Third Neuroscience Compass Summer School concluded

https://avesis.medipol.edu.tr/bguntekin
Now a traditional event at Istanbul Medipol University, the "Neuroscience Compass: Brain and Cognition Research Summer School 3" was held at the South Campus between July 20 and 24. Organized in collaboration with the Institute of Health Sciences (SABE), the Institute of Health Science and Technologies Research (SABITA), and the Turkish Brain Research and Neuroscience Society (TÜBAS), the program was designed for senior undergraduate students, bachelor's and master's graduates, and graduate students aiming to specialize in neuroscience. Throughout the program, participants were provided with comprehensive training designed to strengthen their scientific background and research experience while addressing the knowledge and methodological gaps commonly encountered before or during the early stages of graduate education.

A rigorous evaluation process was implemented during admissions to the program. Following the preliminary assessment, applicants took a scientific examination. Due to the strong interest in the program, all applicants were invited to attend the theoretical sessions, while participants who successfully completed both the preliminary evaluation and the scientific examination earned the opportunity to participate in hands-on laboratory training.

THEORETICAL AND HANDS-ON TRAINING BY LEADING ACADEMICS
The opening address of the summer school was delivered by Istanbul Medipol University Vice President Prof. Yasemin Yüksel Durmaz. Throughout the program, theoretical and hands-on training sessions were conducted by experts in the field. 

Prof. Lütfü Hanoğlu, a faculty member at the Istanbul Medipol University School of Medicine, delivered a presentation titled "How Does the Brain Construct the Mind?", in which he discussed the principles of brain function, the formation of the mind, and the mechanisms underlying cognitive processes. Prof. Bahar Güntekin, also a faculty member at the Istanbul Medipol University School of Medicine, gave a session titled "Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signal Analysis" providing information on the recording of the brain's electrical activity, methods for analyzing EEG data, and the use of these data in clinical practice and research.

CONTEMPORARY NEUROIMAGING METHODS PRESENTED THROUGH PRACTICAL TRAINING 
During the five-day program, participants had the opportunity to examine current methods used in neuroscience research. While the theoretical foundations of major neuroimaging techniques including electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were covered in detail, practical sessions focused on experimental design, data collection, and data analysis.

The summer school concluded with positive feedback from participants. The organizers aim to continue the program in the coming years with an even broader scope.