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Understanding thought processes

The aim of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics is to understand information processing in the brains of humans and animals. We use experimental, theoretical and computational methods to elucidate the characteristics and implementations of the cascades of plastic and recurrent interactions that transform sensory data into perceptions, memories, appropriate choices of actions, and motor output.

I build mathematical and computational models of neural processing, with a particular emphasis on representation and learning. The main focus is on reinforcement learning and unsupervised learning, covering the ways that animals come to choose appropriate actions in the face of rewards and punishments, and the ways and goals of the process by which they come to form neural representations of the world. The models are informed and constrained by neurobiological, psychological and ethological data.

_{Computational Neuroscience}
_{Peter Dayan}

_{Human Perception, Cognition & Action
Heinrich Bülthoff}

Prof. Dr. Nikos LogothetisThe focus in the “Physiology of Cognitive Processes” department is on visual perception in primates. Research is conducted primarily into the questions of where visual perception is represented in the brain, which neurological processes underlie object recognition and the integration of different sensual stimuli and how the brain learns. Using magnetic resonance tomography, these issues are examined in experiments that combine psychophysical and the electrophysiological approaches.

_{Physiology of Cognitive Processes
Nikos Logothetis}

The Magnetic Resonance Center is the domicile of the youngest department at the institute. It addresses the methodical development and optimization of imaging processes. The main areas of interest are magnetic resonance tomography with very high magnetic fields and the development of new contrast media which help to provide a detailed view of the function and metabolism of the brain.

_{High-Field Magnetic Resonance
Klaus Scheffler}

Currently there are five independent research groups located at the institute with different research foci.

_{Sensory and Sensorimotor Systems}
_{Zhaoping Li}

_{Systems Neuroscience & Neuroengineering}

Jennifer Li & Drew Robson

_{Translational Neuroimaging & Neural Control}

Xin Yu

_{Neuronal Convergence}

Hamid Noori

_{MR Neuroimaging Agents}

Goran Angelovski

_{MR Spectroscopy & Ultra-High Field Methodology}

Anke Henning

_{Computational Principles of Intelligence}

Eric Schulz

Talks & Events

Apart from scientific talks, various events are taking place on the campus and at our institute. This includes the regular day of the open house, but also seminars, workshops or conferences that we organize.

Meet your Scientist

In this series we want to introduce you our latest research via an interview style with the respective scientist explaining their outcome(s) in a very simple way. Have fun!

COVID-19

Current information on the situation at the Tübingen campus.

Friedrich Bonhoeffer receives 2020 Gruber Neuroscience Prize

June 11, 2020

Physicist, neuroscientist, and molecular biologist Friedrich Bonhoeffer of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany, is being awarded with the 2020 Gruber Neuroscience Prize. Bonhoeffer shares the award with Corey ...

Superb education in Tübingen

April 30, 2020

Baden-Württemberg has the largest density of higher-education institutions in the whole of Germany. Four of Germany’s eleven Excellence Universities are based here: The Universities of Heidelberg, Tübingen, Karlsruhe and Konstanz own the status of an ...

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Master Thesis in Behavioral Neuroscience

June 26, 2020

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Understanding thought processes

Computational NeurosciencePeter Dayan

Human Perception, Cognition & ActionHeinrich Bülthoff

Physiology of Cognitive ProcessesNikos Logothetis

High-Field Magnetic ResonanceKlaus Scheffler

Sensory and Sensorimotor SystemsZhaoping Li

Systems Neuroscience & Neuroengineering

Translational Neuroimaging & Neural Control

Neuronal Convergence

MR Neuroimaging Agents

MR Spectroscopy & Ultra-High Field Methodology

Computational Principles of Intelligence