Title: The Geometry of Abstraction Abstract: I'll first discuss the theoretical framework introduced in Bernardi et al. 2020, Cell, in which we propose a possible definition of abstract representations. I'll go into the details of the most up-to-date  conceptual framework, discuss the computational relevance of the representational geometry and the cross-validated measures of representational geometry that we…

Title: Risking your Tail: Curiosity, Danger & Exploration Abstract: Risk and reward are critical balancing determinants of adaptive behaviour, associated respectively with neophobia and neophilia in the case of exploration. There are rather great differences in how individuals engage with novelty - with substantial consequences for what they are able to learn. Here, we consider…