معرفی
Michael A. Cohen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience at Amherst College, and a Research Scientist at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. His research explores the boundaries of perception, memory, and cognition using fMRI, EEG, psychophysics, and computational modeling. Cohen completed his PhD at Harvard University under Ken Nakayama and George Alvarez, following a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT with Nancy Kanwisher. His undergraduate work at Tufts University was under Daniel Dennett.
Research interests focus on neural mechanisms of visual awareness, perceptual limits, and cognitive processes. Notable work challenges computational theories of consciousness and demonstrates early specialization in infant visual pathways. Methodologically, he combines empirical and theoretical approaches, including task-optimized neural networks to explain brain specialization. Recent studies highlight graded perceptual awareness and predictive simulations in the brain’s ‘physics engine’.
His articles frequently address foundational questions in perception and consciousness, with contributions to debates over integrated information theory and the role of attention. Though no formal grants or awards are listed, his cross-institutional collaborations reflect active engagement in cognitive neuroscience research.
Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Amherst College Psychology Department labs and MIT’s McGovern Institute, focusing on human brain imaging and developmental neuroscience studies.
