[visionlist] PhD position in Predictive Processing Across Sensory Modalities

[Fraser Smith (PSY - Staff)]

Dear all

I am looking to recruit a new PhD student for autumn 2023 start date to work on neuroimaging experiments (fMRI, EEG) investigating predictive processing across sensory modalities using machine learning approaches (brain decoding and DNN models).

Project description

It is often assumed that early sensory brain regions passively register the sensory input present in the world. However Predictive Processing theories assert that a major function of these regions is to use contextual information and prior knowledge to create predictions of upcoming input. For instance, when seeing an apple, our tactile, gustatory and auditory cortices will make predictions about what it would feel like to touch, to taste and the associated sound. This project will use behavioural and neuroimaging techniques (fMRI and oscillatory-based EEG) to investigate how cross-sensory context influences processing in early sensory areas, focusing on links between the visual/auditory and tactile modalities (see e.g. Bailey ... Smith, 2022 Cerebral Cortex). Brain Decoding (MVPA) techniques will be used to depict the content of the representations present in early sensory areas as a function of high-level contextual manipulations. There is also the possibility of conducting ultra-high field fMRI at 7T and/or deep neural network modelling as part of the project. The results of these studies will have significant implications both for our basic understanding of how the brain processes sensory information and for a range of populations where Predictive Processing is thought to be impaired (e.g. Autism, Psychosis).
For full information see:
https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-doctorate/predictive-processing-across-sensory-modalities-smithf-u23psy/2023


Fraser W Smith, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Psychology
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University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ

UEA Website: https://www.uea.ac.uk/psychology/people/profile/fraser-smith
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=q6gQCNEAAAAJ&hl=en
Lab Website: http://www.frasersmithresearch.com




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