Max Planck Research Group Neural Computation
The main research focus in the Neural Computation Group lies on the neural basis of spatial and episodic memory, navigation, and cognitive maps more broadly. Specifically, we are interested in the neural computations underlying these and related mental faculties, how they vary across species, and how they change in aging and disease. We mainly explore these topics through mechanistic computational models of the circuits underlying these cognitive faculties. When possible the emphasis lies on biologically plausible implementations.
Systems-Models of Memory, Navigation and Cognitive Maps
A core aim of the group is to help improve our understanding of the system-wide integration of different neural representations in the hippocampal formation, such as grid cells, place cells, head-direction cells, vector cells, etc. This includes for instance the conversion of egocentric to allocentric neural codes in support the encoding and retrieval of memories. In this context we are also interested in how the neural machinery of spatial memory may be employed to support episodic memory, imagination, or visual memory (e.g. for memory guided eye-movements) and cognitive maps in abstract domains. Finally, the interaction of the various neural representations within the hippocampal formation as well as with extra-hippocampal areas during navigation is also a key focus of research in the group.
Head-Direction Coding and Retrosplenial Cortex
In a related line of research, the group aims to get a full understanding of the neural architechture underlying the head-direction system across species, its contribution to navigation and other forms cognition. Head-direction cells are found throughout an extended network of brain areas, including retrosplenial cortex. This area is also a key structure for long-term memory and an important component in systems-level models (see above). Thus this direction of research also intersects with the other research areas in the group.
The Subiculum and the Dentate Gyrus
A third line of research centers around the function of less well-studied parts of the hippocampal system, namely the subiculum and the dentate gyrus. The subiculum is often neglected in computational models of the hippocampal formation and has recently seen the publication of many important results that challange the old text-book notion of the subiculum as a mere output relay of the hippocampus. Similarly, the dentate remains poorly understood, less often modelled, and its function within and beyond pattern separation remains to be explored.
Neuro-Robotics with Neuromorphic Hardware
Finally, the Neural Computation Group is expanding into the field of cognitive and neuro-robotics, coupled with neuromorphic hardware. Currently our setup includes Unitree quadrupeds and Spinnaker 2. We aim is to test various models from the spatial cognition field (see above) under real-world conditions. Students with an interest in robotics (and/or the above research directions) are always welcome to approach us for potential Master theses.
Additional Research Interests
The group’s main focus remains long-term memory, navigation and the hippocampal system. However, as PI I hold additional research interests, such as prefrontal executive control (specifically of memory recall), reinforcement learning, central pattern generators (vertebrate and invertebrate), cognitive or neuro-robotics (see above), consciousness, AI, and large scale brain models (à la Spaun). There is room to work on these topics or other interesting computational projects. For instance, the Neural Compuation Group won 2nd place in the 2025 Algonauts challange with a comparatively lightweight transformer architecture for predicting fMRI signals in response to multimodal video signals, narrowly missing 1st place, only behind Meta AI.
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Group Members
Andrej Bicanski
PI
Alexey Zabolotnii*
PhD Candidate
Viktor Studenyak*
PhD Candidate
Fei Wang
PhD Candidate
Daniel Carlstroem Schad
PhD Candidate
Shrey Dixit**
PhD Candidate
Janis Keck°
PhD Candidate
Samson Odan°°
Rotation student
Zhiming Jia
PhD Candidate
Amir Nourinia
Student Assistent
* also Doeller Lab members
** co-supervised with Caswell Barry (UCL) and Christian Doeller
° associate member, main supervisors Christian Doeller and Jürgen Jost (MPI MIS)
°° co-superbvised with Jürgen Jost (MPI MIS)
External Collaborating PhD Students
- Matthieu Bernard (PhD Candidate - DZNE Magdeburg, Thomas Wolbers)
Collaborators
- Christian Doeller, (MPI CBS)
- Auke Ijspeert, (EFPL)
- Lukas Kunz, (Bonn)
- Caswell Barry
- Josh Jacobs (New York)
- Richard Kempter (Berlin)
- Cheng Wang, (Shenzen)
- Colin Lever (Durham)
- Thomas Wolbers (DZNE Magdeburg)