BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:talks.ox.ac.uk
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Flexible problem-solving in prefrontal cortex - Dr Saurabh Vyas (C
 arnegie Mellon University)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260211T140000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260211T150000Z
UID:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5e9ee63c-9a9c-4587-8b8c-8e7b76b1b210/
DESCRIPTION:Primates can solve novel problems through logical and stepwise
  reasoning. No two real-world situations are the same\, and how one ‘fig
 ures out’ a solution may be similarly variable. Studying reasoning has t
 hus been challenging. How should one investigate the neural basis of inter
 nal events whose timing and nature are uncertain\, and are unlikely to eve
 r unfold the same way twice? To meet this challenge\, we used large-scale 
 Neuropixels-probe recordings\, and a novel reasoning task where monkeys ap
 ply abstract knowledge to determine the correct ordering of stimuli on the
  screen. Our recording system enabled us to measure 1000+ single neurons s
 imultaneously both within a single brain region and across multiple distin
 ct regions. Neural activity in lateral prefrontal cortex (but not in other
  areas) reflected the ‘figuring out’ of a solution. Population analyse
 s of these large-scale recordings allowed us to observe each distinct inte
 rnal step of the problem-solving process. As one might expect of any intel
 ligent behavior\, the set of internal steps\, and their timing\, were diff
 erent on every individual trial\, and completely under the monkey’s cont
 rol. For example\, the monkey sometimes figured out the last element first
  and worked backwards. On another trial they used a different approach. Cr
 itically\, we could interpret neural events on each individual trial\, muc
 h like a psychologist can interpret behavior on each individual trial. The
  same neural strategy can unfold differently on different trials yet still
  solve the problem at hand successfully. Taken together\, this research ha
 s revealed a computational mechanism for cognitive flexibility\, i.e.\, th
 e process by which a circuit is able to vary the order\, the timing\, and 
 the strategy by which to make multi-step decisions. \n\nBiography\n\nSaura
 bh Vyas completed undergraduate training in Biomedical Engineering and Ele
 ctrical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in 2012. While working on 
 his MSE in Biomedical Engineering\, Saurabh was a research engineer at the
  Applied Physics Laboratory. Saurabh completed his PhD in Bioengineering a
 t Stanford University in 2020\, where he was advised by Prof. Krishna Shen
 oy. His research was recognized with a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship\, 
 and a NIH NINDS NRSA (F31) fellowship. In 2021\, Saurabh's thesis was awar
 ded the Donald B. Lindsley Prize by the Society for Neuroscience\, which "
 recognizes a young neuroscientist's outstanding PhD thesis in the general 
 area of behavioral (i.e.\, systems) neuroscience." Saurabh completed a pos
 tdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University in 2025\, where he was co-advi
 sed by Profs. Mark Churchland and Michael Shadlen. Saurabh's work was reco
 gnized by both an NIH NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service 
 Award (F32)\, and a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. In January 2026
 \, Saurabh joined the Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University
 \, where he leads the Laboratory of General Intelligence and Computation (
 LOGIC).\nSpeakers:\nDr Saurabh Vyas (Carnegie Mellon University)
LOCATION:Seminar Room 7/8 (Lower ground floor) Life and Mind Building Sout
 h Parks Road\, OX1 3EL https://lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/  
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5e9ee63c-9a9c-4587-8b8c-8e7b76b1b210/
BEGIN:VALARM
ACTION:display
DESCRIPTION:Talk:Flexible problem-solving in prefrontal cortex - Dr Saurab
 h Vyas (Carnegie Mellon University)
TRIGGER:-PT1H
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR