Join Us at ICCN 2026 Cartagena, ColombiaSeptember 8-12, 2026 The 34th Annual International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology (ICCN) will take place September 8-12, 2026 at the Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias Convention Center in Cartagena, Colombia. Pre-congress courses will take place on Tuesday, September 8 and the morning of Wednesday, September 9. The ICCN will begin with the Opening Remarks the afternoon of Wednesday, September 9 and conclude on Saturday, September 12 at 2:00pm. Presentations at ICCN are given by leading experts in the field and have value for healthcare professionals who utilize clinical neurophysiology. Sessions will include symposia, workshops, and courses, featuring didactic lectures, hands-on demonstrations, expert panels, debates, and interactive formats. Poster presentations at the Congress highlight the latest work conducted at clinical neurophysiology centers around the world. The ICCN26 is in-person; live-streaming and virtual attendance is not available. The Scientific Program will be released in Spring 2026.
Non CME
8:00 AM
5 parallel sessions
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Salon Barahona 1 - 138 Classroom
P01: Pre-Congress: Movement Disorders
This pre-congress course introduces neurophysiology as an objective tool to enhance clinical assessment in movement disorders and guide participants through the main techniques and their clinical applications. It covers essential methods, basic laboratory setup, and signal processing, followed by focused applications in tremor, jerky movements, and functional movement disorders. Through expert-led lectures and case-based discussions, participants will learn how to use surface EMG, accelerometry, and EEG to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide clinical management in patients with movement disorders. Designed for clinicians, trainees, and researchers, the course emphasizes clinically relevant applications of neurophysiological techniques in the evaluation and management of movement disorders. Neurophysiology: An Extension of Clinical Assessment to Categorize Movement Disorders Robert Chen (Canada) How to set up a Movement Disorders Neurophysiology lab: Which equipment do I need and how to do initial signal processing? Felipe A. Vial (Chile) Clinical Neurophysiology to differentiate Tremors syndromes Panagiotis Kassavetis (USA) Break Clinical Neurophysiology to differentiate Jerky Movements and Myoclonus Shabbir Merchant (USA) Clinical Neurophysiology of Functional Movement Disorders Talya Grippe (Canada) Case Discussions All faculty
Motor Control & Movement Disorders
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Salon Barahona 2 - 186 Classroom
P02: Pre-Congress: NCS/EMG - Basic
Basic aspects of EMG recording and of performing NCS are essential steps to develop the necessary skills in neurophysiology examination. Many tricks and pitfalls may occur in daily practice, and the apparently least important detail can be helpful for the neurophysiological diagnosis. The course is open to both physicians and technicians and oriented not only to those in the beginning of their career but also to those who want to stand on more solid ground in their clinical practice. The attendants will be able to hear explanations and see demonstrations on how to evaluate short and long segments of peripheral nerves, practice techniques for neuromuscular junction assessment, evaluate EMG waveforms and learn about new ways to analyze the EMG recruitment pattern. 8:00-8:20am Principles and pitfalls of NCS Sanjeev Nandedkar 8:20-8:40am Basic Principles of EMG Devon Rubin 8:40-9:00am Advances in the diagnosis of focal neuropathies Larry Robinson, MD FABPMR 9:00-9:20am Reference values in NCS and EMG Kristian Bernhard Nilsen, MD PhD 9.20-10:00am Late responses with DEMO Josep Valls Solé 10:00-10:20am BREAK 10:20-10:50am Typical EMG waveforms Devon Rubin 10:50-11:20am Firing rates and Recruitment Analysis Made Simple Sanjeev Nandedkar 11:20-11:50am RNS with DEMO Devon Rubin 11:50am-12:00pm Q&A All
NCS EMG
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Salon Barahona 3 - 237 Classroom
P03: Pre-Congress: Brain Stimulation & Neuromodulation - Full Day
Brain Stimulation Teaching Course Organized by the Brain Stimulation SIG of the IFCN (Ulf Ziemann) and the EMEAC (Andrea Antal) Co-Chairs Ulf Ziemann; Department of Neurology & Stroke, and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany Andrea Antal; University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany Course OverviewThis teaching course aims at introducing the basic theoretical background and practical applications of transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation, and low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation to young researchers, clinicians, students from all fields of neuroscience and related areas. Every effort will be taken to cover the broad spectrum of areas involved in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), from basic aspects to clinical trials, and to highlight recent developments in the field. Lectures will be presented by renowned scientists, followed by short practical exercises. 8:00-09:50 TMS Physics and Neurophysiological Mechanisms, novel NIBS technologies (1) TMS Physics Ulf Ziemann (2) Neurophysiological Mechanisms and TMS measures of motor excitability John Rothwell (3) Novel NIBS technologies: tFUS Robert Chen 10:10-12:00 Most Frequently Used Protocols for Plasticity Induction and Therapy; Ethical and Safety Aspects (1) rTMS (PAS, TBS, QPS) protocols Takenobu Murakami (2) tES (tDCS, tACS) protocols Walter Paulus (3) Ethical and Safety Aspects Andrea Antal Lunch is provided for participants registered for the day-long course. Session 3 (13:00-14:50): Biomarkers, Combining NIBS with EEG; Therapeutic Indications: Which Protocol for Which Disorders and Why? Topics and Speakers (1) TMS-EEG Ulf Ziemann (2) rTMS: Therapeutic indications Giacomo Koch (3) tES: Therapeutic indications Jovana Bjekic Session 4 (15:10-17:00): Hands-On: Pitfalls & Common Mistakes When Using NIBS Topics and Speakers (1) Hands-On: Andrea Antal (2) Hands-On: Caroline Tscherpel
Brain Stimulation & Neuromodulation
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Salon Barahona 4 - 219 Classroom
P04: Pre-Congress: Pediatric EEG
This course offers a comprehensive, brief overview of pediatric EEG for clinicians and researchers, combining core interpretation skills with quantitative and syndrome-based approaches. International experts cover normal and abnormal developmental EEG patterns, quantitative EEG techniques, autoimmune epileptic encephalopathies, infantile spasms, and the EEG-based classification of epileptic syndromes. Interactive case-based Q&A sessions support the application of concepts to clinical practice, making this course ideal for clinical neurophysiologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, and residents. 8:00am-8:40am Normal Pediatric EEG Milton David Herrera 8:40am-9:20am Abnormal pediatric EEG Milton David Herrera 9:20am-10:00am Quantitative pediatric EEG Cecil Hahn 10:00am-10:20am Break 10:20am-10:50am EEG in Pediatric Autoimmune Epileptic Encephalopathies Daniel San Juan Orta 10:50am-11:20am Infantile epileptiform spasms Cecil Hahn 11:20am-11:50am EEG-Based Classification of Epileptic Syndromes Daniel San Juan Orta 11:50am-12:00pm Q&A All
Pediatric EEG
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
303 - 33 U-Shape
P06: Pre-Congress: Nerve and Muscle Excitability - 2 day course
This 2-day hands-on course will provide a good grounding in the theory and practice of nerve and muscle excitability testing, and in the analysis of excitability recordings. Axonal and muscle membranes are critically dependent on the embedded ion channels and the potential difference across their membranes. Nerve excitability testing is a complementary electrophysiological technique to regular nerve conduction studies and provides much more information about the mechanisms underlying the physiology and pathophysiology of large, myelinated fibres. Similarly, Muscle excitability testing probes the excitability of muscle membranes through the effect of various electrical stimulus paradigms on the muscle response. Both techniques have been used to reveal disease mechanism in a broad range of neuromuscular disease. This workshop is hands-on and there should be ample opportunity to perform these techniques. By the end of the course, participants should be able to perform these techniques to a high standard and with a good degree of reproducibility. 08:00 - 08:10 Nerve Excitability Workshop Introduction Tim Howells & Hatice Tankisi 08:10 - 08:40 An introduction to nerve excitability and the TROND protocol Tim Howells 08:40 - 09:00 Equipment and safety considerations Tim Howells 09:00 - 10:00 Hands-on: Nerve Excitability Tim Howells & Kelvin Jones · Demonstration of Axonal excitability: median nerve - APB· Axonal excitability: median nerve to APB 10:00 - 10:30 Coffee Break Nerve Excitability: 10:30 - 10:50 Patterns of axonal dysfunction Tim Howells 10:50 - 11:10 The effect of temperature on axonal excitability Martin Koltzenburg 11:10 - 12:00 Hands-on: Nerve Excitability Tim Howells · Demonstration of Sensory excitability (median nerve - D2)· The effects of temperature on axonal excitability (median nerve - D2) 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch (provided for registered course participants) Muscle Excitability #1 13:00 - 13:30 Methods and normal findings Werner Z´Graggen 13:30 - 13:45 Muscle Excitability: My Tips and Tricks for the beginnerHatice Tankisi 13:45- 15:00 Hands-on: Muscle Excitability Hatice Tankisi · Demonstration of Muscle Velocity Recovery Cycle and frequency protocols (TA)· Muscle Velocity Recovery Cycle and frequency protocols (TA and Brachioradialis) 15:00 - 15:30 Afternoon Break CMAP Scan MUNE #1 15:30 - 16:00 Introduction to MUNE methods and MScanFit Kelvin Jones 16:00 - 17:00 Hands-on and demonstration: CMAP Scan MUNE José Matamala & Kelvin Jones · Demonstration of CMAP Scan (APB)· CMAP Scan (APB)
Nerve & Muscle
9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
301 - 27 U-Shape
P05: Pre-Congress: Brainstem Reflexes and their Modulation - Full Day
Brainstem reflexes are known neurophysiological procedures used for the assessment of cranial nerve lesions and some central nervous system dysfunctions. However, not all techniques applicable to the study of brainstem reflexes are well-known and their practice may differ between centers. In this pre-congress course, members of the Brainstem SIG of the IFCN will lecture on reflexes currently applicable in clinical practice and their physiological bases. They will also review reflexes uncovered during intraoperative neuromonitoring and present less known neurophysiological techniques and methods. This will be followed by a hands-on session where the attendants will be able to practice on a selection of brainstem reflexes and explore possible technical caveats. General title: Brainstem reflexes and their modulation Session 1: Brainstem reflexes in clinical practice Chair: Eleftherios Papathanasiou 09:00-9:30 Neurophysiological evaluation of cranial nerves as an extension of neurological examination and clinical applications Ayşegül Gündüz (Istanbul) 09:30-10.00 VEMPs. Principles, Methodology and Clinical Applications Eleftherios Papathanasiou (Nicosia) 10:00-10:30 Brainstem reflexes in IOM Joao Leote (Almada) 10:30-11:00 Coffee Break Session 2: Beyond conventional tests Chair: Aysegul Gunduz 11:00-11:30 Unconventional brainstem reflexes: Techniques not commonly used and their physiological bases Josep Valls-Solé 11:30-12.00 Influence of emotional and cognitive factors on blink reflexes Franca Deriu 12:00-12:30 Assessment of reticular formation nuclei and reticulospinal tracts John Rothwell 12:30-13:30 — Lunch Break Session 3: Hands-On Practice: 13:30-15:00 Participants will be divided into three groups and rotate through stations where they will receive hands-on training in procedures for the VEMP, startle reflex, and blink reflex. The attendees will learn the following topics: Eleftherios Papathanasiou: VEMP Josep Valls-Sole: Startle and StartReact Aysegul Gunduz: Blink reflex Objectives: • Acknowledge the methods for performing reflexes and the excitability of the reflexes. • Understand the key technical caveats of the methods above. • Learn the main physiological findings in healthy humans.
Brainstem
1:00 PM
3 parallel sessions
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Salon Barahona 2 - 186 Classroom
P07: Pre-Congress: NCS/EMG - Advanced
1:00pm-1:20pm Advances in Electrodiagnosis of motor neuron diseases Jose Matamala 1:20pm-1:40pm Laryngeal EMG Paulo Kimaid 1:40pm-2:10pm Electrodiagnosis of plexopathies Jorge Gutierrez 2:10pm-2:50pm SFEMG with DEMO Pushpa Narayaswami 2:50pm-3:10pm Break 3:10pm-3:40pm MUNE and MUNIX with DEMO Sanjeev Nandedkar 3:40pm-4:00pm Pelvic floor neurophysiology Armando Tello 4:00pm-4:30pm Atypical EMG waveforms Devon Rubin 4:30pm-5:00pmQuantitative EMG with DEMO Sanjeev Nandedkar
NCS EMG
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Salon Barahona 4 - 219 Classroom
P08: Pre-Congress: AI in Neurophysiology
AI Tools in Clinical Neurophysiology This course offers a focused introduction to artificial intelligence in Clinical Neurophysiology, addressing the appropriate use of machine learning, deep learning, and traditional statistical models (as competitors) in research and patient care using MATLAB and Python. Emphasis is placed on data characteristics, model robustness, and clinical interpretability. The course also covers generative AI and large language models, highlighting ethical considerations, scientific journal policies, and best practices for the responsible and transparent integration of AI into neurophysiological research and clinical practice. 13:00-14:00 Practical, robust use of AI models for harmonization of clinical indexes and biomarkers in multicentric studies carried out in Clinical Neurophysiology Verónica Henao Isaza 14:00-15:00 Practical, robust use of AI models for classification and prediction purposes in patients with Epilepsy based on clinical indexes and biomarkers Benjamin H. Brinkmann 15:00-15:30 COFFEE BREAK 15:30-16:00 Regression vs. machine learning models in Matlab and Python ecosystems. What do you really need in Clinical Neurophysiology? Antonio I. Triggiani 16.00-16:30 Ethical use of generative AI for writing a paper for Clinical Neurophysiology (Practice) Claudio Babiloni 16:30-17:00 Quiz
Artificial Intelligence
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Salon Barahona 1 - 138 Classroom
P09: Pre-Congress: Sleep Neurophysiology - Pearls and Pitfalls of Sleep Neurophysiology: From Manual Scoring to Automatic Analysis
Pearls and Pitfalls of Sleep Neurophysiology: From Manual Scoring to Automatic Analysis Pearls and Pitfalls of Sleep Neurophysiology: From Manual Scoring to Automatic Analysis delivers a clinically focused, expert-led update on how to interpret sleep with precision. Moving beyond standard scoring, this course highlights the EEG and EMG features that truly matter, the pitfalls that commonly lead to misinterpretation, and the neurophysiological insights that improve diagnostic confidence.The course integrates perspectives on traditional visual scoring and emerging automated approaches, addressing both their methodological foundations and practical limitations. Participants will acquire a structured framework for combining manual and automated analyses within routine clinical workflows, enhancing both accuracy and interpretability of sleep recordings. Core concepts of sleep neurophysiology Jesús Rodríguez Quintana Sleep scoring Giuseppe Lanza, MD, PhD Sleep EEG Milena Pavlova, MD EMG analysis Ambra Stefani, MD PhD What automatic analysis can and cannot do Ki-Young Jung How to integrate automated outputs in clinical workflow TBD