The Speakers

Richard Andersen,

James G. Boswell Professors of Neuroscience at California Institute of Technology

Dr. Andersen's work focuses on neural mechanisms of sensory-motor integration, decision-making, and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). His research explores how the brain transforms sensory information into motor commands, particularly in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a region critical for planning movements and guiding behavior based on sensory inputs. A major theme of Andersen’s work is the neural representation of intention. His studies reveal that the PPC encodes movement goals rather than specific muscle commands, meaning neural activity in this region represents abstract movement intentions rather than detailed motor execution.

Caroline Runyan

Associate Professor University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Runyan is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on understanding how the brain interprets sensory stimuli in context and how this influences behavioral responses. She investigates the circuit-level mechanisms that regulate the flow of information between brain regions, including the filtering processes that help distinguish relevant from irrelevant inputs. To explore these dynamics, she employs two-photon imaging, genetic labeling, and optogenetic manipulation to assess how incoming signals interact at various levels of the cortical hierarchy.

Adam Bauer,

Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington in St. Louis

Dr . Bauer leads the Functional Neuroimaging and Biophotonics Lab within the Biophotonics Research Center at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. His research has two specific aims: using mice as a model, mapping functional brain organization, and examining changes in neural activity and their relation to blood flow dynamics. He also looks at how functional connectivity changes following stroke and how this mechanism is associated with post-stroke recovery. To achieve these objectives, Dr. Bauer's lab develops and applies novel optical imaging technologies, leveraging advanced mouse genetics and optogenetic targeting strategies

Maxim Bazhenov,

Professor University of California San Diego

Dr. Bazhenov conducts research on neural dynamics, sleep, learning, and memory consolidation using computational modeling and experimental approaches. His work focuses on understanding how brain networks process information, store memories, and adapt to new experiences through synaptic plasticity and oscillatory brain rhythms. A major area of Bazhenov’s research is the role of sleep in memory consolidation and learning. His studies show that slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep play critical roles in strengthening synaptic connections, reorganizing neural circuits, and integrating new information with existing knowledge.

Maria Dadarlat,

Assistant Professor at Purdue University

Dr. Dadarlat conducts research in sensorimotor integration, neural plasticity, and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). Her work focuses on understanding how the brain processes sensory feedback to guide movement, with the goal of developing neuroprosthetic technologies that restore lost motor and sensory functions. A key area of her research is the role of sensory feedback in motor learning and control. Using a combination of electrophysiology, computational modeling, and behavioral experiments, she investigates how the somatosensory and motor cortices interact to adapt to new experiences.

Emily Graczyk,

Assistant Professor at Case Western University

Dr. Graczyk research focuses on neural interfaces, sensory neuroprosthetics, and human perception. Her work focuses on developing advanced brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) and neuroprosthetic technologies to restore sensory function, particularly touch perception in individuals with limb loss or neurological impairments. A key area of her research is sensory feedback for prosthetic limbs. Using electrical stimulation of the peripheral and central nervous system, Graczyk investigates how artificial sensory signals can be interpreted naturally by the brain, improving the control and usability of neuroprosthetic devices.

Phil O' Herron,

Assistant Professor at Augusta University

Dr. O'Herron research interests focus on neurovascular coupling, intending to determine whether neural activity in the cortex drives a hemodynamic response. Some of his current research looks at hyperemia's functional role in nominal neural function. This investigation is driven by the fact that brain activity has caused increases in blood flow for more than a century. The general assumption is that this is due to increases in oxygen and glucose. However, his lab believes this is not the whole picture.

Mark Histed,

National Institute of Mental Health

Dr. Histed investigates how interconnected networks of neurons process information to produce thoughts, decisions, and actions. His research employs advanced optical techniques, such as two-photon optogenetics with holography, to manipulate and observe neural activity patterns in real time. This approach enables the 'writing in' of specific neural activity patterns and the observation of their processing by recurrent circuits during ongoing brain function. His work aims to elucidate the neural computations underlying perception, memory, and decision-making.

John Maunsell,

Albert D. Lasker Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago

Dr. Maunsell .conducts research on visual perception, attention, and neuronal coding in the brain. His work focuses on understanding how neurons in the visual cortex process information and how attention influences sensory perception at the neural level. A major area of Maunsell’s research is visual attention and its impact on neural activity. His studies have shown that when an individual focuses on a specific visual stimulus, neurons in the visual cortex representing that stimulus increase their response strength and signal quality. This selective enhancement helps explain how the brain prioritizes important visual information while filtering out distractions.

Ken Miller,

Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University

Dr. Miller's research focuses on theoretical and computational neuroscience, particularly on how neuronal circuits give rise to perception, learning, and cortical dynamics. His research aims to uncover the fundamental principles of brain function by developing mathematical models that explain how neurons interact to process sensory information and guide behavior.A central theme of Miller’s work is cortical circuitry and dynamics. He explores how patterns of neural activity emerge from interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, shaping sensory perception and cognition.

Christopher Rozell,

Julian T. Hightower Chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech University

Dr. Rozell's research is at the intersection of computational neuroscience, machine learning, and signal processing. His work focuses on understanding how the brain efficiently represents and processes information, with applications in neural decoding, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence. A significant theme of Rozell’s research is sparse coding and neural representations. He investigates how the brain encodes sensory data using sparse and efficient neural codes, where only a small number of neurons are active at any given time. This principle is crucial for efficient information processing and learning in both biological and artificial systems.

Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad

Associate Professor at The University of Washington

Dr. Yazdan-Shahmorad specializes in neural engineering and neurorehabilitation. Her research focuses on developing innovative neural interfaces and therapeutic protocols to enhance stroke rehabilitation. By investigating brain plasticity mechanisms, she aims to facilitate functional recovery from stroke and other neurological disorders. A key aspect of her work involves utilizing optogenetics—a technique that enables precise control of neural activity using light—to manipulate neural circuits with high spatial and temporal resolution. This approach allows for artifact-free electrophysiological recordings during stimulation, providing insights into the physiological and therapeutic phenomena underlying brain plasticity.

Marc Schieber,

University of Rochester Medical Center

Dr. Schieber research focuses on understanding how the brain controls body movements, with a particular emphasis on fine finger movements such as those used in typing, playing musical instruments, or performing delicate surgeries. Additionally, his work explores the coordination of reaching, grasping, and manipulating actions. His laboratory investigates the neural mechanisms underlying these movements and applies this knowledge to advance brain-machine interface technologies aimed at restoring and repairing neurological functions.

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