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  • 9
    Oct 2017

    Earl Miller inducted into The American Academy of Arts and Sciences


    Miller Lab
    In The News, Miller Laboratory
    Earl Miller inducted into The American Academy of Arts and Sciences

    American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Induction Ceremony October 7, 2017.
    The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies, the academy is also a leading center for independent policy research. Members contribute to academy publications, as well as studies of science and technology policy, energy and global security, social policy and American institutions, the humanities and culture, and education.

  • 2
    Oct 2017

    Mechanisms of Persistent Activity in Cortical Circuits: Possible Neural Substrates for Working Memory


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    Review of the neural mechanisms behind persistent spiking activity and working memory.

    Zylberberg, J., & Strowbridge, B. W. (2017). Mechanisms of persistent activity in cortical circuits: possible neural substrates for working memory. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 40.

    There is little doubt that spiking during memory delays play a role in working memory.  But how persistent is the activity and how are the memories actually stored?  For another perspective see:
    Lunqvist, M., Rose, J., Herman, P, Brincat, S.L, Buschman, T.J., and Miller, E.K. (2016) Gamma and beta bursts underlie working memory.  Neuron, published online March 17, 2016. View PDF »

  • 29
    Sep 2017

    New results: Gradual progression from sensory to task-related processing in cerebral cortex


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    Gradual progression from sensory to task-related processing in cerebral cortex
    Scott L. Brincat*, Markus Siegel*, Constantin von Nicolai, Earl K. Miller
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/195602

    Abstract

    Somewhere along the cortical hierarchy, behaviorally relevant information is distilled from raw sensory inputs. We examined how this transformation progresses along multiple levels of the hierarchy by comparing neural representations in visual, temporal, parietal, and frontal cortices in monkeys categorizing across three visual domains (shape, motion direction, color). Representations in visual areas MT and V4 were tightly linked to external sensory inputs. In contrast, prefrontal cortex (PFC) largely represented the abstracted behavioral relevance of stimuli (task rule, motion category, color category). Intermediate-level areas — posterior inferotemporal (PIT), lateral intraparietal (LIP), and frontal eye fields (FEF) — exhibited mixed representations. While the distribution of sensory information across areas aligned well with classical functional divisions — MT carried stronger motion information, V4 and PIT carried stronger color and shape information — categorical abstraction did not, suggesting these areas may participate in different networks for stimulus-driven and cognitive functions. Paralleling these representational differences, the dimensionality of neural population activity decreased progressively from sensory to intermediate to frontal cortex. This shows how raw sensory representations are transformed into behaviorally relevant abstractions and suggests that the dimensionality of neural activity in higher cortical regions may be specific to their current task.

  • 25
    Sep 2017

    Pavlov’s Dogz show at the Society for Neuroscience meeting


    Miller Lab
    In The News, Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    Come see Pavlov’s Dogz at Songbyrd DC on Sunday Nov 12 of the SFN meeting.

    9:30pm Songbyrd DC  11/12/17
    http://www.songbyrddc.com/shows/2017-11-12-pavlolvs-dogz

    Pavlov’s Dogz are a roaming band of neuroscientist-musicians who get together at conference locations around the world to play shows.

    Band members:

    Tim Bussey

    Brad Postle

    Earl Miller

    Paula Croxson

    Charan Ranganath

    Joel Voss

    Daniela Schiller

    Jess Grahn

    Mick Rugg

    Andy Lee

  • 22
    Sep 2017

    New Results: Working Memory Load Modulates Neuronal Coupling


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    We show how limitations in cognitive capacity (how many thoughts you can think at the same time – very few) may be due to changes in rhythmic coupling between cortical areas.  More specifically, feedback coupling breaks down when capacity is exceeded.

    Working Memory Load Modulates Neuronal Coupling  Dimitris A Pinotsis, Timothy J Buschman, Earl K Miller
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/192336

  • 21
    Sep 2017

    New results: Neuronal rhythms orchestrate cell assembles to distinguish perceptual categories


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    New manuscript submitted to bioRxiv:

    Neuronal rhythms orchestrate cell assembles to distinguish perceptual categories
    Morteza Moazami Goudarzi, Jason Cromer, Jefferson Roy, Earl K. Miller
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/191247

    Abstract
    Categories are reflected in the spiking activity of neurons. However, how neurons form ensembles for categories is unclear. To address this, we simultaneously recorded spiking and local field potential (LFP) activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) of monkeys performing a delayed match to category task with two independent category sets (Animals: Cats vs Dogs; Cars: Sports Cars vs Sedans). We found stimulus and category information in alpha and beta band oscillations. Different category distinctions engaged different frequencies. There was greater spike field coherence (SFC) in alpha (~8-14 Hz) for Cats and in beta (~16-22 Hz) for Dogs. Cars showed similar differences, albeit less pronounced: greater alpha SFC for Sedans and greater beta SFC for Sports Cars. Thus, oscillatory rhythms can help coordinate neurons into different ensembles. Engagement of different frequencies may help differentiate the categories.

  • 19
    Sep 2017

    Q and A in Neuron with Earl K. Miller


    Miller Lab
    In The News, Miller Laboratory

    Miller, Earl. “Earl K. Miller.” Neuron 95 (2017): 1237.
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2017.08.035

    Earl Miller studies the neural basis of high-level cognitive functions. In an interview with Neuron, he discusses the need for a holistic approach to figure out the brain, how ideas don’t happen in a vacuum, and the challenge of convincing the public that science produces facts; he also shares an open invitation to see Pavlov’s Dogz.  View PDF

  • 9
    Aug 2017

    Mikael Lunqvist wins NARSAD Young Investigator Grant.


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory

    Miller Lab postdoc Mikael Lunqvist won a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant.  Congrats, Mikael!

    Read Mikael’s recent paper to see what the fuss is all about:
    Lunqvist, M., Rose, J., Herman, P, Brincat, S.L, Buschman, T.J., and Miller, E.K. (2016) Gamma and beta bursts underlie working memory.  Neuron, published online March 17, 2016. View PDF »

    Info about NARSAD grants:
    https://www.bbrfoundation.org/grants-prizes/grants

    Here’s Mikael:
    /research/team-member/mikael-lundqvist/

  • 9
    Aug 2017

    Earl Miller/Miller Lab blog is #23 of the top 100 Neuroscience blogs


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory
    Earl Miller/Miller Lab blog is #23 of the top 100 Neuroscience blogs

    So says Feedspot.  And they gave us a badge.

    http://blog.feedspot.com/neuroscience_blogs/

  • 25
    Jul 2017

    Prefrontal Neurons Encode a Solution to the Credit-Assignment Problem


    Miller Lab
    Miller Laboratory, Neuroscience

    Miller Lab Alumnus, Wael Asaad, shows that neurons in the prefrontal cortex can figure out which prior events get credit for the consequences of our actions.

    Asaad, W. F., Lauro, P. M., Perge, J. A., & Eskandar, E. N. (2017). Prefrontal Neurons Encode a Solution to the Credit-Assignment Problem. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(29), 6995-7007.

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