About the research:
The Neurophysics project aims to investigate, with unprecedented precision, the mechanisms of spatial and temporal integration of the human visual system in the few-photon regime. The research lies at the interface between psychophysics, sensory neuroscience, and quantum optics, seeking to understand how the visual system processes light stimuli under extreme conditions close to the absolute threshold of vision.
Since the 19th century, the classical laws of psychophysics have described the temporal and spatial summation of light perceived by an observer. However, it remains an open question how the visual system integrates individual photons over time and space.
Recent advances in directional light sources and high-precision spatial and temporal modulation systems now allow these laws to be revisited under tight control of luminance, spectrum, and the temporal and spatial distribution of the light stimulus.
Selected publications:
Lima B, Florentino MM, Fiorani M, Soares JGM, Schmidt KE, Neuenschwander S, Baron J, Gattass R. (2023). Cortical maps as a fundamental neural substrate for visual representation. Prog. in Neurobiol. 224: 1-19.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301008223000242
Lima B, Cardoso MMB, Sirotin YB, Das A. (2014). Stimulus-related neuroimaging in task-engaged subjects is best predicted by concurrent spiking. J Neurosci. 34: 13878–13891.
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/34/42/13878.full.pdf
Lima, B, Singer W, Neuenschwander S. (2011). Gamma responses correlate with temporal expectation in monkey primary visual cortex. J Neurosci. 31: 15919-15931.
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/31/44/15944.full.pdf
Lima B, Singer W, Chen N-H, Neuenschwander S. (2010). Synchronization dynamics in response to plaid stimuli in monkey V1. Cereb Cortex. 20: 1556-1573.
https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article/20/7/1556/321347
