Laura Driscoll, PhD

Theory Lead, Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics

Affiliate Assistant Professor, Neurobiology and Biophysics

University of Washington

Host(s): Klavdia Zemlianova (Postdoc)

How are dynamical systems composed for complex behavior?

Computational processes in neural systems emerge through learning across multiple timescales; from evolution and development to immediate, in-context adaptation. Yet fundamental questions remain: Which neural architectures confer evolutionary advantages? How do experiences shape circuit dynamics? What principles govern how specific computations arise during training? My group addresses these questions using simulated recurrent neural networks. Building on a decade of research across multiple labs, we focus on fixed point structures, termed "dynamical motifs”, that serve as computational primitives. We've discovered that these motifs can be flexibly composed to solve diverse tasks, with rapid learning often involving novel recombination of existing motifs rather than construction of entirely new dynamics. However, the principles governing motif composition remain poorly understood, motivating our simulation-based approach. I will present two ongoing projects that illustrate this framework: Dynamical motifs underlying foraging behavior: How fundamental dynamical motifs support naturalistic decision-making and navigation. How task structure shapes computational dynamics: The relationship between problem structure and the organization of dynamical systems that solve it.

Relevant Publications: 

Flexible multitask computation in recurrent networks utilizes shared dynamical motifs

Tuesdays@10 is a signature Zuckerman Institute initiative that aims to expose researchers at all levels to high-quality science and stimulate scientific discourse. The speakers featured in this series represent various fields and techniques in neuroscience, and include invited guests of the Columbia Neuroscience Seminars, the Zuckerman Institute's Local Circuits Affiliates Program, and other special seminar series through a combined, collaborative effort of one or more of the following: Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, the Center for Precision Psychiatry, the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, the Department of Neuroscience, the Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior and the Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, and with support from the Kavli Institute for Brain Science. 

More information and a full schedule can be found here.