Exploring How Brain Circuits Shape Choice and Control
At the Attention-Circuits-Control Laboratory, we study how neuronal dynamics drive attention, decision-making, and behavior. By bridging cellular biology, algorithms, and systems neuroscience, we aim to explain how flexible and intelligent behaviors emerge — and why they sometimes break down.
How We Study Circuit Mechanisms Of Attention And Control
Learning Object Value
We study how cells in the brain learn the value of objects and select them in covert choice processes. Cell activity is measured in the human and the animal brain.
Large-Scale Brain Networks
We study how circuits form large scale brain networks implementing attentional control, using fMRI and ECoG recordings of multiple brain areas.
Cell Synchronization
We explore how cells form assemblies and circuits by temporally synchronizing their activity, using tools co-developed with Martin Vinck and FieldTrip.
Reinforcement Learning
We investigate how attention and choice behavior evolves through reinforcement learning using computational models.
Control Processes Underlying Attention In Brain Circuits
Our lab strives to understand how neuronal circuits implement control processes governing our attention. We aim to achieve this mission by acknowledging that the implementation of these processes at the (local) neural microcircuit scale will be based on canonical gating and gain control mechanisms forming so called Dynamic Circuit Motifs (Nature Neuroscience) . The implementation of these processes at the larger scale of brain networks requires acknowledging that there are multiple processes in the brain that coordinate every moment in time to decide what we attend to…
An important insight that guides our research is that Control depends heavily on coordination – In the brain, this coordination is achieved without central controller. For some cool insights about Control without central coordination see Kumar’s TED talks .
Lab Manuscripts On These Topics
Womelsdorf T, Everling S (2015) Long-Range Attention Networks: Circuit Motifs Underlying Endogenously Controlled Stimulus Selection. Trends in Neurosciences. 38(11): 682–700. PDF | ResearchGate
Womelsdorf T, Valiante TA, Sahin NT, Miller KJ, Tiesinga P (2014) Dynamic circuit motifs underlying rhythmic gain control, gating and integration. Nature Neuroscience. 17: 1031–1039. PDF
Womelsdorf T, Landau A.N., Fries P. (2014) Attentional Selection through Rhythmic Synchronization at Multiple Frequencies. In: The Cognitive Neurosciences V. Editor: M. Gazzaniga. MIT Press, Cambridge MA, USA.
Womelsdorf T, Vinck M, Leung S, Everling S (2010) Selective theta synchronization of choice relevant information subserves goal-directed behavior. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 107(11): 5248–53.
Womelsdorf T, Fries P (2007) The role of neuronal synchronization in selective attention. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 17: 154–160.