Thomas Naselaris

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Credentials

PhD

Research Summary

Our lab studies the computations that make it possible to see and think. Taking inspiration from the tools and concepts of AI, we use computational models to bridge observations of brain activity at many spatial and temporal scales, from fMRI in humans to 2-photon microscopy in animal models.We are especially interested in the generative capabilities of the visual system. Much of life is spent imagining or dreaming of internal images that one has never actually observed. Why is the visual system so good at generating images, and how does this remarkable ability help us to see? We are addressing this question by monitoring the human brain as it engages complex, real-world scenery and as it calls upon memory to generate mental images.