Please visit the NeuroAILab website for an updated description of research.
My work is founded on two mutually reinforcing hypotheses:
H1. By studying how the brain solves computational challenges, we can learn to build better artificial intelligence algorithms.
H2. Through improving artificial intelligence algorithms, we'll discover better models of how the brain works.
I investigate these hypotheses using techniques from computational modeling and artificial intelligence, high-throughput neurophysiology, functional brain imaging, behavioral psychophysics, and large-scale data analysis.
My two major lines of research include:
Modeling neurons in visual and auditory cortex. Humans are astonishingly good at solving the hugely difficult computational problem of processing noisy and complex real-world stimuli (for example, sounds and images) into meaningful high-level representations. But how does the brain do this? Using recent advances in artificial intelligence, I've been exploring how the detailed neural mechanisms of visual and auditory brain areas are shaped by the need to optimize performance on high-level recognition tasks. Learn more.
Understanding the nature of sensory representations. What's the dimensionality and capacity of our visual system? What do the neurons in higher visual cortex really represent? I'm investigating these questions using a combination of computational modeling, data analysis, and neurophysiological and psychophysical experiments. Learn more.
Programming for Biological Multi-agent Systems
Before diving into neuroscience, I worked on trying to understand biology of complex multicellular systems using the tools of applied mathematics and computer science.
My PhD dissertation (under the supervision of Radhika Nagpal and Walter Fontana) was on the computational theory and biological applications of spatially distributed multi-agent systems. Prior to 2010 most of my research centered on this theme. Someday I'd love to get back to these questions! Learn more.
Before diving into neuroscience, I worked on trying to understand biology of complex multicellular systems using the tools of applied mathematics and computer science.
My PhD dissertation (under the supervision of Radhika Nagpal and Walter Fontana) was on the computational theory and biological applications of spatially distributed multi-agent systems. Prior to 2010 most of my research centered on this theme. Someday I'd love to get back to these questions! Learn more.