Principal investigator
PhD, postdoctoral researcher
Since 2023, I have been leading our research group with a primary focus on understanding how various behavioral contexts, attention, prediction, and neural plasticity shape both local and distributed neural circuits. My current research aims to bridge the gap between attentional processing in “cocktail-party” scenarios—where we isolate relevant speech from background noise—and the auditory cortex's processing of non-speech auditory objects like musical instruments and animal sounds.
Additionally, I lead the Wellbeing Group at the Department of Psychology and serve on the Wellbeing Committee at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. I prioritize fostering a collaborative, innovative research environment, encouraging new ideas, and working on the best strategies to bring them to life.
Email: patrik.wikman@helsinki.fi
PhD, postdoctoral researcher
I am a postdoc studying the neural mechanisms of auditory object processing. I’m interested in where and how the brain creates object-level representations from low-level auditory features, and how attention modulates these processes. I did my PhD in visual neuroscience, and aim to expand methods used in vision research to auditory processing.
Email: ilkka.muukkonen@helsinki.fi
PhD, postdoctoral researcher
I am a cognitive neuroscientist specialized in visual perception and brain plasticity, with a particular focus on sensory impairments. My research investigates visual perception and brain plasticity following brain lesions (e.g., hemianopia) or sensory deprivation (e.g., blindness), utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques and behavioral analysis. I am currently broadening my expertise to auditory processing, investigating the neural mechanisms underlying auditory object perception and their modulation by high-level cognitive processes, such as attention.
Doctoral researcher
I am a doctoral researcher studying the neural basis of cognitive control and distraction. In my free time, I try to avoid distractions, but they tend to follow me there as well.
Email: artturi.ylinen@helsinki.fi
Doctoral researcher
I am a doctoral researcher in the Brain and Mind doctoral programme. My research explores the function, structure, and development of brain language networks through the use of fMRI, DTI, and genetic analysis.
Email: nea.rinne@helsinki.fi
Doctoral researcher
I am a doctoral researcher working on the Miracles of Development research project. The focus of my dissertation is on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of early life stress.
Email: miro.ilomaki@helsinki.fi
Doctoral researcher
I study how variability in brain networks is associated with attention and attention problems. I'm interested in examining the whole-brain connectome and combining structural and functional data.
Email: tuija.tolonen@helsinki.fi
PhD, visiting researcher
I’m a researcher dedicated to uncovering the mechanisms behind individual differences in cognitive development, with a particular emphasis on language acquisition. My current research explores within-individual variability, aiming to deepen our understanding of the neural and behavioral dimensions underlying these phenomena.
E-mail: anna.kautto@abo.fi
PhD, external affiliated researcher
Email: juha.salmitaival@helsinki.fi