EASTBIO: Neural dynamics and computational principles for the maintenance of decision variables in a frontal thalamocortical circuitry during cognitive flexibility

Deanery of Biomedical Sciences: Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to switch choices/actions based on changing environmental factors, experiences and expectations, a key executive function that is vital for an individual’s survival. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and reinforcement learning are essential for this process. However, how flexible decision is implemented in specific neural connectivities in the mPFC and its associated brain regions, and how this reinforcement learning process is represented at the level of neural dynamics are still largely unknown. This BBSRC EASTBIO studentship will be based at the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences in the Edinburgh Medical School and the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation in the School of Informatics. This interdisciplinary studentship aims to examine neural dynamics in head-restrained mice performing a quantitative task to measure cognitive flexibility and develop computational models which explain computational principles that underlie such neural activities. In vivo high throughput electrophysiology will be used to monitor brain oscillations and single neuron signals. After obtaining experimental data, the student will learn to perform quantitative analysis and computational modelling to probe possible theoretical models that supports such a decision-making process in the frontal thalamocortical circuitry. The student will receive extensive training in computational cognitive neuroscience and obtain strong quantitative skills, such as Matlab/Python programming and signal processing. The student will also gain in-depth knowledge of in vivo cellular/systems neurophysiology with cutting-edge neural circuit tracing and optogenetic techniques.