Using Rodents to Understand Neural Mechanisms of Executive Function

Abstract:

Rodents, rats in particular, have been a popular animal model of experimental psychologists for studying learning, memory, motivation for a century. However, studies of executive functions such as working memory, decision-making, and cognitive control, have largely focused on primates (monkeys and humans). I will describe our work on executive function on rodents which aims to connect directly with primate research. Time permitting I will describe results from rodent versions of: a delayed-reponse task that probes working memory; accumulation of evidence tasks that probe decision-making; and an anti-orienting task that probes cognitive control. I hope to convince you that the rodent model is an adequate and powerful model for studying executive function. 

NYU Shanghai STEM seminar series is a weekly seminar series on every Wednesday, starting from 12th October 2016. 
Please see below tentative schedule of STEM seminar series in 2017 Spring Semester.

• Feb. 8: NO SEMINAR
• Feb. 15: Li Li, Associate Professor of Neural Science and Psychology
• Feb. 22: Xiao-Jing Wang, Global Professor of Neural Science  
• Mar. 1: Hanghui Chen, Assistant Professor of Physics
• Mar. 8: Vladas Sidoravicius, Professor of Mathematics
• Mar. 15: Keith Ross, Professor of Engineering and Computer Science
• Mar. 22: Olivier Marin, Associate Professor of Computer Science
• Mar. 29: Xinying Cai, Assistant Professor of Neural and Cognitive Sciences
• Apr. 5: Spring Recess, NO SEMINAR
• Apr. 12: Jungseog Kong, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Apr. 19: Gang Fang, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Apr. 26: Pierre Michael Tarres, Visiting Professor of Mathematics
• May 3: Jeff Erlich, Assistant Professor of Neural and Cognitive Sciences
• May 10: Laurent Mertz, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
• May 17: NO SEMINAR