NeCiMuS – Neural circuit mechanisms underlying multisensory salience processing
AdaBD made easy
We investigate how the brain decides which sensory information is most important in complex environments. Using MRI during specific tasks, we identify the brain networks involved in this process and explore how they relate to features of autism spectrum disorder in humans and rodents.
Research project
The complexity of multi-sensory environments requires prioritizing the most relevant stimuli – a stimulus property known as salience. Salience can arise for different reasons: Stimuli may predict what will happen, be associated with positive or negative consequences, stand out in sensory aspects, or in terms of the statistics of the environment. Here, we develop and validate an experimental and computational framework that separates these different types of salience. We identify the brain network mechanisms underlying these distinct types of salience in humans and in rodents (in parallel projects), to ultimately link them to symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in both species.
Research Groups
Principal Investigators: Philipp Tobler, Christian Ruff
Publications
Kapetaniou GE, Moisa M, Ruff CC, Tobler PN, Soutschek A (2025)
Frontopolar Cortex Interacts With Dorsolateral Prefron-tal Cortex to Causally Guide Metacognition
Human Brain Mapping, e70146
Lugrin C, Hu J, Ruff CC (2025)
A computational account of multiple motives guiding context-dependent prosocial behavior
PLOS Computational Biology, e1013032
Lugrin C, Konovalov A, Ruff CC (2025)
Manipulating attention facilitates cooperation
Commun Psychology, 39
Underlined: Current and previous AdaBD researchers