Models and Interventions of Cognition

Our lab pursues the goal of formalizing and experimentally testing theories and hypotheses about cognitive mechanisms. The formal language of modeling allows us to abstract away from the concrete implementation of these mechanisms (whether in humans, animals, or computers).

We collaborate closely with students: see for Students if you are looking for a thesis topic.

Research directions

Human cognition is remarkably flexible. We seemingly adapt our perception, thinking, and behavior effortlessly to changing circumstances, pursue (and discard) self‑set goals, and take our own uncertainty into account when making decisions and acting. This level of flexibility has not yet been achieved in artificial intelligence.

Our research investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying this flexibility and how they are implemented in the brain. We are also interested in how these processes contribute to mental health, and how they develop across the lifespan.

Approach

Our approach for studying these questions can be summarised as measure, model, perturb.

Measure: We develop innovative cognitive tasks for both adults as well as children that allow us to measure the behavioural and neural signatures (using EEG) of the cognitive process of interest reliably and efficiently.

Model: We develop generative models of behaviour and neural activity that reflect our mechanistic understanding of these cognitive processes, building upon Bayesian and reinforcement learning modelling frameworks.

Perturb: While participants perform our tasks, we interfere with specific neural systems to test their causal role in supporting the cognitive process. For this we use pharmacology (targeting specific receptor types in the brain) and non-invasive brain stimulation with focussed ultrasound (targeting specific brain regions or nuclei).