Abstract:
Conventionally neuroscientists have depended on highly trained behaviors in order to study neural basis of cognition. Those studies have provided important insights into brain dynamics related to processes such as decision making. Recent technological advances in software and hardware are opening up the space to push the boundaries of studying neural and behavioral dynamics in naturalistic unconstrained behavior, beyond highly controlled behaviors. In this talk, I will present the key challenges facing this endeavor. I will focus on two key challenges: the use of functional ultrasound imaging as key technology to unravel global brain dynamics in freely moving animals and quantitative behavioral modeling to unravel behavioral algorithms underlying naturalistic decision making.