Louis Kang, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Overview

Our Unit studies how computations performed by circuits in the brain produce neural phenomena and cognitive functions. We are particularly interested in the hippocampal region and its role in memory, spatial awareness, and neurological diseases. We employ a broad range of theoretical techniques, including mathematical analysis, network simulations, and machine learning. To test our theories and strengthen their impact on society, we work with experimental data and collaborate with experimentalists.

Main Research Fields

Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering

Related Research Fields

Informatics / Complex Systems / Mathematical & Physical Sciences / Biological Sciences / Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy / Basic/Social brain science / Computational science / Biological physics/Chemical physics/Soft matter physics

Keywords

• Computational neuroscience
• Cognitive science
• Memory and learning
• Neural networks

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

1. Kang, L. and Toyoizumi, T.:
   "Distinguishing examples while building concepts in hippocampal and artificial networks"
   Nat. Commun. 15, 647 (2024).
   10.1038/s41467-024-44877-0
2. Kang, L. and Toyoizumi, T.:
   "Hopfield-like model with complementary encodings of memories"
   Phys. Rev. E 108, 054410 (2023).
   10.1103/PhysRevE.108.054410
3. Wang, R. and Kang, L.:
   "Multiple bumps can enhance robustness to noise in continuous attractor networks"
   PLOS Comput. Biol. 18, e1010547 (2022).
   10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010547
4. Kang, L., Xu, B., Morozov, D.:
   "Evaluating state space discovery by persistent cohomology in the spatial representation system"
   Front. Comput. Neurosci. 15, 616748 (2021).
   10.3389/fncom.2021.616748
5. * Kang, L. and DeWeese, M. R.:
   "Replay as wavefronts and theta sequences as bump oscillations in a grid cell attractor network"
   eLife 8, e46351 (2019).
   10.7554/eLife.46351
6. * Kang, L. and Balasubramanian, V.:
   "A geometric attractor mechanism for self-organization of entorhinal grid modules"
   eLife 8, e46687 (2019).
   10.7554/eLife.46687