Michael Campos, Ph.D.
I am interested in understanding the neural mechanisms of decision making, with a focus on the neural basis of individual preferences, the dynamics of those preferences, and their influence on behavior. Preferences can change based on combinations of internal factors such as motivation, satiety, desire, and arousal. Understanding these processes will be achieved primarily through the use of acute multi-channel electrophysiology recordings of the non-human primate brain, while subjects are engaged in various free-choice paradigms. I am particularly interested in the dynamic interplay of these factors – how they change in intensity and how they become more or less important contributors to the subject’s decision making over the course of an experimental session.
Currently I am engaged in a study that compares behavior in
a simple juice reward task with television viewing behavior that uses the same
push-button interface. We are
simultaneously recording from groups of neurons known to encode the subjective
value of different gustatory choices.
This preference based decision making study investigates the neural
mechanisms for reward in unstudied territory - video watching. This research
will help us understand enigmatic pathologies such as addiction to television
or the internet. The research may also uncover general mechanisms for a
broad range of non-adaptive behaviors directed towards "rewards" that
have little to no survival value. At the same time, we may be able to
understand the dynamics of preferences. For instance, while apple juice
is clearly preferred, the monkey will occasionally choose to drink water for a
short period. Finally, we may gain insight into factors that lead to
preferences for one type of video compared to another.
I also collaborate with others in developing methods to automatically isolate
neurons, and to automatically process and analyze data after it is collected.
In an effort to automatically isolate neurons for acute experiments, I have set
up a test environment for in vivo assessment of control algorithms.
Recently I have also begun to collaborate on methods to post-process waveform
data, assessing spike isolation quality over the course of the experiment. Other research interests include using
functional neuroimaging to get a more global picture of the brain systems
involved in preference-based decision making, with the goal of targeting
fruitful brain areas for electrophysiology study.
Papers:
Campos M., A. Cherian, M.A. Segraves. “Effects of eye position upon activity of neurons in macaque superior colliculus.” Journal of Neurophysiology. 95: 505-526, 2006. First published 9/28/2005.
Campos M., B. Breznen, K. Bernheim, R.A. Andersen. “The supplementary motor area encodes reward expectancy in eye movement tasks.” Journal of Neurophysiology. 94: 1325-1335, 2005. First published April 20, 2005.
Campos, M., E. Bonabeau, G. Theraluz, J-L. Deneubourg. "Dynamic Scheduling and Division of Labor in Social Insects." Adaptive Behavior. Vol. 8-2. p 83-92. Spring 2001