Kosslyn Laboratory

Stephen M. Kosslyn is John Lindsley Professor of Psychology in Memory of William James, Emeritus, in Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Kosslyn received his original graduate training in cognitive science, which focused on the intersection of cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence. Faced with limitations in those approaches, he eventually turned to studying the brain, and is one of the founders of the field of cognitive neuroscience. Research in the Kosslyn Laboratory focused primarily on the nature of visual mental imagery, visual perception, and visual communication, as well as on the uses of imagery in cognition more generally, and on individual and group differences in imagery ability. Convergent methodologies were employed, ranging from behavioral studies to neuroimaging research to computational models. 

Since becoming Emeritus at Harvard, Kosslyn has gone on to apply findings about perception, learning, and memory to education. He was Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Minerva, a startup university, and is now President and CEO of Active Learning Sciences, which builds AI-driven educational programs. 

Visit Stephen Kosslyn's Edge page and the Active Learning Sciences site (www.activelearningsciences.com) for selected  interviews and essays.