Professor, Psychology University of Pittsburgh Email: walters@pitt.edu Individual Website: http://schneiderlab.lrdc.pitt.edu/

Ph.D., Indiana University

Research Interests

Dr. Schneider investigates dynamic cortical processing in human behavioral and brain imaging studies and computer simulation models. Behavioral and brain imaging studies focus on the understanding of human learning and attention. Research examines cortical areas involved in learning including frontal, parietal, and cingulate cortex, subcortical structures (e.g., hippocampus) and sensory processing areas (e.g., thalamus and visual cortex). The brain imaging research utilizes functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to produce high 3D spatial resolution (near millimeter) maps identifying the location and relative activation of stages of the visual system. These data provide the basis for detailed tracking of the dynamics of cortical processing. We are developing methods to map human network level cortical processing. Behavioral and brain imaging data details how rapidly and in what forms attention moves and what are the component structures of learning (goal popping, memory retrieval, feedback processing).

Trainees in Dr. Schneider's laboratory learn functional Magnetic Brain Imaging, evoked response potential (64 channels) and behavioral experimentation methods. Students with modeling interests typically develop connectionist and differential equation models of sensory and cognitive processing. Students may collect human brain imaging and behavioral data on perceptual and cognitive processing. A variety of computers and software simulation environments are available for this research.

Recent Publications

• Cole MW, Schneider W: The cognitive control network: Integrated cortical regions with dissociable functions. Neuroimage 37(1): 343-360, 2007.
• Goldberg RF, Perfetti CA, Schneider W: Distinct and common cortical activations for multimodal semantic categories. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci 6(3): 214-222, 2006.
• Hill NM, Schneider W: Brain changes in the development of expertise: Neurological evidence on skill-based adaptations. In KA Ericsson, N Charness, P Feltovich, R Hoffman (Eds.) Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. New York: Cambridge University: 653-682, 2006.
• Chein JM, Schneider W: Neuroimaging studies of practice-related change: fMRI and meta-analytic evidence of a domain-general control network for learning. Cogn Brain Res 25(3): 607-623, 2005.
• Schneider W, Chein JM: Controlled & automatic processing: From mechanisms to biology. Cognitive Science 27: 525-559, 2003.