Computational Neuroscience: Cortical Dynamics : 8th International Summer School on Neural Nets Erice Italy October 31 November 6 2003 Revised Lectures This book presents thoroughly revised tutorial papers based on lectures given by leading researchers at the 8th International Summer School on Neural Networks in Erice Italy in October November 2003. The eight tutorial papers presented provide competent coverage of the field of cortical dynamics consolidating recent theoretical and experimental results on the processing transmission and imprinting of information in the brain as well as on important functions of the cortical area such as cortical rhythms cortical neural plasticity and their structural basis and functional significance. The book is divided in two topical sections on fundamentals of cortical dynamics and mathematical models of cortical dynamics