Research interests

Future directions in systems & computational neuroscience.

My future research focuses on how learned predictive structures are expressed in neural activity, when they are revised, and how they contribute to affect and self-representation.

Fluorescently labelled neurons in mouse prefrontal cortex — Fluorescently labelled cortical neurons. Image credit ↓

Learning & predictive representations

How does repeated experience stabilise predictive representations that guide perception and action?

Repeated experience shapes reciprocal prediction and prediction-error signals between sensory and predictive neural populations, guiding perception and action. — Conceptual relationships; node positions do not specify anatomical localisation.View full size ↗

Selected references 4 papers →

Uncertainty & rule updating

How does the brain decide whether unexpected evidence reflects noise or a change in the underlying rule?

Two conceptual examples contrast noisy observations and adjustment within a current rule with a sustained change in observations and inference of a different latent state. — Conceptual relationships; node positions do not specify anatomical localisation.View full size ↗

Selected references 4 papers →

Interoception, affect & self-representation

How do learned expectations shape the neural representation of bodily states and the self?

A brain-body loop links visceromotor predictions, interoceptive representations, bodily regulation and bodily signals, with affect and self-representation shown across the cortical processes. — Conceptual relationships; node positions do not specify anatomical localisation.View full size ↗

Selected references 4 papers →

Images: mouse cerebellum by Sbrandner, public domain (sidebar; displayed crop). Interstellar neurons by Luisa Demarchi, Ilaria Bertocchi and Alessandra Oberto, CC BY-SA 4.0 (displayed crop).