David Osher

Principle Investigator, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., Computational Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

My research explores the relationship between brain connectivity, neural function, and behavior, through computational modeling. Connectivity is the primary constraint on the information available to a brain region, and so connectivity should be highly predictive of neural responses. I am primarily interested in attention and high-level visual perception, and I have demonstrated that structure-function models can predict how your brain will respond during a task, before you even do the task, using your connectivity patterns alone. These models can also predict a variety of cognitive abilities at the level of an individual subject.

Yuxuan Zeng

Graduate Student
B.S., Neuroscience, Sichuan University; M.S., Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Birmingham; M.S., Cognitive Neuroscience, The Ohio State University

I am a fifth year PhD candidate in the Cognitive Neuroscience program supervised by Dr. David Osher. Before joining OSU, I received my BS in biological science in 2018 and MS in cognitive neuroscience in 2019. I am interested in the neural mechanisms underlying high-level visual perception. More specifically, I am interested in using brain imaging and computational modeling to understand the neural circuitry responsible for object perception and visual categorization.

Keara Ginell

Graduate Student
B.A., Cognitive Science, Vassar College

I am a second-year graduate student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program advised by Dr. David Osher. After graduating from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in cognitive science, I spent two years as a clinical research coordinator in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at University of Michigan, predominantly working on a project studying cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis. In the CBC Lab, I study how aspects of cognition (attention, perception, and memory) are shaped by past experiences and learned patterns in the world. I’m especially interested in how the brain encodes and integrates this information, and what happens when these mechanisms are disrupted. My long-term motivation is to inform rehabilitation outcomes for neurological and neuropsychological disorders. Outside the lab, I enjoy running, exploring the outdoors, competing in cycling races, and sipping cappuccinos.

Isaac Liao

Graduate Student
B.S., Neuroscience & Philosophy, University of Minnesota

I am a second-year graduate student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program advised by Dr. David Osher. I received a BS in neuroscience and philosophy in 2024. My research interest is using behavioral and neuroimaging approaches to study high-level visual perception and cognition. I love reading, watching films, playing sports, and being active in campus ministry!

Derrek Montalvo

Graduate Student
B.A., Psychology, Michigan State University

Derrek is a second-year graduate student in Cognitive Neuroscience. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University in 2024. While at MSU, he worked with Mark Becker on methods to mitigate the low prevalence effect, improve quitting thresholds, and published a manuscript investigating the impact that a visual search template’s feature information has on search performance and strategy. His research interests include visual attention, perception, and working memory, specifically how visual and spatial information are encoded into working memory and interact to guide and control attention.

Ren Hentz

Lab Manager
B.A., The Ohio State University

After being in the lab as a research assistant in undergrad, I joined the lab full time upon graduation from Ohio State, which allows me to be involved in every project in the lab at every stage, which is super exciting! Outside of the lab, I competitively ballroom dance with my fiancée, avidly watch pro women's soccer, and coparent a Siamese cat named McMuffin!

Sam Froehle

Undergraduate Student

I am a third-year honors psychology and statistics dual major, minoring in architectural studies at OSU. My research interests include attitudes and persuasion, specifically relating to influence and bias in decision-making. When I'm not studying, I love to watch movies, go to record stores, and play classic rock on my guitar and bass!

Terra Miller

Undergraduate Student

Lily Dettmer

Undergraduate Student

Kaushik Yaddanapudi

Undergraduate Student

Bella Brown

Undergraduate Student