Avniel Singh Ghuman

Avniel Singh Ghuman, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He leads the Cognitive Neurodynamics Lab and serves as director of MEG Research. His work focuses on understanding visual perception mechanisms using advanced neuroimaging techniques like MEG and intracranial EEG. Dr. Ghuman holds a BA in Math/Physics from Johns Hopkins University (1998) and a PhD in Biophysics from Harvard University (2007), followed by postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Research Interests: Investigates how the brain processes visual information (objects, faces, words), social/affective perception, and neural dynamics underlying cognition. Uses MEG, iEEG, and machine learning to study spatiotemporal neural activity patterns and network interactions. Recent work explores real-world face perception coding and chaotic brain state transitions during natural behavior.

Awards:

• Young Investigator Award (NARSAD, 2012)
• Award for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH, 2015)

Lab & Collaborations: Directs the Cognitive Neurodynamics Lab, collaborating with neurosurgeons Drs. Taylor Abel and Jorge González-Martínez. Research emphasizes translational applications of MEG and neural stimulation to understand perception and cognition in real-world contexts.