UNAM Semineri: “Neural Mechanisms of Active Sensing,” Dr. Ismail Uyanık (Post-Doktora Araştırma Görevlisi-Johns Hopkins Üniversitesi), Aysel Sabuncu Beyin Araştırmaları Merkezi-SC106, 15:30 29 Mart (EN)

Seminar: Neural Mechanisms of Active Sensing by Dr.Ismail Uyanik (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Johns Hopkins University)

Date and Time: Thursday March 29th, 2018, at 15:30
Location: Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, SC106

Abstract:
System identification on sensorimotor pathways is pivotal for understanding biological movement and control. However, the innate challenge in understanding sensorimotor systems is that they are operating in a dynamic closed-loop, where the motor output stimulates its own sensory receptors, which provide feedback for the subsequent motor output. Despite the proven existence of this behavior, known as active sensing, the neural mechanisms underlying the active sensing behavior remain surprisingly unclear due to inherent challenges in identification of sensorimotor systems. This talk covers our efforts on exploring the neural mechanisms of active sensing behavior on an electric fish, the glass knifefish, by performing system identification through systematic locomotion and neurophysiology experiments.

About the speaker:
Ismail Uyanik is a postdoctoral researcher in Laboratory of Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR) at Johns Hopkins University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bilkent University in May 2017. Throughout his Ph.D. studies at Bilkent, he worked on developing model-based and data-driven system identification methods for the analysis and control of legged locomotion. He also received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the same department in June 2009 and August 2011, respectively. His current research focuses on discovering the principles of animal locomotion by developing novel techniques in the areas of system identification theory, computational neuroscience and robotics. He is also a recipient of Aselsan Ph.D. Fellowship, which recognizes and supports academic excellence in Aselsan’s prominent research areas.