Neural mechanisms of learning, planning, and decision-making

Learning a model of an environment ('cognitive map') is critical for decision-making. For example, learning about the London Underground not only facilitates daily transport, but knowing its model features (i.e., use of ticket machines, station maps, transfer stations) provides generalizable knowledge for novel environments (e.g., using the Paris Metro). The ability to use cognitive maps depends on the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex; dysfunction here impairs learning, memory and decision-making. Developing causal mechanisms of why brain dysfunction disrupts these cognitive processes requires invasively mapping the functional circuitry at the single-neuron level; doing them in a non-human primate is crucial, given their brain is most similar to human. My research examines how neural computations in these areas supports decision-making and construction of cognitive maps, and how disrupting these circuits impairs behaviour. These findings will provide mechanistic accounts of decision-making circuitry, to inform approaches for treatment in psychiatric studies.