About
Research topics
- Computational neuroscience and brain theory.
- Computational linguistics and artificial intelligence.
- Cognitive neuroscience of language (focus on aphasia, semantics, and neural architecture) and psycholinguistics (focus on Visual World Paradigm).
- Cognitive linguistics (focus on computational construction grammar).
- Situated language use (focus on modeling vision-language interactions).
- Hybrid systems for top-down approach to modeling brain functions.
- Synthetic Brain Imaging (SBI): Simulating EEG signals from neurolinguistics computational models.
Publications
- Barres (2017) Schema Architecture for Language-Vision InterActions: A Computational Cognitive Neuroscience Model of Language Use. (PhD Dissertation)
- Barres (2017) Template Construction Grammar: A Schema-Theoretic Computational Construction Grammar. In 2017 AAAI Spring Symposium Series.
- Arbib, Gasser, and Barres (2014). Language is Handy but is it Embodied? Neuropsychologia, 55, 57-70.
- Barres, Lee (2014). Template Construction Grammar: From visual scene description to language comprehension and agrammatism. Neuroinformatics, 1-28.
- Vidal, Barres (2014). Hearing (rivaling) lips and seeing voices: how audiovisual interactions modulate perceptual stabilization in binocular rivalry. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8.
- Arbib, Barres (2013). Are grammatical constructions linked to embodied meaning representations? IEEE CIS Autonomous Mental Development Newsletter Fall 2013.
- Barres, Simons III, Arbib (2013). Synthetic event-related potentials: a computational bridge between neurolinguistics models and experiments. Neural Networks, 37, 66-92.
- Vidal, Barres. (2011). How Auditory Information Influences Volitional Control in Binocular Rivalry: Modulation of a Top-Down Attentional Effect. I-Perception, 2(8), 839-839.
Talks
- Barres (2017). Template Construction Grammar: A Schema-Theoretic Computational Construction Grammar. AAAI Spring Symposium Series.
- Barres (2017). Description of visual scenes as well as sentence comprehension, using the Schema Architecture Language-Vision InterAction (SALVIA) cognitive model. Center for Research in Language Talk. UCSD
- Barres (2015). Modeling Performance Based on Construction Grammar: Challenges for Integration. Action Brain Language and Evolution (ABLE) Workshop, Chicago, USA, October, 2015.
- Barres (2014). Template Construction Grammar: Neuro-Computational Modeling of the Vision-Language Interface . Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) & Action Brain Language and Evolution (ABLE) Workshop, Bielefeld, Germany, December, 2014.
- Barres (2014). Neuro-Computational Modeling of the Language-Vision Interface: Construction Grammar, Visually Anchored Semantics, and Neural Architecture. Action Brain Language and Evolution (ABLE) Workshop, Los Angeles, USA, January, 2014.
Teaching experience
- T.A. for Brain Theory and Artificial Intelligence (CS564). Instructor: Dr. Michael Arbib. USC Viterbi School of Engineering. 2013 (Spring, Fall), 2015 (Spring).
- T.A. for Applied Natural Language Processing (CS544). Instructor: Dr. Zornista Kozareva. USC Viterbi School of Engineering. 2013 (Spring). See here.
Education
- Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate (P.I. Michael Arbib) (2010 - Now) - University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- M.S. Cognitive Science (2008 - 2010) - Ecole Normale Superieure Paris & E.H.E.S.S - Paris, France.
- M.S. Physics (2003 - 2006) - Ecole Polytechnique - Palaiseau, France
Some personal interests
- Semiotics (meaning-making in all its forms).
- Logic with a current interest in J. Y. Girard’s Linear Logic and the applications it found in Categorial Grammars)
- Relations between dynamic and symbolic representations (check out beim Graben’s work if you have time)
- History of cognitive neuroscience, its epistemological foundations, and its impact on our societies.
- Historical linguistics, evolution of language (biological and cultural), and any crossover those might have (or could have) with NLP.
- Coffee (black, no sugar).
- Cryptography.
- Attempts to use NLP in the pursuit of artistic, absurdist, dadaist, pataphysic, oulipian or any other useless playful goals.
- Tsundoku and labyrinthine libraries (you’ll find me in the stacks).
- Boxing.