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James CherryView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neurobiology
• Olfactory System
• +5 more

James Cherry is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Boston University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies and leading the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology & Behavior. His research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphisms in the nervous system, particularly how olfactory systems process socially relevant odors like pheromones. He collaborates with Dr. Michael Baum to study how sex differences in odor processing arise from anatomical hard-wiring versus hormonal influences. His work combines neuroanatomical tracing (e.g., using anterograde tracers like Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin) with optogenetic techniques to map neural circuits connecting olfactory bulbs to amygdalar regions. Recent studies investigate projections from the main olfactory bulb to the medial amygdala and the role of these pathways in processing predator odors and sexual signals. Education: PhD from North Carolina State University. Laboratory techniques include whole-mount flattened cortex preparations to visualize axonal projections and Fos protein mapping to assess neural activity. His courses include PS 231 (Physiological Psychology) and PS504 (Genes, Brain, and Behavior), emphasizing evolutionary and genetic bases of behavior. Research highlights include demonstrating direct main olfactory bulb projections to the 'vomeronasal amygdala' in female mice and showing how optogenetic stimulation of PCDH-21 neurons in the accessory olfactory bulb activates medial amygdala neurons. His work reveals critical roles for medial amygdala connectivity in sexual behavior and odor preference formation.

Michael HasselmoView profile

Professor

• Computational Neuroscience
• Hippocampal Function
• Theta Rhythms
• +2 more

Michael Hasselmo is Professor and Director of the Center for Systems Neuroscience at Boston University. His research investigates neural mechanisms of memory using neurophysiological recordings and computational modeling, focusing on hippocampal-entorhinal circuits. Core research areas: Theta rhythm dynamics in memory encoding Grid cell spatial representations Neuromodulatory influences on cognition Egocentric-allocentric coordinate transformations Publications demonstrate innovative approaches to understanding memory circuits, with recent work on boundary vector cells, neural manifolds for spatiotemporal coding, and pathological mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease. Major honors: Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences Hebb Award from International Neural Network Society ONR MURI awards for collaborative neuroscience The Computational Neurophysiology Laboratory develops biologically realistic models of cognitive function with NIH and ONR support.

Joseph McGuireView profile

Associate Professor

• Decision neuroscience
• Subjective value representation
• Cognitive control
• +3 more

Joseph McGuire is Associate Professor in Psychological & Brain Sciences at Boston University and Director of the Cognition & Decision Laboratory. His research investigates cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying decision-making, particularly how people evaluate costs/benefits when pursuing goals under uncertainty. McGuire examines neural representations of subjective value during effortful persistence, self-control dilemmas, and expectation updating. His work combines computational modeling with neuroimaging to understand how frontal cortex regions support adaptive decision policies when weighing cognitive effort against potential rewards. Current projects analyze lesion effects on persistence behaviors, arousal's impact on visual processing, and altered learning mechanisms in autism. Through pupillometry, behavioral paradigms, and patient studies, McGuire's lab explores how cognitive costs influence choice architecture and how predictive precision guides eye movements during learning.

• Visual Cortex Plasticity
• Neural Circuitry
• Sensory Processing
• +2 more

Dr. Adam Ranson is a Sêr Cymru Research Fellow at Cardiff University's Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute within the School of Medicine. His research examines neural mechanisms underlying visual processing and plasticity, utilizing mouse models to investigate cortical dynamics and sensory integration. Key projects explore experience-dependent plasticity, neural circuitry in visual discrimination, and cortical modulation in neuropsychiatric disorders. His publications emphasize experimental neuroscience, with recent work in Cerebral Cortex and Cell Reports focusing on adaptive neural responses to sensory inputs. Research employs advanced techniques like high-yield psychophysics and in vivo neural recording. Dr. Ranson collaborates internationally on projects related to autism therapeutics and schizophrenia models, and mentors students in neurobiology techniques.

Pablo RipollésView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience of Music
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Auditory-Motor Integration
• +3 more

Pablo Ripollés is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Associate Director of the Music and Audio Research Laboratory (MARL) at New York University. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology and MARL, focusing on the intersection of music, reward, memory, and language learning. His research explores how intrinsic reward mechanisms influence cognitive processes like word learning and how music interacts with brain plasticity and reward systems. Education: B.Sc. in Computer Engineering and Telecommunications (University of València, 2009), M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (University of Navarra, 2010), Ph.D. in Biomedicine with a focus on Neuroscience (University of Barcelona, 2016). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in David Poeppel's Lab at NYU (2017–2020). Research Interests: Neuroscientific basis of music perception, reward-driven learning, auditory-motor synchronization, and applications of music in neurorehabilitation. His work combines neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG) with behavioral studies to understand how dopamine signaling and memory systems shape cognitive functions. Key Contributions: Demonstrated the role of subcortical reward regions in word learning (Current Biology, 2014); pioneered music-based therapies for stroke recovery (Brain Imaging Behavior, 2016); investigated dopamine's role in musical reward (PNAS, 2019); and explored intrinsic reward's impact on adolescent language acquisition (Developmental Science, 2024). Awards: Formación Profesorado Universitario (FPU) fellowship, La Caixa Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship. Labs: Leads the Ripolles Lab within the Center for Language Music and Emotion, collaborating with NYU's MARL and Poeppel Lab. Active in developing tools like CHILLER for real-time emotional response tracking.

Eero P SimoncelliView profile

Professor

• Computational neuroscience
• Visual perception
• Auditory perception
• +3 more

Eero P Simoncelli is a Silver Professor at New York University, holding appointments in the Department of Neural Science, Mathematics, Data Science, and Psychology within the College of Arts & Science. He is affiliated with the Howard Hughes Medical Center and leads a research lab focusing on computational neuroscience and visual/auditory perception. Simoncelli earned his Ph.D. in 1993 from MIT. His research integrates statistical signal processing with neurobiological insights to understand sensory systems. Education: Ph.D. 1993, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research interests include computational modeling of visual and auditory perception, statistical image/signal processing, and neural coding mechanisms. His work bridges machine learning, neuroscience, and applied mathematics, with recent focus on motion detection, neural population coding, and hierarchical cortical models. Notable projects involve mapping spatial frequency selectivity in human visual cortex and developing biologically inspired AI architectures. Publications span topics like motion perception, neural circuit dynamics, and generative models for video prediction. His lab's work emphasizes practical applications in neuroscience and AI through tools like the Plenoptic stimulus synthesis platform. Simoncelli collaborates across disciplines to advance neuroAI integration and deep learning theory grounded in biological principles.

• Cognitive Psychology
• Higher Education
• Cognitive Sciences
• +2 more

Prof. Dr. Susan te Pas serves as Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social Sciences and Dean of University College Utrecht. Her research examines cognitive processes in higher education contexts, with expertise spanning visual perception, cognitive neuroscience of numerosity, and human-AI interaction. Her work investigates fundamental perceptual mechanisms through psychophysical and neuroimaging approaches, particularly exploring neural adaptation in quantity perception and temporal aspects of cognition. Research themes also include pedagogical innovation, transformative learning environments, and perceptual foundations of visualization techniques. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on numerosity perception adaptation effects, temporal modulation of cognitive processes, and applications in educational visualization. Cross-cutting interests emerge in sensory-cognitive interactions and perceptual expertise development.

Torkel HaftingView profile

Professor

• Systems Neuroscience
• Neural Circuits
• Spatial Memory
• +5 more

Torkel Hafting is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oslo's Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, part of the Faculty of Medicine. He leads the Cortical Circuits Group and serves as Chair of the Physiology Section (since 2019). His research focuses on systems neuroscience, neural circuits, spatial/social memory, and perception, with a particular emphasis on perineuronal nets and their role in stabilizing neural networks. His work integrates electrophysiology, genetic engineering, and advanced microscopy to study how sensory information is processed and stored in neural networks. He holds a Dr.Scient. in Physiology (2005) from the University of Oslo, following earlier degrees from the University of Oslo and the University Center in Svalbard. Key awards include the Fridtjof Nansen Award (2007) and the I.K. Lykkes Award (2006). He collaborates widely, including with CINPLA (Center for Integrative Neuroplasticity), the Leutgeb Lab (UC San Diego), and Simula Research Laboratory. Hafting's teaching includes neurophysiology modules in medical education (MED1100, MED2200) and advanced courses like PSY4304 and MF9150. His research projects include the BrainChip initiative, a multidisciplinary effort to develop wireless brain probes for rodent studies, funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Recent publications highlight breakthroughs in understanding perineuronal nets' role in grid cell stability, optogenetic manipulation of neural circuits, and topological analysis of visual cortex activity. His lab's tools (e.g., Exdir, Expipe) are widely used in neuroscientific data management.

James R. IsonView profile

Professor

• Auditory Neuroscience
• Sensory Processing
• Age-Related Hearing Loss
• +2 more

James R. Ison is a Professor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with joint appointments in Otolaryngology and Neurobiology & Anatomy at the University of Rochester. His research program investigates auditory temporal processing deficits in aging populations using mouse models to bridge neurobiological mechanisms with human presbycusis. Key research areas include auditory gap detection, neural encoding of sound offsets, and sensory-motor integration. His published work demonstrates how genetic manipulations (e.g., Kcna1 deletion) affect temporal acuity and spatial hearing. Recent studies focus on age-related changes in auditory cortex and glial cells, employing electrophysiological and behavioral techniques to model human hearing decline.

Walter MakousView profile

Professor

• Visual Neuroscience
• Adaptation and Contrast Gain Control
• Spatial Vision
• +4 more

Walter Makous is a Professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science at the University of Rochester. His research investigates fundamental mechanisms of visual processing, including adaptation, contrast sensitivity, spatial and temporal vision, and binocular interactions. He employs psychophysical, electrophysiological, and computational approaches to understand neural coding in the visual system. Research interests span: Adaptation dynamics and contrast gain control mechanisms Spatiotemporal properties of vision and neural filtering Binocular interactions and fusion processes Retinal physiology and photoreceptor function Development of advanced optical methods for vision research His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on psychophysical paradigms and computational modeling of visual processes. Recent work explores adaptive optics applications for retinal imaging and neural plasticity induced by perceptual training. Research has been continuously supported by the National Eye Institute from 1968 to 2003.

Marina BednyView profile

Associate Professor

• Brain development and plasticity
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Conceptual development
• +5 more

Marina Bedny is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on neuroplasticity and cognitive development, particularly how sensory experience shapes brain organization and conceptual understanding. Her lab investigates cortical plasticity in blind individuals, studying how 'visual' cortex regions repurpose for language, mathematics, and executive functions. She also examines conceptual development, exploring how blind and sighted individuals form abstract concepts like sight-related verbs or light phenomena. Key research themes include: Cortical Plasticity: Functional reorganization of occipital cortex in blindness, including cross-modal processing and executive control functions. Conceptual Development: Role of sensory experience in forming knowledge about events (e.g., 'sparkling'), objects, and mental states. Developmental Mechanisms: Sensitive periods for neural specialization and the interplay between genes and environment. Her lab’s recent work highlights functional flexibility in developing cortex, with studies demonstrating that visual deprivation leads to recruitment of occipital areas for higher-order cognition. Collaborative projects explore Braille reading neurobiology and computational models of semantic processing. Bedny mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, with active programs for undergraduate research assistants and blind/visually impaired summer interns. Lab activities include: Summer research internships for blind/visually impaired students Undergraduate research assistantships (10+ hours/week commitment) Collaborations on neuroimaging (fMRI) and behavioral experiments Bedny’s research has been published in Cerebral Cortex , Cognition , and NeuroImage , with a focus on bridging philosophical questions about the human mind with empirical neuroscience methods.

Jamie RoitmanView profile

Associate Professor

• executive control
• decision-making
• prefrontal cortex
• +3 more

Dr. Jamie Roitman is an Associate Professor and Department Head in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. Their research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying decision-making, particularly the role of the prefrontal cortex and mesolimbic system in executive control. They investigate how adolescent substance use alters developmental trajectories of brain systems critical for goal-directed behavior. Education: Bachelor of Science (BS), Pennsylvania State University Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Washington Postdoctoral research, Duke University Research interests span neuroscience and behavioral science, with a focus on: Neuropharmacology of addiction Developmental effects of substance exposure Prefrontal cortex function in decision-making Neural coding of reward and risk Recent work emphasizes how adolescent exposure to opioids, cannabinoids, alcohol, and stimulants disrupts normative brain development, particularly in dopamine systems. Their lab employs electrophysiological and behavioral approaches to study these phenomena. Lab information: Visit Jamie Roitman's Decision Lab Website for ongoing projects and methodology details.

• Visual Neuroscience
• Autism Spectrum
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• +2 more

Dr. David Crewther is an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne's School of Health Sciences, specializing in brain function assessment through electrophysiology and neuroimaging. His research investigates atypical visual processing in autism and amblyopia. Research: Focuses on visual attention networks, neural correlates of autism traits, and sensorimotor inhibition. Current projects include neurofeedback optimization and cross-modal sensory integration studies. Funding: Holds ARC grants including 'A grasp in time: Temporal interactions of dorsal/ventral visual streams' (2017-2023).

• Development Neuroscience
• Vision impairment
• Cellular mechanisms
• +2 more

Kevin Duffy is a part-time Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Science. His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms of sensory-driven brain development and recovery from amblyopia. Key areas include cellular mechanisms, neuroplasticity, and vision impairment. He holds a PhD from McMaster University and has received funding from NSERC and CIHR. Education: PhD (McMaster University). Research Interests: Development Neuroscience, Vision impairment, Cellular mechanisms, Neuroplasticity, and Education. Duffy’s lab investigates how abnormal early visual experiences affect brain development, particularly in cat models, with a focus on restoring vision through interventions like retinal inactivation. Recent work emphasizes neural plasticity in amblyopia treatment, leveraging animal models to explore post-critical period recovery. His 2025 study on astrocyte activation in the dLGN highlights glial roles in visual circuitry. Articles span Vision Research, Journal of Comparative Neurology, and Frontiers in Neuroscience, reflecting a focus on cellular and structural mechanisms. Funding: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Advising/Grants: No student names listed, but has active grants supporting amblyopia research. His lab’s work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical vision therapies. Labs/Teams: Active in the Department’s Developmental Neuroscience research group, focusing on vision systems and neural plasticity interventions.

Robert RosenbaumView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Neuroscience
• Mathematical Neuroscience
• Neural Circuits Modeling
• +3 more

Robert Rosenbaum is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Notre Dame’s College of Science. His research focuses on computational and mathematical modeling of neural circuits, particularly examining excitatory-inhibitory balance in cortical circuits and the intersection of neuroscience with artificial intelligence. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Houston (2011), following a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics (2006). After postdoctoral work at the University of Pittsburgh, he joined Notre Dame in 2014. Education: PhD in Mathematics, University of Houston, 2011 MS in Mathematics, University of Houston, 2008 BS in Computer Science and Mathematics, 2006 Research interests include understanding how neural circuits process information, particularly through mechanisms like synaptic plasticity and network dynamics. Recent work explores how biological principles can inform AI and vice versa. His models bridge theoretical neuroscience with practical applications, emphasizing computational tools like Python-based simulation frameworks. His most recent articles (2020–2025) highlight advancements in neural circuit modeling, predictive coding-AI links, and plasticity mechanisms. He has contributed to understanding high-dimensional dynamics in low-dimensional networks and functional connectomics in visual cortex studies. His work on Oja’s plasticity rule and meta-learning algorithms demonstrates efforts to align biological plausibility with machine learning. Rosenbaum’s lab focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to neural computation, leveraging mathematical rigor and computational methods. He directs graduate studies, fostering training in applied mathematics and computational neuroscience.