Fwd: PhD position "Mechanisms of top-down control in the accumulation of sensory evidence"

FYI ----------------------------------------- PhD position at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior. /Mechanisms of top-down control in the accumulation of sensory evidence/ Many studies have shown neurophysiological correlates of top-down factors in perception (e.g., attention and expectation) which are already active prior to the sampling of sensory evidence. One of the puzzling observations in this line of investigation is the rather weak relation between these anticipatory neurophysiological signals (typically, modulations of oscillatory activity) and perception (most importantly, accuracy). The overall objective of this project is to identify additional neurophysiological processes that explain behavioral accuracy and its modulation by attention. The main working hypothesis that guides us in this search is that one should not only investigate anticipatory neural activity but also the neural activity during the accumulation of sensory evidence. The objectives of this research project will be addressed in experiments in which extracranial neural signals are recorded using Magnetoencephalography (MEG). Within the Donders Institute (DI), you will belong to the research group Neurophysiology of Active Perception (PI Eric Maris). As this is a collaborative project within the DI, you will also be affiliated to the research groups Prediction & Attention (PI Floris de Lange) and Neuronal Oscillations (PI Ole Jensen). A successful candidate has a Master' s degree in a field at the interface of behavior and neurobiology (Cognitive Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Cognitive Science) and excellent analytic and quantitative skills. Programming skills (e.g., Matlab) are required, and it is an advantage if you have experience in running EEG or MEG experiments. Please include with your application: - a curriculum vitae, including academic qualifications, grades, a list of publications (if applicable), and the names and contact details of two referees; - a letter explaining your motivation, your interest in the project, and your competence in the research field;" Closing date: 2012-9-15 Employment start date: 2012-10-15 Contract length: 4 years Contact Information: Dr. Eric Maris E-mail: e.maris(a)donders.ru.nl <mailto:e.maris@donders.ru.nl> Website: http://www.nphyscog.com www.nphyscog.com/contact <http://www.nphyscog.com/>