Exploring the neural manifolds of flexible learning

Flexible behavioural adaptation relies on learning and adjusting complex ‘rules’ that link sensory experience to possible actions. While neural mechanisms supporting learning and rule generalisation have been identified in the prefrontal cortex, their interactions with the primary sensory cortex remain understudied (Banerjee et al., 2020). In recent years, neuroscientists have turned to an unexpected branch of mathematics to explore how the brain contributes to cognition: neural geometry (Nieh et al., 2021). By exploring how the manifold of neuronal responses evolves during a reversal-learning task, the student will investigate how frontal areas contribute to geometrical sensory representations during learning and decision-making. Specifically, students will analyse calcium-imaging data from the sensory cortex collected from mice performing a reversal-learning task and implement manifold analyses on this data to further our understanding of flexible cognition.

We are looking for candidates with a strong Computer science/Mathematics /Physics background interested in learning about Cognitive and Systems neuroscience. Programming experience in at least one of MATLAB, Python, Java, C++, R or a similar language is required. There will be possibilities to collaborate with Prof. Christopher Summerfield’s lab in Oxford and DeepMind.  

Please send applications/enquiries to Prof. Abhi Banerjee, who is affiliated with INI, at abhishek.banerjee@pharm.ox.ac.uk with a brief statement and a CV if you are interested. Informal inquiries are welcome. 

Website: https://www.adaptive-decisions.com; X: @abhii_mit

https://www.pharm.ox.ac.uk/team/abhishek-banerjee 

 

Keywords: Flexible learning, Neural geometry, Manifold, Reversal learning

 

References:

1. Banerjee, A., Parente, G., Teutsch, J., Lewis, C., Voigt, F. F., & Helmchen, F. (2020). Value-guided remapping of sensory cortex by lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Nature, 585(7824), 245-250.

2. Nieh, E. H., Schottdorf, M., Freeman, N. W., Low, R. J., Lewallen, S., Koay, S. A., Tank, D. W. (2021). Geometry of abstract learned knowledge in the hippocampus. Nature, 595(7865), 80-84.