Title: The Neuroscience of Skill: Quantifying and Modeling Movement with Artificial Intelligence. 

Speaker:  Dr. Alexander Mathis, professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. 

Date: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026,

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: Theatre C, Tupper  [IN-PERSON meeting]

Description: Motor control, the art of coordinating muscles to produce intricate movements, is a marvel of biological intelligence. From the graceful dance of a ballerina to the dexterous manipulation of objects, these movements are a testament to the brain’s prowess of mastering numerous degrees of freedom, which can take years of training and coaching to master, involving both explicit and implicit learning. Yet, understanding how the brain achieves skilled behavior remains one of the fundamental challenges in neuroscience. I will discuss methods for quantifying behavior, as well as modeling and experimental approaches to elucidate the principles of motor control.