Representational states in multi-item working memory
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP
Abstract
In everyday life, humans need to keep information in mind over short periods of time and use this information flexibly to make decisions and guide behaviour. This ability is known as 'working memory'. Not
all information we keep in working memory is equal; some information may be more relevant than the rest. For example, when leaving your house, you may prioritize remembering your keys over remembering
what items you need to buy at the grocery store later. There is evidence that we can flexibly allocate attention to items in memory thereby giving the attended items a stronger influence over behaviour.
Novel machine learning algorithms that can decode features (e.g. location or orientation) of memorised objects from patterns of brain activity have shown that attended objects in memory are also better
decoded than unattended objects. In the proposed DPhil project, I will use a range of methods including human behaviour (accuracy and reaction time), human neuroimaging, and monkey electrophysiology to
explore how multiple items in working memory are represented in the brain. The results may help inform theories of how brain systems achieve complex thought and behavior.
BBSRC priority areas
Systems approaches to the biosciences
Brain science and mental health
WUB, ENWW
all information we keep in working memory is equal; some information may be more relevant than the rest. For example, when leaving your house, you may prioritize remembering your keys over remembering
what items you need to buy at the grocery store later. There is evidence that we can flexibly allocate attention to items in memory thereby giving the attended items a stronger influence over behaviour.
Novel machine learning algorithms that can decode features (e.g. location or orientation) of memorised objects from patterns of brain activity have shown that attended objects in memory are also better
decoded than unattended objects. In the proposed DPhil project, I will use a range of methods including human behaviour (accuracy and reaction time), human neuroimaging, and monkey electrophysiology to
explore how multiple items in working memory are represented in the brain. The results may help inform theories of how brain systems achieve complex thought and behavior.
BBSRC priority areas
Systems approaches to the biosciences
Brain science and mental health
WUB, ENWW
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M011224/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1757838 | Studentship | BB/M011224/1 | 01/10/2016 | 23/12/2020 |
| Description | Guarantors of Brain Travel Grant |
| Amount | £400 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Guarantors of Brain |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 05/2019 |
| Description | Brain diaries workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I helped run a workshop at the Oxford History of Science Museum. The workshop involved engaging the general public with neuroscience research. They could participate in "mini experiments". One experiment involved a muscle-to-nerve interphase in which we demonstrated how it is possible to use the electrical activity generated by a muscle movement to stimulate a nerve in another person's arm and trigger a movement. Another experiment involved placing a few EEG electrodes on participants' heads to demonstrate the electrical neural signal coming from their brain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Ideas Festival workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Helped run a stand at the Oxford Ideas Festival 12th October 2018. The stand was intended for the general public to engage them with cognitive science research by running cognitive games and showing optical illusions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |