Matthew Chalk is interested in how neural circuits transmit and transform sensory signals, enabling us to perceive and interact with the world. He approaches this by developing theoretical models of neural activity in early visual areas, such as the retina and primary visual cortex. These models help uncover principles that explain the observed patterns of neural responses. For example, neurons in these areas are thought to extract basic features of visual scenes—like local motion or contrast changes. Matthew studies how such features are encoded, and how these coding objectives shape the dynamics and connectivity of neural circuits.