Mind Mechanisms

Our group aims to understand the neuronal mechanisms for building and using mental models.

We learn by building models—both of the external world and our internally generated goals. These models help us make inferences in new situations and adapt our behaviour flexibly.

Our group seeks to bridge the gap between the biology and computation of internal models. We do this by inferring underlying algorithms from the dynamics and connectivity of neurons in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal formation. 

Specifically, we aim to understand how internal models of the world and goals:

1- Support computations like planning and social learning

2- Emerge during learning and early postnatal development

3- Malfunction in disorders such as psychosis

To achieve this, we combine automated behavioural tasks in mice with electrophysiology, optogenetics, and computational modelling/analysis. We also collaborate with researchers studying humans (including patients), non-human primates, and artificial neural networks. This is helping us identify common principles—and evolutionary differences—in the mechanisms underlying internal models.