Introduction

Introduction

I am based in the Department of Neuroscience & Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Finland, where I work with Prof. Matias Palva. I also hold the title of Docent (Adjunct Professor), from Department of Computer Science, Helsinki University, Finland. I have research experience from Aalto University and Helsinki University in Finland, and from Cambridge University and Reading University in UK. I have been fortunate to work with wonderful supervisors: Prof. Samuel Kaski, Prof. Matias Palva, Prof. Richard Henson, Prof. Slawomir Nasuto and Prof. Douglas Saddy.

Current research

Most of my research has been on developing computational methods to analyse human electrophysiological data, i.e., Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) (Williams et al. (2019), Williams et al. (2018), Williams et al. (2015), Williams et al. (2011)), so that they can be applied to answer specific questions about brain function (Williams et al. (2023), Sami et al. (2018)). Further, I have recently ventured into building biologically realistic computational models of brain activity (Williams et al. (2023a)), in order to better understand how brain functional activity arises from its underlying structural substrates, e.g., neuroanatomical connections between brain regions. Aside from developing methods for EEG and MEG data, I provide algorithm development consultancy to medical device companies such as Vital Signs Ltd. , on diagnosing respiratory disorders such as Asthma  from microphone recordings.

Future research plans

The most urgent need for Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuroscience is for biologically realistic computational models of the human brain activity measured by technologies such as EEG and MEG. Hence, I will focus on building accurate and specific biologically realistic computational models that emulate the diverse phenomena observed in brain functional activity, especially the undirected and directed patterns of functional interactions between brain regions. I will also continue developing methods to analyse EEG and MEG data, especially methods to characterise time-varying brain networks from EEG and MEG. I will apply and iteratively improve my models and methods through mutually beneficial collaborations with cognitive neuroscientists, clinical neuroscientists and researchers in non-invasive brain stimulation. 

Models and methods from my research would enable cognitive and clinical neuroscientists better harness human Neuroscience data to identify structural substrates underlying specific cognitive tasks or the pathophysiology of certain neuro-psychiatric disorders. In the long-term, I am super-excited about deploying the models and methods from my research in Neuroscience "Virtual Laboratories", wherein humans merely steer AI-based tools in formulating, testing and refining hypotheses, towards identifying the systems-level brain mechanisms underlying diverse cognitive functions.