prof. dr. M.V. Peelen (Marius)

The visual cognitive neuroscience group investigates the neural basis of interactions between visual perception and cognition, between seeing and thinking. We ask how the brain extracts meaningful information from visual input, how this information is represented in the visual cortex, and how visual cortex activity interfaces with cognitive functions such as memory and attention. Our research has revealed cognitive influences on the functional organization of the visual cortex, has shown how visual cortex activity is modulated by cognitive states, and has started to shed light on the various ways in which the visual cortex supports cognitive tasks even without visual input, such as during visual imagery and internal attention. In ongoing work, we investigate how the brain combines seeing and visual thinking (imagery), how people differ in this ability, and why it can be difficult to rapidly switch between seeing and thinking, for example as a result of aging.

Other functions:
Leader of Theme 2 (Perception, Action and Decision Making)
Editor at Science Advances

• Perception, Action and Decision-making

• Visual Cognitive Neuroscience