Search
Now showing items 81-90 of 90
Learning about dynamic objects and recognizing static form
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007)
The effects of observed object motion on object perception are examined in two sets of studies. The first section of the thesis provides a thorough examination of various untested aspects of the basic "temporal association" ...
Phase-locking of neurons in the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat to the hippocampal theta rhythm
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005)
The interactions between cortical and hippocampal circuits are critical for memory formation, yet their basic organization at the neuronal network level is not well understood. Here we investigate the timing relationships ...
Functional role of NMDA receptor subunit composition in metaplasticity
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009)
Modification of synapses by neural activity has been proposed to be the substrate for experience-dependent brain development, learning, and recovery of function after brain damage. In the visual cortex, the strength of ...
The rational child : theories and evidence in prediction, exploration, and explanation
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009)
In this thesis, rational Bayesian models and the Theory-theory are bridged to explore ways in which children can be described as Bayesian scientists. I investigate what it means for children to take a rational approach to ...
Modules in the brainstem and spinal cord underlying motor behaviors
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008)
Previous studies using reduced or intact animal preparations suggested that coordinated movements can be generated by appropriate combinations of muscle synergies controlled by the nervous system. However, which areas of ...
The role of temporal factors and prior knowledge in causal learning and judgment
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006)
Causal relationships are all around us: wine causes stains; matches cause flames; foods cause allergic reactions. Next to language, it is hard to imagine a cognitive process more indicative of human intelligence than causal ...
The role of basal ganglia-forebrain circuitry in the vocal learning of songbirds
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009)
The basal ganglia form the largest sub-cortical structure in the human brain and are implicated in numerous human diseases. In songbirds, as in mammals, basal ganglia-forebrain circuits are necessary for the learning and ...
Learning image segmentation and hierarchies by learning ultrametric distances
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009)
In this thesis I present new contributions to the fields of neuroscience and computer science. The neuroscientific contribution is a new technique for automatically reconstructing complete neural networks from densely ...
Perceptual foundations of abstract thought
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005)
How do people think about things they can never see or touch? The ability to invent and reason about domains such as time, ideas, or mathematics is uniquely human, and is arguably the hallmark of human sophistication. Yet, ...
Ca2+ dependant synaptic modification
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004)
It has been assumed that Ca2+ influx of different duration and amplitude would generate different level of potentiation. The conventional protocols of generating LTP have been 1. tetanic stimulation of presynaptic cell, ...