Dr Jasper Poort

One of our aims is to understand the effects of learning on brain activity in early visual areas (specialized in representing detailed visual features) and high-level visual cortical areas (that are closely linked to decision-making). What are the long-term brain changes when we learn what sensory features are relevant, and how do they improve decision-making?

A second aim is to understand the effects of attentional selection on brain activity: what are the changes in early and high-level visual brain areas that enable fast and flexible task-dependent selection of sensory information?

We study these questions in mice performing visually-guided decisions, taking advantage of similarities between the rodent and primate visual systems, and using unique genetic research methods available in mice to measure and manipulate neural circuits.  

By studying brain circuits in both healthy mice and genetic mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, we can begin to unravel what determines both successful and unsuccessful sensory selection.

Prof. Trevor Robbins
Prof. Jeff Dalley
Prof Ole Paulsen 
Prof. Paul Fletcher
Prof. Zoe Kourtzi 

Dr. Arne Meyer
Prof. Jennifer Linden
Prof. Maneesh Sahani
Prof. John O’Keefe
Prof. Tom Mrsic-Flogel
Dr. Sonja Hofer
Dr. Adil Khan
Prof. Tim Bussey
Prof. Pieter Roelfsema