Matthew Gardner, Ph.D.

Research Interests

How is the brain able to generate predictions about the world and how do these predictions guide behavior? My current work is focused on addressing these broad questions from the perspective of associative learning theory and decision-making by either manipulating brain regions involved, such as the orbitofrontal cortex, or measuring the activity of single neurons in these regions. I use optogenetics and in vivo electrophysiology techniques within well-designed behaviors, along with computational models, as my primary toolset.