human cognitive science encompasses a wide range of topics, including attention, learning, memory, decision-making, language, social cognition, and emotions. Proposals will be considered that investigate a particular cognitive process using human brain data. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

New frontiers in cognitive neuroscience research have emerged from investigations that integrate data at different spatial and temporal scales. A wide range of neuroimaging techniques are employed by cognitive neuroscientists for measuring or inferring neural activity, as well as techniques for determining neuroanatomical structure-function relationships (e.g., fMRI, EEG, MEG, TMS). Electrocorticography (ECoG) and experimental interventions in human neural function, including stimulation and manipulation techniques combined with neuroimaging, have advanced the field.  Additional recent methodological advances include machine-learning and multivariate analysis methods, resting-state and task-based connectomics and large-scale data analysis used to investigate and infer functional mechanisms, as well as multimodal neuroimaging and model-based approaches, wherein computational cognitive models may directly inform neuroimaging results.  

The Cognitive Neuroscience Program seeks highly innovative proposals aimed at advancing a rigorous understanding of the neural mechanisms of human cognition. Central research topics for consideration by the program include attention, learning, memory, decision-making, language, social cognition, and emotions. Proposals with animal models are appropriate only if they include a comparative element with human subjects.    

Proposals focused on behavioral, clinical or molecular mechanisms will not be considered for this program.  Additionally, proposals directed at understanding low-level sensorimotor processes or restricted to model-based simulations of neural data will not be considered, unless they are embedded in a cognitive question related to one of the central research topics listed above. 

Investigators are highly encouraged to contact the program director before submitting a proposal regarding the appropriateness of their project for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program. Please include a one-page summary with an overview of your research and statements of intellectual merit and broader impacts, the two NSF review criteria. See the Merit Review Fact Sheet for more important facts about the NSF merit review process.

Currently, the average award size is ~$175K per year (including both direct and indirect costs) and the average duration is 3 years. See the Listing of Active Cognitive Neuroscience Awards for additional award information.

Declined proposals are ineligible for resubmission until a minimum of one year has passed since their initial submission. This moratorium allows investigators the time required to digest the results of the merit review and revise their proposal accordingly. A proposal that has not been substantially revised will be returned without review as per the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).


RELATED URLS

What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)

Map of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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