Invited Talk – Wei Wei (City University Paris/CNRS): A function-based mapping of sensory integration along the cortical hierarchy, March 21st 2025, 16h CET

This week we gladly announce a guest talk by Wei Wei from City University Paris & CNRS.

Title: A function-based mapping of sensory integration along the cortical hierarchy
Date: March 21st 2025, 16h CET
Location: https://fau.zoom-x.de/j/63389477811?pwd=mto576cUv2YeAchgV8aUAcuAdKOM3U.1

Abstract: Understanding how sensory information is integrated across the cortical hierarchy is fundamental to unraveling the neural basis of cognitive functions. In this talk, I introduce a novel fMRI-based two-dimensional framework that quantifies sensory integration along two axes: one measures the percentage of variance explained by three primary sensory signals, while the other converts the primary sensory associations into an angular representation that reflects the proportional contributions of different sensory modalities. Meta-analytic functional decoding reveals a strong correlation between these sensory integration indices and various cognitive functions. Additionally, applying this framework to patients with sensory deprivation highlights its potential for advancing our understanding of human cognition through altered sensory processing.

Short bio: I am a PhD candidate at the Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center (INCC) of Université Paris Cité and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), under the supervision of Professor Daniel S. Margulies. My research focuses on predicting cognitive impairments in ischemic stroke patients by exploring local disruptions within brain connectivity space. As part of this work, I developed a sensory integration model that has successfully been applied to studies of sensory deprivation, offering novel insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning cognitive functions.