The use of functional MRI on non-human primates is of special interest in our laboratory because of the similarities of the monkey and the human brain. Up until now, comparisons across species relied on techniques working at very different spatial and temporal scales (i.e. electrophysiology versus functional MRI). Conducting fMRI on monkeys allows for direct comparisons across species, especially when performing studies of complex behaviors using awake, trained animals. Monkey fMRI in our laboratory is focused on studies of vision and attention, and relations to human systems.

Measuring interactions between networks of neurons is critical for understanding the distributed brain processes supporting vision and attention. Electrophysiology allows us to resolve the underlying neural events at a sufficiently high level of spatial and temporal detail. We simultaneously record from multiple neurons in visual cortical and subcortical areas in monkeys performing cognitive tasks. This yields a dynamic view of neural connectivity that can be correlated with behavioral outcomes.