Ph.D., Stanford University
Associate Professor
Department of Neuroscience
203 Metcalf Chemistry Building
Email: ress@stanford.edu (through December 2004)

(Dr. ress will join the Brown University faculty in January 2005)

Many question remain about how the human brain codes visual signals.  While much knowledge has accrued concerning the details of visual processing in non-human primates with neural recording methods, only recently have high-resolution neuroimaging methods become applied in humans to investigate fundamental aspects of visual signal processing.  We have particular interest in determining how the primary visual cortex processes the first visual input to the neocortex, particularly learning about the transformations that occur for feature processing and the laminar organization of such processing in the human visual cortex.  In my laboratory, we use high-resolution functional MR imaging to investigate these questions.  We have developed techniques to resolve visual cortical function in the millimeter and perhaps even sub-millimeter range.  Furthermore, we are actively developing MRI methods to assess real-time fluctuations in brain physiology.  With these methods, we hope to further the understanding of the columnar and laminar organization of primary visual cortex in humans. 

Miller, K. L., Hargreaves, B. A., Lee, J., Ress, D., deCharms, R. C. and Pauly, J. M. (2003) Functional brain imaging using a blood oxygenation sensitive steady state. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 50, 675-683.

Ress, D. and Heeger, D. J. (2003) Neuronal correlates of perception in early visual cortex. Nature Neuroscience6, 414-420.

Huk, A. C., Ress, D. and Heeger, D. J. (2001) Neuronal basis of the motion aftereffect reconsidered. Neuron32, 161-172.

Heeger, D. J. and Ress, D. (2002) What does fMRI tell us about neuronal activity? Nature Reviews Neuroscience3, 142-151.