Columbia University in the City of New York · PsychologyShohamy Abstraction Lab
Daphna Shohamy · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Daphna Shohamy's lab at Columbia University studies how the human brain learns to recognize patterns and generalize knowledge from past experiences. The research focuses on the cognitive process of abstraction, which allows individuals to simplify complex information by identifying shared features across experiences. By using brain imaging techniques, the lab explores how motivational states affect learning and decision-making, particularly in the context of emotional responses and psychiatric disorders.
abstractionneural representationsgeneralizationdecision-makingmotivational statesbrain imagingfMRIcognitive neurosciencepsychiatric disorderslearning mechanisms
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how neural representations evolve during learning across multiple timescales.
AIM 02Examine different levels of abstraction in neural representations and their supporting brain regions.
AIM 03Explore how appetitive and aversive outcomes influence decision-making and learning.
Skills the Lab Values
fMRI analysisneural data interpretationpsychological assessmentexperimental designstatistical modelingbehavioral testingdata visualizationmultivariate analysiscognitive task developmentprogramming in Python
Output against the department
Publications181top 37% of dept.111th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations13ktop 21% of dept.62nd of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
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