Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience

Postdoctoral and PhD student positions

Our research focuses on understanding the neural bases of our visual experience. How can the electrical activity of a neuron, or a neuronal population, convey the color or brightness of an object? How can we determine the signal from the noise in a train of electrical impulses within a neuron? What type of neural code do neurons use to communicate information to each other? How are neural impulses grouped to represent the different features of a visual scene? To address these questions we use a combination of techniques, including fMRI, electrophysiological recordings from single neurons, psychophysical measurements, and computational models of visual function.
Fixational eye movements
Corner angles in visual physiology and perception
Attention and awareness
Interactions between art and science
Science Communication & Broader Impact
The Magic of Consciousness

(Symposium organized by Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik)

Publications based on The Magic of Consciousness Symposium

Teller demonstrated Miser’s Dream at the Magic of Consciousness symposium in Las Vegas.

Mind tricks, Nature, July 26 2007

Martinez-Conde S, Macknik SL

Attention and awareness in stage magic: turning tricks into research, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, November 2008

Macknik SL, Mac King, James Randi, Apollo Robbins, Teller, John Thompson and Martinez-Conde S

Cover story

Movies from The Magic of Consciousness Symposium

Apollo Robbins, professional thief, demonstrates how to manipulate attention, whileTeller, of Penn & Teller, supplies a video close-up for the audience at the ASSC 2007 meeting.

See clips of The Magic of Consciousness symposium now available on the MIND SCIENCE FOUNDATION WEBSITE:

Selected press coverage

See the press coverage on the cover of the New York Times, with full article in the Science Section and an audio extract form The New York Times Science Podcast, August 21, 2007
See the press coverage on the cover of the Boston Globe with full article in the Ideas Section, August 3, 2008
Listen to Susana Martinez-Conde’s interview on National Public Radio, Weekend Edition Saturday, August 9, 2008
See the press coverage on the cover of the New York Times, with full article in the Science Section and an audio extract form The New York Times Science Podcast, August 12, 2008
Nature reviews neuroscience article featured in the home page of Nature
See the press coverage in Der Spiegel
Interview with Susana Martinez-Conde in the Nature podcast, Neuropod

See more press coverage…