Visual Cognition

Perception is a constructive process in which the brain integrates sensory information to build an internal representation of the external world. This occurs so quickly and effortlessly that we are unaware it has happened at all. The Reynolds lab works to uncover how the brain achieves this remarkable feat to better understand perception. In this work, we focus primarily on the visual system. Vision is the most well-developed sense in humans, and the visual system is arguably the most well-studied system in the brain. The neural cell types and circuits that make up the visual system are found throughout the brain. Therefore, understanding the neural mechanisms underlying vision can help us gain insights into how the brain works as a whole.

In this work we use computational models to explain the neural mechanisms underlying vision, perception, and conscious awareness, and test the predictions of these models to further refine our understanding of the neural mechanisms that enable these processes. Model predictions are tested using a variety of techniques, including quantitative studies of perception, neurophysiology, neural imaging and optogenetics—a cutting-edge research tool that activates specific cells and networks in the brain using light.

The Aging Brain

The goal of this project is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging to determine why some individuals exhibit cognitive decline as we age and others remain cognitively healthy throughout life. The work is also motivated by the desire to understand why aging is such an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Our approach combines the expertise of several collaborative teams to implement innovative techniques such as cognitive testing, neuroimaging, gene expression profiling, biomarker identification, live cell imaging, advanced microscopy, and more. We believe that through longitudinal and simultaneous collection of numerous measures of health and aging we can discover new ways to predict cognitive decline prior to symptom onset. This will enlarge the window of time during which preventative and therapeutic treatments could be effectively administered, potentially relieving the enormous financial, emotional, and societal burdens of Alzheimer’s disease.