The Virtual Brain Node
March 6 2026, Vancouver
We invite you to a full-day workshop on The Virtual Brain on March 6, 2026. This event will be held in conjunction with the Cognitive Neuroscience Society 2006 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
This workshop introduces participants to personalized brain network modelling using TheVirtualBrain (TVB) — an open-source platform for simulating large-scale brain dynamics grounded in empirical data. Designed for cognitive neuroscientists, the session combines conceptual foundations with hands-on experience.
What you’ll learn
Participants will gain practical experience with:
- Core principles of nonlinear brain dynamics
- TVB software architecture and workflows
- Building the components of a simple TVB simulation
- Tuning models and model parameter optimization
- Evaluating model performance and validity
- Applications of TVB in aging and pediatric research
Format and preparation
The workshop will include guided tutorials and hands-on exercises.
Pre-workshop preparation: To get the most out of the workshop, participants will receive pre-workshop materials via email.
Participants are asked to:
- Watch two recordings covering foundational introductory information for TVB
- Complete a brief pre-session survey
- Follow instructions to install the software environment container
- Clone the Git repository and run one cell in a Jupyter notebook to verify successful environment install
Technical support will be available prior to the session through online office hours, with additional in-person assistance offered 8-9am on the day of the workshop.
Agenda
| Time | Module |
|---|---|
| 8-9am | Check-in, Coffee & Technical Support |
| 9-9:10am | Welcome & Introductions |
| 9:10-9:40am | TVB Fundamentals |
| 9:40-10:40am | Module 1: Running a Single Simulation |
| 10:40-11:10am | Coffee Break |
| 11:10am-12:30pm | Module 2: Parameter Space Exploration |
| 12:30-2pm | Lunch (on your own) |
| 2-3:20pm | Module 3: Identifying Optimal Simulations |
| 3:20-3:50pm | Coffee Break |
| 3:50-4:50pm | Module 4: Model Evaluation & Analyses |
| 4:50-5:30pm | Wrap Up |
Facilitators
- Randy McIntosh, Director, INN & Co-Founder, TheVirtualBrain
- Kelly Shen, Director of Operations, INN
- Leanne Rokos, Research Technician, INN
- Justin Wang, PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University
*Please note: Attendance at this workshop requires a separate registration from the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) meeting. CNS registration is not required to attend the workshop.