Pouya Bashivan, McGill University

Research

Artificial Neural Networks Category-Selectivity Face Patch Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Inferotemporal Cortex Parahippocampal Place Area Topographical Organizat Ventral Visual Cortex

Latest papers

Local lateral connectivity is sufficient for replicating cortex-like topographical organization in deep neural networks.
Nature communications · 2026 · senior author
Real-time fine finger motion decoding for transradial amputees with surface electromyography.
Neural networks : the official journal of the International Neural Network Society · 2025
Burst firing optimizes invariant coding of natural communication signals by electrosensory neural populations.
iScience · 2025

All 8 publications

Latest funding

Geometric Organization of Working Memory Representations Across Brain Networks
CIHR · 2026 · Supervisor
$6,000
Reverse engineering the electrosensory-motor loop in weakly electric fish using biologically-realistic deep neural networks
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$90,000
Mapping the functional topography in the human visual cortex with model-guided functional imaging
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI
$581,400

All 5 grants and awards

8 publications.

01

Local lateral connectivity is sufficient for replicating cortex-like topographical organization in deep neural networks.

Qian X, Dehghani AO, Farahani AB, Bashivan P

Nature communications2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-70065-3 PMID: 41839855

02

Real-time fine finger motion decoding for transradial amputees with surface electromyography.

Weng Z, Xiao Y, Li P, Yi C, Bashivan P, Ma H, Yao G, Lin Y, Li F, Yao D, Hou J, Zhang Y, Xu P

Neural networks : the official journal of the International Neural Network Society2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2025.107605 PMID: 40450923

03

Burst firing optimizes invariant coding of natural communication signals by electrosensory neural populations.

Metzen MG, Akhshi A, Bashivan P, Khadra A, Chacron MJ

iScience2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112399 PMID: 40641556

04

How well do models of visual cortex generalize to out of distribution samples?

Ren Y, Bashivan P

PLoS computational biology2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011145 PMID: 38820563

05

Using modular connectome-based predictive modeling to reveal brain-behavior relationships of individual differences in working memory.

Yang H, Zhang J, Jin Z, Bashivan P, Li L

Brain structure & function2023

DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02666-3 PMID: 37349540

06

Editorial: Investigation of brain functional connectivity from electroencephalogram data.

Chiarion G, Safaei S, Valizadeh A, Bashivan P, Yeh CH, Zhang C, Wang Y, Mesin L

Frontiers in physiology2022

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1058683 PMID: 36388102

07

Computational models of category-selective brain regions enable high-throughput tests of selectivity.

Ratan Murty NA, Bashivan P, Abate A, DiCarlo JJ, Kanwisher N

Nature communications2021

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25409-6 PMID: 34545079

08

Auditory cortex supports verbal working memory capacity.

Bidelman GM, Brown JA, Bashivan P

Neuroreport2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001570 PMID: 33323838

Geometric Organization of Working Memory Representations Across Brain Networks

SupervisorCIHR2026Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Principal investigators: Omer, Jason

Keywords: Human Lateral Prefrontal Cortex; Lpfc; Memory; Sensory

$6,000

Reverse engineering the electrosensory-motor loop in weakly electric fish using biologically-realistic deep neural networks

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Bashivan, Pouya P

Keywords: active sensing; artificial neural networks; computational modeling; deep neural networks; electrosensory system; feedback deactivation; weakly electric fish

$90,000

Mapping the functional topography in the human visual cortex with model-guided functional imaging

Nominated PICIHR2023Project Grant

Principal investigators: Bashivan, Pouya

Keywords: Artificial Neural Networks; Category-Selectivity; Face Patch; Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Inferotemporal Cortex; Parahippocampal Place Area; Topographical Organizat; V4; Ventral Visual Cortex; Visual Cortex

$581,400

Developing and validating computational models of working memory in the human prefrontal cortex

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Bashivan, Pouya

$12,500

Developing and validating computational models of working memory in the human prefrontal cortex

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Bashivan, Pouya

$112,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Artificial Neural Networks Dear Professor Bashivan, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Local lateral connectivity is sufficient for replicating cortex-like topographical organization in deep neural networks." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Reverse engineering the electrosensory-motor loop in weakly electric fish using biologically-realistic deep neural networks" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]