Kevin Weiner

Kevin Weiner
Associate Professor
Office: 
2121 Berkeley Way, Room 3113
Research Area: 
Cognitive Neuroscience
Website: 
Cognitive Neuroanatomy Lab

Joining the Department in January 2018
Kevin is able to mentor new students for 2018-2019

Research Interests: 
Visual perception; Face processing; Structural-functional relationships assessed using a variety of (a) functional measurements (e.g. high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrocorticography, etc.) and (b) anatomical measurements in-vivo (e.g. diffusion weighted imaging, cortical folding, etc.) and post-mortem (e.g. cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, etc.); Comparative neuroanatomy; Development; Translational applications for patient populations
  • whatshotResearch Description

    The over-arching goal of our research works toward building mechanistic models explaining how brain structure and function contribute to measurable behaviors. We implement a multi-modal approach of anatomical measurements in living and post-mortem individuals across spatial scales to compare to functional measurements in humans (typically high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging). Presently, we have focused on high-level visual cortex (specifically the fusiform gyrus) and face perception as a model structure and a model behavior. Moving forward, we aim to implement our approach to additional brain structures and behaviors. We have also begun to lay a foundation for translational applications of our neurimaging techniques in patient populations. Additionally, we are interested in data sharing, open science, science communication, comparative neuroanatomy across species, and the history of neuroscience.

  • placeSelected Publications

    Gomez, J., Barnett, M.A., Natu, V.S., Mezer, A., Palomero-Gallagher, N., Weiner, K.S., Amunts, K., Zilles, K., Grill-Spector, K. (2016). Microstructural Proliferation in Human Cortex is Coupled with the Development of Face Processing. Science 355(6320): 68-71. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aag0311

    Weiner, K.S.,* Barnett, M.A.,* Lorenz, S., Caspers, J., Stigliani, A., Amunts, K., Zilles, K., Grill- Spector, K. (2017). The cytoarchitecture of domain-specific regions in human high-level visual cortex. Cerebral Cortex 27 (1): 146-161. *equal contribution https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhw361

    Weiner, K.S., Maillard, L., Jonas, J., Hossu, G., Brissard, H., Jacques, C., Gomez, J., Loftus, D., Grill-Spector, K., Rossion, B. (2016). The face processing network is resilient to focal resection of human visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience 36(32):8425-40. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4509-15.2016

    Weiner, K.S., Zilles, K. (2015). The anatomical and functional specialization of the fusiform gyrus. Neuropsychologia 83:48-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.06.033

    Weiner, K.S., Grill-Spector, K. (2015). The evolution of face processing networks. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 19(5):240-1.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.03.010

    Grill-Spector, K., Weiner, K.S. (2014). Functional architecture of human ventral temporal cortex and its role in categorization. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 15(8): 536-48. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3747

    Weiner, K.S. (2014). Two brains and a forgotten theory. Nature 509: 33. https://doi.org/10.1038/509033e

    Yeatman, J.D.*, Weiner, K.S.,* Pestilli, F., Rokem, A., Mezer, A., Wandell, B.A. (2014). The vertical occipital fasciculus: A century of controversy resolved by in vivo measurements. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 111(48):E5214-23. *equal contribution https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1418503111

    Weiner, K.S., Golarai, G., Caspers, J., Mohlberg, H., Zilles, K., Amunts, K., & Grill-Spector, K. (2014). The mid-fusiform sulcus: A landmark for both cytoarchitectonic and functional divisions of human ventral temporal cortex. NeuroImage 84:453-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.08.068

    Weiner, K.S., Grill-Spector, K. (2010). Sparsely-distributed organization of face and limb activations in human ventral temporal cortex. NeuroImage 52(4):1559-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.262

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