Vision Science

Sharan Banagiri uses gravitational-wave observations to investigate how stellar-mass binary black holes form. The first part of the fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observing run more than doubled the number of detections, revealing new population features and clarifying earlier ones. The talk surveys notable and puzzling subpopulations, relates them to formation channels, and connects the evidence with transient phenomena and compact-object astrophysics. As the sample grows, these identifiable subpopulations can support a broader physical account of binary black-hole formation.

In 2023, the FlyWire Consortium released the neuronal wiring diagram of an adult fly brain. This contains as a corollary the first complete wiring diagram of a visual system, which has been used to identify all 200+ cell types that are intrinsic to the Drosophila optic lobe. About half of these cell types were previously unknown, and less than 20% have ever been recorded by a physiologist. I will argue that plausible functions for many cell types can be guessed by interpreting the wiring diagram. VVTNS Fifth Season Closing Lecture. Presented in the van Vreeswijk Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar series (formerly WWTNS) on 2025-06-25. Recording duration: 00:42:39.

Kenneth Harris discusses what simultaneous recordings from many cells reveal about visual information encoded by neuronal populations.

A major challenge in sensory systems is to understand how neurons extract information from the natural environment. Models derived from their responses to artificial stimuli often have a hard time to generalize and predict responses to natural scenes. However, models directly learned on the responses to natural scenes can be hard to interpret. To address this issue, we have recently developed an approach where we add small perturbations to natural scenes and measure how these perturbations change neuronal responses, to better understand the features extracted by sensory neurons. I will show several applications of this approach in the retina, and how it allowed us to uncover non-linear computations performed by ganglion cells, the retinal output. Presented in the van Vreeswijk Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar series (formerly WWTNS) on 2025-03-12. Recording duration: 00:47:06.

Sharan Banagiri uses gravitational-wave observations to investigate how stellar-mass binary black holes form. The first part of the fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observing run more than doubled the number of detections, revealing new population features and clarifying earlier ones. The talk surveys notable and puzzling subpopulations, relates them to formation channels, and connects the evidence with transient phenomena and compact-object astrophysics. As the sample grows, these identifiable subpopulations can support a broader physical account of binary black-hole formation.

Investigate how eye movements shape perception with Martina Poletti and Michele Rucci at the University of Rochester. Research spans spatial representations, foveal and peripheral processing, attention, retinal anatomy, emmetropization and myopia. The laboratory combines human psychophysics, controlled retinal stimulation, computational modelling, precise eye and head tracking, retinal imaging and EEG during active vision. Researchers work within the Center for Visual Science and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, with collaborations in optics, neuroscience and ophthalmology. Applications comprise a CV, research-interest and achievement statement, and details of two referees, sent to the investigators through the instructions on the laboratory page.

Join the Wallrath and Drack laboratories to investigate human vision disorders and develop experimental therapeutic approaches. The work combines mouse and cellular models, AAV gene therapy, CRISPR or siRNA perturbations, microscopy, biochemical assays and electrophysiology, with connections to clinical research. This full-time postdoctoral position remains open until filled. The advertised starting salary is USD 63,480, with compensation commensurate with experience.

Margaret Livingstone of Harvard Medical School presents in Princeton Neuroscience Institute's public seminar series. Livingstone's laboratory studies how visual recognition occurs in the primate brain using behavior, brain imaging, and electrophysiology.