Auditory Perception
How cortical representations support sound perception and behavioral decisions.
Project details
Experiments test how neural codes change with task context, stimulus history, and behavioral goals.
Francis Lab
The Francis Lab at the University of Maryland investigates how cortical circuits enable listening and auditory decision-making. We combine systems neuroscience, behavioral experiments, and quantitative analysis to reveal how the brain interprets sound.
Research
We examine how perception, attention, and memory interact during auditory behavior, and how cortical circuits encode and predict sensory events.
Sensory-Guided Decisions
How the brain integrates sensory evidence to guide choices and actions.
Project details
We track decision variables across neural populations during operant conditioning tasks.
Predictive Coding
How cortical circuits anticipate sensory events and update predictions.
Project details
We probe how unexpected sounds reshape cortical responses and subsequent behavior.
Neural Dynamics
How population activity evolves during listening and learning.
Project details
We quantify dynamics across electrophysiology, two-photon, and widefield datasets.
Behavioral Platforms
Operant conditioning interfaces and automated home-cage systems.
Project details
Custom hardware supports stable, high-throughput auditory tasks in mice.
People
Our team includes faculty, graduate trainees, staff, and undergraduate researchers working together on shared questions.
Nikolas A. Francis, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Jason Putnam, B.S.
Graduate Student, C-CEBH Fellow
Kiana Alguard
Lab Member
Janasia Thomas
Undergraduate Student, UMD-REACH Program
Yixiang Wu
Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
Alumni
Publications
Selected papers highlight our work on auditory cortical mechanisms and listening behavior.
Lab Climate
We maintain an inclusive, respectful, and rigorous environment. Expectations cover mentorship, communication, authorship, and conflict resolution.
Contact
Francis Lab, University of Maryland Department of Biology and Brain and Behavior Institute.
Email: cortex [at] umd dot edu