The long-term goal of our research is to identify the neural circuits underlying perceptual and cognitive functions. To this end, we are studying the activity of single and populations of neurons recorded from animals trained to perform selected cognitive tasks. Cognitive functions emerge from computations implemented by neuronal networks and through application of a mixture of electrophysiological, behavioural, and computational techniques, we hope to play our role toward understanding the brain as a computational organ. Our current research focuses on the following topics: causal relationship between the PFC activities and the extrastriate object signals, neuronal mechanisms involved in spatio-temporal dynamics of object representation, role of network states in preserving complex object information, neuronal feedback control for object recognition during partial occlusion, and the neuromodulatory basis of cognitive functions.
Projects
Causal relationship between the PFC activities and the extrastriate object signals
The role of neural feedback control for object recognition during partial occlusion
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Cortical Object Processing
Achievements and Future works
We have shown that repeated reward experience enables primates to efficiently locate good objects when searching for reward [5]. Besides, our recent results have implicated temporal-prefrontal circuitry along with functionally connected subcortical regions in the implicit and high-capacity memory for long-term retention of object values (1). In another study, we showed that the primate prefrontal cortex represents both flexible short-term and stable long-term high-capacity memories, which could prioritize valuable objects far into the future [2]. Currently, we are investigating the neural mechanism of value-driven visual search in non-human primates and also the neural networks of value memory in humans. Additionally, we are investigating common and dissociable neural mechanism for novelty [4], aversiveness and risk with respect to reward [3]. These findings will shed light on the neural basis of long-term value-based memories with implications for maladaptive behaviors such as drug addiction and obesity.
Selected Publications
[1] Ghazizadeh et al, PNAS, 2018 [2] Ghazizadeh et al, Current Biology 2018 [3] Ghazizadeh et al, Frontiers Neuroscience, 2016 [4] Ghazizadeh et al, Biorxiv, 2019 [5] Ghazizadeh et al, Journal of Vision, 2016 [6] Daneshi et al, Scientific Reports, 2019 [7] Ghazizadeh et al, J Neurophys, 2010 [8] Ataei et al, Int Conf Sampling Theory, 2019
Collaborators
.
Laboratory of sensorimotor research, National Institutes of Health Motor control lab, Johns Hopkins University Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Marseille University of Melbourne, Australia
Project Name
.
Use this area to describe your project. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Est blanditiis dolorem culpa incidunt minus dignissimos deserunt repellat aperiam quasi sunt officia expedita beatae cupiditate, maiores repudiandae, nostrum, reiciendis facere nemo!
Date: January 2020
Client: Lines
Category: Branding
Project Name
.
Use this area to describe your project. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Est blanditiis dolorem culpa incidunt minus dignissimos deserunt repellat aperiam quasi sunt officia expedita beatae cupiditate, maiores repudiandae, nostrum, reiciendis facere nemo!
Date: January 2020
Client: Southwest
Category: Website Design
Project Name
.
Use this area to describe your project. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Est blanditiis dolorem culpa incidunt minus dignissimos deserunt repellat aperiam quasi sunt officia expedita beatae cupiditate, maiores repudiandae, nostrum, reiciendis facere nemo!
