The Cognitive Computational Neuroscience (CCN) Group, led by Dr. Mario Senden, is situated within the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University. Our primary mission is to unravel the computational principles underlying brain function, with a strong focus on the role of neural dynamics in functional domains such as visual perception.

Central to our research philosophy is the development and application of biophysics-informed deep learning frameworks. This innovative approach integrates the biological realism of detailed neural models (including factors like laminar microcircuitry, cell types, and population dynamics) with the powerful learning capabilities and functional performance of deep neural networks. We construct trainable computational models using biologically constrained building blocks, allowing us to directly embed cognitive functions within systems that respect key neuroanatomical and physiological properties. This methodology bridges the gap between neural mechanisms and observable behavior, yielding models that are not only functionally competent but also mechanistically interpretable.

Our research leverages this integrated modeling strategy to explore fundamental questions in neuroscience. We investigate how visual information is processed and represented across different stages, how perceptual and semantic learning reshape neural circuits, and how the brain adapts to altered inputs, such as in visual disorders like glaucoma. Furthermore, we employ our biophysics-informed models as theoretical tools to test core hypotheses about neural computation. This includes investigating the functional role of neural oscillations – seeking to unify dynamical systems perspectives with theories of communication and binding – and examining the critical brain hypothesis by linking large-scale network dynamics to specific task performance and cognitive functions.

By synthesizing computational modeling, theoretical neuroscience, insights from artificial intelligence, and connections to empirical data, the CCN group strives to advance a more unified, biologically grounded, and functionally relevant understanding of how the brain computes and gives rise to cognition.

We collaborate closely with experimental labs and welcome inquiries from prospective students and researchers interested in joining our interdisciplinary efforts.