Hi friends, this is Yang.

An undergrad studying Mathematics and Music Composition. I also build models to help understand the brain (this takes up most of my time, and I'm very happy about it).

Currently working on

• Generalising A Tale of Two Algorithms with James Whittington & Jo Warren

• Replay/rollouts via Cognitive Map Learned in Predictive RNN with Marcelo Mattar & Daniel Levenstein

What I'm after

My goal is to understand imagination (an interchangeable term might be mental simulation).

It's a broadly-defined term, so I think there are some specific proxy topics to start from:

• Navigation: cognitive map as a platform of imagination, specifically by doing replay or rollouts on it. A cognitive map can also be about something abstract and non-spatial!

• Visual imagery: basically "close your eyes and think about an apple". There are some interesting properties such as non-commitment found in this.

• Intuitive physics: "look at this tower of blocks, would it fall?"

• Theory of mind: "what do you think others would think of you if you do this?"

A one-liner that concludes what I want to do:

circuit models that explain the why or how of imagination as a cognitive ability

(e.g. why is there non-commitment in visual imagery, neurally?)

Not sure if wanting to connect theoretical neuro and computational cogsci is too ambitious, but that's what I'm building my skillset towards.

Others

Other interests include philosophy of science and neuroscience, sociology of inequality and social mobility, digital privacy, environmental protection, motorsport strategy, basketball strategy, and esports strategy.

We can chat about anything! Reach me at 5277863@gmail.com