About

Madineh Sedigh-Sarvestani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University and is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. She holds a BA in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and a PhD in Engineering Science & Mechanics from Penn State University, where her doctoral work focused on statistical and computational modeling of the brain rhythms involved in epilepsy. Her postdoctoral research involved visual neuroscience, working with Diego Contreras and Larry Palmer at the University of Pennsylvania, and later with David Fitzpatrick at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Her research lab employs multiple animal models to investigate how the architecture and function of the brain’s sensory system meet the behavioral demands of animals. A primary focus is understanding how circuits in the visual system transform visual inputs received at the retina. She also studies how visual information is shaped by an animal’s movements, aiming to uncover how visuomotor circuits become optimized for individual animals, including humans. Her team utilizes techniques such as in vivo two-photon imaging, electrophysiology, behavioral monitoring, and mathematical modeling to explore the structure and function of visual circuits and their modulation by bodily movements. Some projects involve using sensors worn by animals to record sensory inputs during natural behaviors, contributing to a more faithful understanding of sensory processing in moving animals.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Neuroscience
• Artificial Intelligence
• Biology
• Psychology
• Mathematics
• Computer vision
• Zoology
• Cognitive science
• Management
• Mathematics education
• Geometry

Selected publications

• Author response: Structural and functional evidence supports re-defining mouse higher order visual areas into a single area V2

  2025-09-04

  peer-reviewOpen accessSenior author

  The mouse has become one of the main organisms for studies of the visual system. As a result, there is increased effort to understand universal principles of visual processing by comparing the mouse visual system to that of other species. In primates and other well-studied species including cats and tree shrews, the visual cortex is parcellated into an area V1 and several higher order areas defined by structural and functional differences, and a near complete map of the visual field. In mice, the visual cortex beyond V1 is parcellated into several higher order areas, with less notable structural and functional differences, partial coverage of the visual field, and areal boundaries defined by reversals in progression of the visual field. Notably, recent work in tree shrews and primates has shown that reversals in progression of the visual field can be a hallmark of complex retinotopic mapping within a single visual area. This, and other lines of evidence discussed here, provides a compelling case that the apparent existence of multiple higher order visual areas in the mouse is related to the false assumption of simple retinotopy. Specifically, we use simulations to show that complex retinotopy within a single visual area can recapitulate the appearance of multiple areal borders beyond mouse V1. In addition, we show that many reported differences in functional properties between higher order visual areas can be better explained by retinotopic differences rather than areal identity. Our proposal to reclassify some of the higher order visual areas in the mouse into a single area V2 is not mere semantics because areal definitions influence experimental design and data analysis. Furthermore, such a reclassification would produce a common set of rules for defining areal boundaries among mammals and would bring the mouse visual system into agreement with evolutionary evidence for a single area V2 in related lineages.

  PublisherDOI

• Structural and functional evidence supports re-defining mouse higher order visual areas into a single area V2

  eLife · 2025-09-04

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract The mouse has become one of the main organisms for studies of the visual system. As a result, there is increased effort to understand universal principles of visual processing by comparing the mouse visual system to that of other species. In primates and other well-studied species including cats and tree shrews, the visual cortex is parcellated into an area V1 and several higher order areas defined by structural and functional differences, and a near complete map of the visual field. In mice, the visual cortex beyond V1 is parcellated into several higher order areas, with less notable structural and functional differences, partial coverage of the visual field, and areal boundaries defined by reversals in progression of the visual field. Notably, recent work in tree shrews and primates has shown that reversals in progression of the visual field can be a hallmark of complex retinotopic mapping within a single visual area. This, and other lines of evidence discussed here, provides a compelling case that the apparent existence of multiple higher order visual areas in the mouse is related to the false assumption of simple retinotopy. Specifically, we use simulations to show that complex retinotopy within a single visual area can recapitulate the appearance of multiple areal borders beyond mouse V1. In addition, we show that many reported differences in functional properties between higher order visual areas can be better explained by retinotopic differences rather than areal identity. Our proposal to reclassify some of the higher order visual areas in the mouse into a single area V2 is not mere semantics because areal definitions influence experimental design and data analysis. Furthermore, such a reclassification would produce a common set of rules for defining areal boundaries among mammals and would bring the mouse visual system into agreement with evolutionary evidence for a single area V2 in related lineages.

  PublisherDOI

• Structural and functional evidence supports re-defining mouse higher order visual areas into a single area V2

  eLife · 2025-09-04

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract The mouse has become one of the main organisms for studies of the visual system. As a result, there is increased effort to understand universal principles of visual processing by comparing the mouse visual system to that of other species. In primates and other well-studied species including cats and tree shrews, the visual cortex is parcellated into an area V1 and several higher order areas defined by structural and functional differences, and a near complete map of the visual field. In mice, the visual cortex beyond V1 is parcellated into several higher order areas, with less notable structural and functional differences, partial coverage of the visual field, and areal boundaries defined by reversals in progression of the visual field. Notably, recent work in tree shrews and primates has shown that reversals in progression of the visual field can be a hallmark of complex retinotopic mapping within a single visual area. This, and other lines of evidence discussed here, provides a compelling case that the apparent existence of multiple higher order visual areas in the mouse is related to the false assumption of simple retinotopy. Specifically, we use simulations to show that complex retinotopy within a single visual area can recapitulate the appearance of multiple areal borders beyond mouse V1. In addition, we show that many reported differences in functional properties between higher order visual areas can be better explained by retinotopic differences rather than areal identity. Our proposal to reclassify some of the higher order visual areas in the mouse into a single area V2 is not mere semantics because areal definitions influence experimental design and data analysis. Furthermore, such a reclassification would produce a common set of rules for defining areal boundaries among mammals and would bring the mouse visual system into agreement with evolutionary evidence for a single area V2 in related lineages.

  PublisherDOI

• Structural and functional evidence supports re-defining mouse higher order visual areas into a single area V2

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-10-12 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract The mouse has become one of the main organisms for studies of the visual system. As a result, there is increased effort to understand universal principles of visual processing by comparing the mouse visual system to that of other species. In primates and other well-studied species including cats and tree shrews, the visual cortex is parcellated into an area V1 and several higher order areas defined by structural and functional differences, and a near complete map of the visual field. In mice, the visual cortex beyond V1 is parcellated into several higher order areas, with less notable structural and functional differences, partial coverage of the visual field, and areal boundaries defined by reversals in progression of the visual field. Notably, recent work in tree shrews and primates has shown that reversals in progression of the visual field can be a hallmark of complex retinotopic mapping within a single visual area. This, and other lines of evidence discussed here, provides a compelling case that the apparent existence of multiple higher order visual areas in the mouse is related to the false assumption of simple retinotopy. Specifically, we use simulations to show that complex retinotopy within a single visual area can recapitulate the appearance of multiple areal borders beyond mouse V1. In addition, we show that many reported differences in functional properties between higher order visual areas can be better explained by retinotopic differences rather than areal identity. Our proposal to reclassify some of the higher order visual areas in the mouse into a single area V2 is not mere semantics because areal definitions influence experimental design and data analysis. Furthermore, such a reclassification would produce a common set of rules for defining areal boundaries among mammals and would bring the mouse visual system into agreement with evolutionary evidence for a single area V2 in related lineages.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• What and Where: Location-Dependent Feature Sensitivity as a Canonical Organizing Principle of the Visual System

  Frontiers in Neural Circuits · 2022-04-12 · 18 citations

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Traditionally, functional representations in early visual areas are conceived as retinotopic maps preserving ego-centric spatial location information while ensuring that other stimulus features are uniformly represented for all locations in space. Recent results challenge this framework of relatively independent encoding of location and features in the early visual system, emphasizing location-dependent feature sensitivities that reflect specialization of cortical circuits for different locations in visual space. Here we review the evidence for such location-specific encoding including: (1) systematic variation of functional properties within conventional retinotopic maps in the cortex; (2) novel periodic retinotopic transforms that dramatically illustrate the tight linkage of feature sensitivity, spatial location, and cortical circuitry; and (3) retinotopic biases in cortical areas, and groups of areas, that have been defined by their functional specializations. We propose that location-dependent feature sensitivity is a fundamental organizing principle of the visual system that achieves efficient representation of positional regularities in visual experience, and reflects the evolutionary selection of sensory and motor circuits to optimally represent behaviorally relevant information. Future studies are necessary to discover mechanisms underlying joint encoding of location and functional information, how this relates to behavior, emerges during development, and varies across species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• DeBruyn and Casagrande manuscripts on tree shrew retinal ganglion cells as a basis for cross-species retina research

  Visual Neuroscience · 2022-01-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The purpose of this brief communication is to make publicly available three unpublished manuscripts on the organization of retinal ganglion cells in the tree shrew. The manuscripts were authored in 1986 by Dr. Edward DeBruyn, a PhD student in the laboratory of the late Dr. Vivien Casagrande at Vanderbilt University. As diurnal animals closely related to primates, tree shrews are ideally suited for comparative analyses of visual structures including the retina. We hope that providing this basic information in a citable form inspires other groups to pursue further characterization of the tree shrew retina using modern techniques.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A bright future for the tree shrew in neuroscience research: Summary from the inaugural Tree Shrew Users Meeting

  动物学研究 · 2021 · 32 citations

  • Neuroscience
  • Biology
  • Cognitive science

  spp.) have been used in neuroscience research since the 1960s due to their evolutionary proximity to primates. The use and interest in this animal model have recently increased, in part due to the adaptation of modern neuroscience tools in this species. These tools include quantitative behavioral assays, calcium imaging, optogenetics and transgenics. To facilitate the exchange and development of these new technologies and associated research findings, we organized the inaugural "Tree Shrew Users Meeting" which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we review this meeting and discuss the history of tree shrews as an animal model in neuroscience research and summarize the current themes being investigated using this animal, as well as future directions.

  PublisherDOI

• Neuromatch Academy: Teaching Computational Neuroscience with Global Accessibility.

  Trends in Cognitive Sciences · 2021 · 37 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Psychology
  • Mathematics education

  Neuromatch Academy (NMA) designed and ran a fully online 3-week Computational Neuroscience Summer School for 1757 students with 191 teaching assistants (TAs) working in virtual inverted (or flipped) classrooms and on small group projects. Fourteen languages, active community management, and low cost allowed for an unprecedented level of inclusivity and universal accessibility.

  DOI

• Neuromatch Academy: Teaching Computational Neuroscience with Global Accessibility

  Trends in Cognitive Sciences · 2021-05-11 · 5 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Neuromatch Academy (NMA) designed and ran a fully online 3-week Computational Neuroscience Summer School for 1757 students with 191 teaching assistants (TAs) working in virtual inverted (or flipped) classrooms and on small group projects. Fourteen languages, active community management, and low cost allowed for an unprecedented level of inclusivity and universal accessibility.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A sinusoidal transformation of the visual field is the basis for periodic maps in area V2

  Neuron · 2021 · 23 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Neuroscience
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Thalamocortical mechanisms in primary visual cortex

  NIH · $172k · 2016–2019

• Active Probing and Sleep State Modeling for Seizure Prediction

  NIH · $105k · 2010–2013

Frequent coauthors

• Athena Akrami

  University College London

  9 shared

• Matthew R. Krause

  McGill University

  9 shared

• Davide Valeriani

  9 shared

• Xaq Pitkow

  Carnegie Mellon University

  8 shared

• Alexandre Hyafil

  Centre de Recerca Matemàtica

  7 shared

• Carsen Stringer

  Howard Hughes Medical Institute

  7 shared

• Marius Pachitariu

  Howard Hughes Medical Institute

  7 shared

• Titipat Achakulvisut

  Mahidol University

  6 shared

Awards & honors

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar