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Recent years have seen a rise in new methods and applications to study smooth spatial transitions — or gradients — in brain organization. Identification and analysis of cortical gradients provide a framework for studying brain organization across species, examining changes in brain development and aging, and more generally investigating the interrelations among brain structure, function, and cognition. In this special pre-OHBM retreat, we will bring together outstanding early-career and senior scientists to discuss the challenges and opportunities afforded by this emerging perspective.

Early-career researchers will take center stage for the majority of talks on state-of-the-art developments and applications of gradient-based approaches, while more senior researchers from across the globe will chair the proceedings. In this manner, we hope to stimulate discussions on how gradients are changing our understanding of brain organisation and to initiate fellow researchers to this burgeoning field.

The upcoming event will be the seventh annual Gradients in Brain Organization Workshop, with previous events held virtually (2020, 2021) as well as in Cambridge (2022), Montreal (2023), Seoul (2024), and Brisbane (2025).

We have some very special surprises this year.

Venue

The workshop will be held this year as a unique all-inclusive retreat experience at the beautiful Château du Feÿ in Burgundy, France.

Space will be limited this year, so we recommend registering early.

Please note that in order to accomodate attendees in the limited space, indoor rooms and glamping tents will be arranged as shared spaces. Please see details below for the different options:

Accomodations options

Three types of accomodations are available:

1. Bed in indoor rooms

Limited to 60 participants

Room

The image above is an example room in the château, though each room has its own unique personality. Indoor beds are available in four different buildings distributed around the center of the property. Please note that the majority of the rooms will have more than one bed, and that the ‘bed in indoor rooms’ registration is for one bed in a room shared with other beds. If there are specific attendees that you would like to share a room with during the stay, please indicate when registering and we will do our very best to accommodate.

Please note that Château du Feÿ is a historic building with a variety of room configurations. While many rooms have en suite facilities, some rooms have shared bathrooms and showers. We will do our best to accommodate preferences and will strive to make everyone comfortable, but ask for your understanding that this authentic castle experience differs from a standard hotel.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact us directly at the email below.

2. Bed in glamping tents

Limited to 40 participants

Room

Several glamping (glamorous camping) beds are available. Each tent has four luxurious beds. If you would like to room with someone specific, please be sure to mention them in the comments when registering and we will do our best to accomodate.

3. No accomodations

Limited to 50 participants

You are welcome to camp onsite or to commute from a hotel in the area.

This is also the option to select during registration is you will be sharing an indoor bed with another attendee.

Catering

All meals, coffee/tea breaks, and evening alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

Costumes

Throughout the duration of the retreat, should costumes be required, they will all be available free of charge. An all-you-can-wear buffet awaits.

chateau_back

Program

Arrival: June 9th from 3pm
Departure: June 11th at 3pm

A tentative schedule is available here.
An updated version including a scientific program will be made available soon.

Abstract Submissions

We welcome abstract submissions for the poster sessions, which will be held each evening. Select abstracts may be invited for brief oral presentations.

Click here to submit your abstract

Final deadline for submitting abstracts is April 30th, 2026

Registration

Early-bird registration closes at 11:59pm (CET) on January 31st, 2026
Register by then for a 50€ discount

Final registration deadline: April 30th, 2026

Click here to register
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

A note on registration fees

The registration fees are higher that usual this year and are set to reflect the actual costs of running the retreat. They include venue hire, accommodation, catering, and local arrival transportation. Château rooms and glamping have higher fees because they include on-site accommodations, while the commuter option covers only the workshop and food/drink. We have tried to keep the pricing as transparent and fair as possible, while ensuring that the event remains financially viable.

Following is a breakdown of the approximate costs associated with the meeting this year:

  • General venue rental and transport from the Joigny train station is approximately 75€ per person
  • Catering for two days, including all meals, coffee/tea breaks, and evening drinks is approximately 250€ per person
  • Glamping per bed is 100€ per person
  • Indoor bed is 250€ per person

We have aimed to keep the registration fees at cost for those registering by January 31st.

Legal note: The amount requested is a cost-sharing contribution intended solely to cover part of the expenses of organizing the event. It is not a ticket price and is not subject to VAT, in accordance with the rules applicable to French non-profit associations. A reduced cost-sharing contribution is offered for early registration. This helps the association confirm participant numbers in advance and organize the event efficiently. It is not a commercial discount but an administrative facilitation for planning purposes.

Travel

Arrival

We recommend flying into either Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport or Paris Orly Airport. It will be possible to purchase public transport tickets at the airport station upon arrival.

From CDG, take the RER B to Châtelet les Halles, then transfer to the metro line 14 to Bercy. Total travel to Bercy should take approximately 45 minutes.

From Orly, take the metro line 14 to Bercy. Total travel to Bercy should take approximately 20 minutes.

Once you arrive at Bercy on the metro line 14, exit the station. The train station Paris Bercy Bourgogne - Pays d'Auvergne is located about a 5-minute walk from the metro exit:

By train from Paris

The nearest train station to Château du Feÿ is Joigny.

From Paris, there are trains every hour from Paris Bercy Bourgogne - Pays d'Auvergne to Joigny for approximately 25€ (one way). The trip takes approximately one hour.

Further information regarding transportation from the Joigny train station to the venue will be made available soon.

By car

Château du Feÿ is located approximately two hours from Paris. Free parking is available on site.

Departure

For those organizing their own travel after the retreat, same instructions as above in reverse.

Direct bus to Bordeaux

We may try to organize group travel by bus to Bordeaux. More information will be made available shortly.

Organizing committee

Boris Bernhardt (McGill University, Canada)
Richard Bethlehem (University of Cambridge, UK)
Elizabeth Jefferies (University of York, UK)
Seok-Jun Hong (Sungkyunkwan University, Korea)
Sara Larivière (Université de Sherbrooke, Canada)
Robert Leech (King’s College London, UK)
Daniel Margulies (University of Oxford & CNRS)
Casey Paquola (INM-7, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany)
Bo-yong Park (Korea University, Korea)
Jessica Royer (Max Planck Inst for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)
Ted Satterthwaite (University of Pennsylvania)
Saurabh Sonkusare (University of Queensland)
Valerie Sydnor (University of Pittsburgh)
Sofie Valk (Max Planck Inst for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)
Johan van der Meer (Queensland University of Technology)
Tamara Vanderwal (University of British Columbia)

Sponsors

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Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a plus one? What option should I select if I’m bringing someone to share a room (who won’t attend the scientific program but will eat/drink)?

Yes, we can accomodate a limited number of rooms with double beds. When registering, please add an additional ’no accomodations’ ticket to your order (to cover the venue and catering costs) and mention the your guest in the comments during checkout so we can accomodate when allocating rooms.

I’ve registered, but won’t be able to attend. Can I get a refund?

At the moment, we cannot guarantee that refunds will be possible, but we will do our best to accomodate them closer to the event. If you need to transfer your registration to someone else, please let us know by email (contact email below).

If two people who want to both attend the workshop as researchers were to share an indoor room, would the second person register as a +1?

If two people are both registering as researchers and would like to share a room, please both register for ‘indoor bed’ separately and mention the person you would like to share a room with in the comments during registration (the majority of the rooms have more than one bed). We’ll do our very best to accommodate rooming requests.