Visual processing in the human brain

Neuronal representations underlying our visual experience are generated by a combination of bottom-up sensory inputs and top-down influences such as expectation and prior knowledge. In the human visual system, bottom-up and top-down processing is associated with different cortical layers and different frequency channels. Using a combination of psychophysics, modelling, and neuroimaging, this PhD project will focus on how the brain combines bottom-up and top-down signals to organise ambiguous sensory input into coherent visual percepts. The project will primarily use psychophysics and MEG, potentially in combination with functional and structural MRI. The focus will be on visual function in the healthy brain but results might ultimately have implications for our understanding of visual deficits in psychiatric and neurological disorders.

The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Dr Christoph Teufel and Prof. Krish Singh. They will be part of a world-class research community in cognitive neuroscience and MR applications and will have access to state-of-the-art neuroimaging research facilities, including 3T and 7T MRI scanners, a purpose-built microstructural scanner, and EEG/MEG testing labs (see http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cubric/cubric-building/).

For further information, please contact [Email Address Removed] or [Email Address Removed]

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, and innovative individual with an excellent degree in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or physics/engineering/computer science. Some research experience in methods from cognitive neuroscience/experimental psychology/psychophysics and programming skills (e.g., C/Java/Matlab/Python) are desirable but not essential as long as you have the enthusiasm and aptitude to learn.

You will:
- receive a full scholarship covering your tuition fees and maintenance, as well as research costs and conference funding
- receive training in neuroimaging techniques (MEG and potentially fMRI), psychophysics, and modelling
- have access to one of the world’s best neuroimaging, psychophysics, and perception research facilities
- be part of a world-class research community in cognitive neuroscience/vision science