INTELLIGENT MINDS: NEUROSCIENCE AND COMPUTATIONAL MODELS OF COGNITION AND BEHAVIOUR
Research Focus
This theme encompasses work in behavioural, cognitive and computational neuroscience. We are interested in how the healthy brain controls our behaviour and psychology, and how this may be affected in mental illness and neurological conditions.
To do this, our groups use a range of methods in both humans and animal models, including the measurement of behaviour, mathematical modelling, and the recording of neural activity. We use state-of-the-art tools for measuring the activity of neurons, neurochemical signals, and wider brain activity in a several different species. This allows us to understand how brain mechanisms support functions such as perception, action, motivation, mood, learning and memory. In addition, capitalising on exciting new methodological developments, we are able to manipulate brain activity with high precision to determine how genes, cells and brain regions directly regulate these behaviours. There is a particular interest in combining approaches to uncover how extensive networks of brain regions communicate and interact, and what happens when these networks are disrupted. To help bridge between intricate brain systems and complex mental processes, we use computational modelling, which in turn can generate predictions to be tested in future experiments.
Systems Neuroscience has historically been a particular strength of the department, which was home to several pioneers of the study of brain-behaviour relationships, such as Larry Weiskrantz, Alan Cowey, Sue Iversen, Jeffrey Gray and Dick Passingham. Today, the department supports groups widely recognised for their research into topics such as the neural mechanisms governing learning, decision making, flexible behaviour, foraging, and social interactions, and for their studies on how disruptions in these processes might underpin conditions such as psychosis, anxiety and depression. Our researchers interact and collaborate extensively, discussing research and exchanging ideas in shared seminars and meetings. In addition, our groups have many collaborations across the Oxford Neuroscience community using behavioural, neural and computational approaches including in NDCN, Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and DPAG.
RESEARCH GROUPS IN THIS THEME
Attention & Cognitive Control
Brain & Behaviour
Decisions & Action
Decision Dynamics
Dynamic Cognition
Adaptive Behaviour & Cognition
Computational Psychopathology
Cognitive Circuits
Cognitive Neurology
Theoretical Neuroscience & Artificial Intelligence
Neurophysiology of Reward
Neurochemistry, action & control
Human Information Processing
Learning & Memory
Computation & Cognition
Memory & Sleep
Mind & Mechanisms
Crossmodal Perception
Motivation, Decision & Neurostimulation
Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroscillations