Satellite event · OHBM 2026
TANGO Symposium
Thalamic Nuclei Neuroimaging Group
Bordeaux, France · June 14, 2026
Program
8:30
Welcome
Welcome coffee & registration
9:00
Opening
General presentation — TANGO network
Thomas Tourdias · Coordinator
University of Bordeaux & Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France
9:30
Keynote
Thalamocortical interactions in cognitive control and flexibility
Michael Halassa · Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA
10:15
Invited talk
Thalamic contributions to brain-wide dynamics
Eli Muller · University of Sydney, Australia
11:15
Invited talk
Hierarchical development of thalamocortical structural connectivity
Valérie Sydnor · University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
11:45
Short talks
Power pitches — abstract selected × 5
Early-career researchers · 5 min each
12:30
Break
Lunch & poster session
14:00
Invited talk
Thalamic mechanisms of sleep and epilepsy — EEG-fMRI & 7T MRI
Andrew Bagshaw · University of Birmingham, England
14:30
Invited talk
Cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways and psychiatric risk
Sheeba Anteraper · UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
15:00
Invited talk
Advances in Thalamic Nuclei Segmentation: Current Methods and Future Perspectives
Manoj Saranathan · UMass Chan Medical School, USA
Meritxell Bach Cuadra · University of Lausanne, Switzerland
15:30
Discussion
General discussion — TANGO collaboration roadmap
All TANGO members
16:00
Departure
OHBM 2026 Opening lecture
Speakers
MH
Michael Halassa
Tufts University School of Medicine
Boston, USA
Beyond classical relay functions, recent work reveals bona fide thalamic computations. This talk discusses how the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus regulates prefrontal E/I balance and effective connectivity during decision making, supporting hierarchical reasoning and credit assignment — with evidence spanning animal circuits, neural models, and human neuroimaging in schizophrenia.
EM
Eli Muller
University of Sydney
Australia
Computational neuroscience · thalamic contributions to brain-wide dynamics
VS
Valérie Sydnor
University of Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania, USA
Hierarchical & coordinated development of cortex and thalamocortical connectivity
AB
Andrew Bagshaw
University of Birmingham
England
The thalamocortical system generates the brain's most prominent oscillations — alpha rhythm, sleep spindles and slow waves — linked to cognition, conscious state, and numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. This talk explores how (i) 7T structural MRI can define thalamic nuclei individually, with emphasis on the thalamic reticular nucleus, and (ii) EEG-fMRI can link cortical oscillations with thalamocortical activity and functional connectivity during divided attention and following sleep onset.
SA
Sheeba Anteraper
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, USA
Cerebello-thalamo-cortical connectivity · psychiatric high-risk populations
MS
Manoj Saranathan
UMass Chan Medical School, USA
MB
Meritxell Bach Cuadra
University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Joint invited talk · Advances in Thalamic Nuclei Segmentation: Current Methods and Future Perspectives
TANGO Symposium · Satellite event of OHBM 2026 Bordeaux, France · June 14, 2026
