Benjamin Scott

Biography:

In 2018, Scott joined the psychological and brain sciences department, where he directs the Laboratory of Comparative Cognition. His research revolves around the development and application of new tools to study the neural basis of cognition and complex, learned behavior, with a focus on working memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. His team is delving into the neurobiological nature of internally generated brain dynamics—a potential substrate for thoughts—how they are produced and how they may be altered by mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. To reveal basic principles of brain function, Scott’s approach involves biomedical engineering, particularly the development of novel optical-imaging technologies, and neuroethology, the study of brain circuits that underlie natural behaviors.

Research Interests:

neural dynamics, optical imaging, genetic engineering