Matthew Kaufman, PhD

My lab studies how populations of neurons implement decision making and motor control. We record and manipulate the activity of hundreds or thousands of neurons in mouse cortex, then use sophisticated analyses to understand how these areas compute variables that the animal needs in order to behave. With calcium imaging, we can identify each neuron's cell type, layer, or projection pattern, and use this information to better understand inter-area communication and the organization of computation within cortex. With optogenetics, we can close the causal loop to determine if the activity is necessary or the roles of cell types in computation. Finally, with pharmacological manipulations, we can begin to understand how psychiatric drugs drive their behavioral effects.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- Neuroscience
2018

Stanford University
Stanford, CA
PhD - Neuroscience
2011

Stanford University
Stanford, CA
BS - Symbolic Systems
2005

Microstimulation of human somatosensory cortex evokes task-dependent, spatially patterned responses in motor cortex.
Microstimulation of human somatosensory cortex evokes task-dependent, spatially patterned responses in motor cortex. Nat Commun. 2023 11 10; 14(1):7270.
PMID: 37949923

A deep learning framework for inference of single-trial neural population dynamics from calcium imaging with subframe temporal resolution.
A deep learning framework for inference of single-trial neural population dynamics from calcium imaging with subframe temporal resolution. Nat Neurosci. 2022 12; 25(12):1724-1734.
PMID: 36424431

The implications of categorical and category-free mixed selectivity on representational geometries.
The implications of categorical and category-free mixed selectivity on representational geometries. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2022 Dec; 77:102644.
PMID: 36332415

BRICseq Bridges Brain-wide Interregional Connectivity to Neural Activity and Gene Expression in Single Animals.
BRICseq Bridges Brain-wide Interregional Connectivity to Neural Activity and Gene Expression in Single Animals. Cell. 2020 Dec 23; 183(7):2040.
PMID: 33357401

Neural population dynamics in motor cortex are different for reach and grasp.
Neural population dynamics in motor cortex are different for reach and grasp. Elife. 2020 11 17; 9.
PMID: 33200745

BRICseq Bridges Brain-wide Interregional Connectivity to Neural Activity and Gene Expression in Single Animals.
BRICseq Bridges Brain-wide Interregional Connectivity to Neural Activity and Gene Expression in Single Animals. Cell. 2020 07 09; 182(1):177-188.e27.
PMID: 32619423

Publisher Correction: Development of an optogenetic toolkit for neural circuit dissection in squirrel monkeys.
Publisher Correction: Development of an optogenetic toolkit for neural circuit dissection in squirrel monkeys. Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 05; 9(1):18775.
PMID: 31801956

Single-trial neural dynamics are dominated by richly varied movements.
Single-trial neural dynamics are dominated by richly varied movements. Nat Neurosci. 2019 10; 22(10):1677-1686.
PMID: 31551604

Accurate Estimation of Neural Population Dynamics without Spike Sorting.
Accurate Estimation of Neural Population Dynamics without Spike Sorting. Neuron. 2019 07 17; 103(2):292-308.e4.
PMID: 31171448

Adapting Fine with a Little Help from the Null Space.
Adapting Fine with a Little Help from the Null Space. Neuron. 2018 11 21; 100(4):771-773.
PMID: 30465761

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McKnight Foundation Allison Doupe Fellowship
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2015 - 2015

Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain postdoctoral fellowship
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2015 - 2018

Swartz Postdoctoral Fellowship
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2013 - 2015

NSF GRFP
Stanford University
2006 - 2010