인지학습역동성연구실

The Cognitive Learning and Dynamics Lab studies change in neural circuit structure and function associated with continuous learning process using a comprehensive range of cognitive neurophysiological methods and cognitive engineering. The approaches include but are not limited to transgenic mouse models, molecular biology, optogenetics, electrophysiology, neural engineering, and machine learning-based cognitive and behavioral analysis. Specifically, the lab investigates how different types of cognitive learning and memory processes result in long-term changes in neural circuit structure and function, as well as how such changes affect subsequent learning and memory, such as the dynamic process of cognitive function. Furthermore, the lab aims to study cognitive engineering methods that can induce functional changes in neural circuits that enable overall and sustained improvement of cognitive function. We try to understand the neural mechanism of learning to learn or so-called meta-learning. Although there is an increasing demand for understanding neural mechanisms underlying human cognitive flexibility and learning efficiency, there is a lack of circuit-level investigation on how the brain achieves cognitive flexibility and learning to learn. Cognitive training induces learning to learn in mice and increases the long-term potentiation marker in the hippocampus in a compartment-specific way. During the cognitive task, transient increased excitatory-inhibitory coupling was observed in the hippocampus when cognitive demand is elevated, the same cognitive task induced persistent hippocampal inhibition changes. Despite evidence that inhibitory interneurons are critically engaged in cognitive control and memory acquisition process, there needs to be more knowledge on how inhib