Welcome to the Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience laboratory, which is part of UCLA’s world-class neuroscience community. We are dedicated to unraveling the principles underpinning the computations of the cerebral cortex.

The cerebral cortex is the seat of high cognitive functions. Despite the astonishing complexity of its operations, the cortex exhibits a consistent structure that likely underlies common canonical functions and computations. Discovering these canonical computations would help us gain a deeper understanding of intelligence in the mammalian brain and shed light on neural disorders.

Our laboratory addresses fundamental questions that are vital to developing comprehensive theories of canonical computations in the cortex: 

• How do cortical dynamics give rise to canonical computations? 

• How do biophysical constraints and computational needs shape the properties of cortical circuits? 

• How is information represented and transformed across populations of cortical neurons?  

To tackle these questions, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that combines data-driven circuit models, biologically realistic deep learning models, abstract neural network models, and machine learning methods to analyze the neural code.

The Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience laboratory is led by Dr. Mario Dipoppa, a computational neuroscientist with a strong experience in data-driven approaches and biological realistic modelling. Our theoretical and computational approaches are strongly influenced by empirical evidence of the wider neuroscience community and benefit from strong collaborations with experimental laboratories (see our list of publications). 

Our laboratory is based on the main UCLA campus. It is in close proximity and has strong collaborations with experimental and computational groups at UCLA. Students and researchers interested in pursuing computational neuroscience research are welcome to apply to join our vibrant and inclusive laboratory.