Please find below details on a funded PhD studentship at the University
of Manchester (UK) exploring “Memory for surprising events –developing
a predictive processing model of episodic memory”.
Project outline:
Hierarchical predictive processing is an influential computational
framework for cognitive neuroscience, which offers an elegant
computational model of perception and action. This project will use
experimental psychology and fMRI methodologies to explore the insight
this framework offers about human memory. We will test the idea that
memory depends on surprise and that learning occurs only when the
brain’s model of the world changes as a result of errors in predicting
incoming stimuli, a suggestion recently extended to explain hippocampal
and medial frontal cortex function.
Project supervisors:
Dr Talmi
www.psych-sci.manchester.ac.uk/staff/talmi
Prof Wittmann
https://www.uni-giessen.de/cms/fbz/fb06/.../wittmann
Prof Montaldi
www.psych-sci..manchester.ac.uk/staff/126756/
Candidate characteristics:
An excellent UG degree in a relevant discipline with a passion for
cognitive neuroscience and memory. Experimental and computational skills
would be an asset.
Application details:
Candidates selected for interview have 50% chance of winning funding for
this 4-year studentship at the School of Psychological Sciences at the
University of Manchester. The 2015 round of MRC DTP projects are
currently being uploaded to
findaphd.com and the MRC DTP website:
www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/mrcdtp. Deadline: 26 Nov 2014
Expressions of Interest are being invited from candidates in the
following form:
- Academic CV
- Official academic transcripts
- Contact details for two suitable referees
- A personal statement (750 words maximum) outlining suitability for
the study, what they hope to achieve from the PhD and research
experience to date.
For questions about the position please contact
deborah.talmi(a)manchester.ac.uk.