Dr. Nathaniel Daw

Biography

Nathaniel Daw is a prominent researcher at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, focusing on the computational and theoretical aspects of neuroscience. His research investigates how both humans and animals learn from trial and error, particularly in decision-making contexts that involve rewards and punishments. Daw's work integrates computational, neural, and behavioral approaches to better understand how subjects manage complex decision-making scenarios, especially under conditions of uncertainty. He explores these themes through tasks that require sequential decision-making, such as spatial games like chess. His current projects delve into the brain's control over its decision-making processes and how these are affected by higher-level decision issues, whereas some decisions may be made impulsively rather than through deliberation. Daw's investigations also touch on processes related to self-control and psychiatric disorders involving compulsion, advancing our understanding of neuroAI and human cognitive computation.

Research Interests