Encoding and modulation of vibration representations in human neocortex

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Touch comprises an exquisite sensitivity to vibrations. This sensitivity underlies our ability to perceive textures and sense through handheld tools. Much of the information conveyed by vibrations is carried in their spectral content. Thus, vibration perception likely involves cortical processing that is analogous to the processes that support hearing. Although the neural encoding of vibrations in the peripheral somatosensory system is established, far less is known about vibration representations in the central nervous system. In this project, we will extend on our investigations of the cortical basis of vibration processing and determine on how vibration frequency representations are impacted by selective attention and compare the effects of spatial attention and feature-based attention. This project is a supplement to a parent project that investigates intrinsic and extrinsic factors which modulate cortical representations of vibration frequency. Under this project, the Candidate will work toward 2 aims. Aim 1 is to characterize the effects of spatial attention (attending toward or away from the stimulated hand) on vibration frequency representations. The Candidate will implement a Bayesian decoding framework to quantify spatial attention effects and how these may be modulated by changes in the positions of the hands in space. Aim 2 is to compare the effects of spatial attention and feature-based attention (attending to a specific vibration frequency) using the Bayesian decoding framework. This project will support the training of a diversity Candidate who is transitioning from working on neurotechnology in her previous career stage to working on computational neuroimaging in her PhD training stage. The training activities will facilitate the Candidate’s progress on 4 goals: 1) Become an expert in sensory neurobiology, 2) Become an expert in the analytical tools used to study neuroscience, 3) Improve science communication skills, 4) Improve in leadership and mentoring skills, specifically regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The Candidate will also receive training in grant writing and lab management. Successful completion of this project will provide the Candidate a strong foundation for a career in computational neuroscience. The research goals achieved under this project would complement the goals under the parent project to advance our understanding of how the human brain supports touch perception. Our findings may inform the diagnosis and treatment of sensory, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders involving somatosensory deficits, such as in individuals with brain damage, autism, schizophrenia, and age-related cognitive impairments including Alzheimer’s disease.