{"id":17,"date":"2023-09-29T13:48:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T13:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:10:49","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Welcome to the PaMiR (Psychophysics and MR) Lab for Functional Neuroplasticity, led by Zahide Pamir. We are affiliated with the Department of Psychology<\/a> and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program<\/a> at Bilkent University. Our physical location is at the Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center<\/a> and the National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lab\u2019s research is primarily focused on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of neuroplastic changes in the visual brain, both in typical and abnormal development resulting from alterations in sensory input (such as sensory deprivation) or brain injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We employ a combination of behavioral (i.e., psychophysics) and functional neuroimaging techniques (i.e., fMRI) to gain a deeper insight into the perceptual and neural correlates of neuroplastic changes in the brain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

January 2026: New Paper Published in Journal<\/em> of Vision<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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We are excited to share a new publication from our lab, now published in Journal of Vision<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saglam, N., Merabet, L. B., & Pamir, Z. (2026). Uncovering atypical gaze patterns in cerebral visual impairment: New insights from an exploratory gaze-based analysis.<\/em> Journal of Vision, 26(1):5. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1167\/jov.26.1.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this study, we use an exploratory gaze-based analysis to examine how individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI)<\/em> visually explore scenes. By characterizing gaze behavior beyond conventional performance-based measures, our work provides new insights into atypical visual attention strategies in CVI and highlights the potential of eye-tracking as a tool for more sensitive profiling of visual function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full article here:<\/strong> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1167\/jov.26.1.5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Former Undergraduate Assistants Begin Master\u2019s Studies at T\u00fcbingen University<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Our former undergraduate assistants Bahar Canbolat, Deniz Kurt, and Nilsu Sa\u011flam have started their Master\u2019s studies at the University of T\u00fcbingen, Germany. Each of them contributed greatly to our lab during their time as student assistants, and we are excited to see them continue their academic journey. We wish them every success in this new chapter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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September, 2025:<\/strong> FNL at <\/strong>Experimental-Cognitive Psychology Symposium<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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At the IX. Experimental-Cognitive Psychology Symposium (Deneysel-Bili\u015fsel Psikoloji Sempozyumu) held at Ko\u00e7 University, Zahide Pamir delivered an oral presentation on the lab\u2019s recent work investigating plasticity and reorganization in the visual system, titled “Topografik Yeniden Yap\u0131lanman\u0131n Davran\u0131\u015fsal Sonu\u00e7lar\u0131: K\u0131sa S\u00fcreli G\u00f6rsel Yoksunluk Sonras\u0131nda Alg\u0131sal \u00d6\u011frenmenin Kom\u015fu G\u00f6rme Alanlara Transferi”<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bahar Canbolat presented a poster titled \u201cAIM ve FiND’\u0131n G\u00fcvenilirli\u011finin De\u011ferlendirilmesi: G\u00f6rsel Fonksiyonlar\u0131n De\u011ferlendirilmesi i\u00e7in Psikofiziksel Ara\u00e7lar.\u201d<\/em> Her project examined the reliability of AIM and FiND as tools for assessing visual functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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September, 2025:<\/strong> FNL at National Neuroimaging Congress<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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At the 2nd National Neuroimaging Congress (Ulusal N\u00f6rog\u00f6r\u00fcnt\u00fcleme Kongresi), organized by Ba\u015fkent University in Ankara, Tutku Karahan, together with Berk Y\u00fcce, presented a poster titled \u201cTopographic reorganization in the primary visual cortex following short-term deprivation and perceptual learning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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August, 2025:<\/strong> FNL at ECVP’25<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Berk Y\u00fcce and Nilsu Sa\u011flam represented our lab at the 47th European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP 2025), held in Mainz, Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Berk Y\u00fcce, in collaboration with Tutku Karahan, presented his work titled \u201cEnhanced Behavior Through Perceptual Learning in an Untrained Visual Location via Topographic Reorganization.\u201d<\/em> His talk addressed the functional benefits of topographic reorganization in the adult visual cortex and offered novel insights into perceptual learning mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nilsu Sa\u011flam presented her work titled \u201cCharacterizing Gaze Patterns in Cerebral Visual Impairment: Insights from Visual Search and Exploration Tasks.<\/em>\u201d She shared new findings on gaze behavior in individuals with cerebral visual impairment, emphasizing how eye-tracking can inform both clinical and cognitive models of visual exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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June, 2025:<\/strong> FNL at ISBCS’25<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Members of our lab attended the 11th International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science (ISBCS) hosted by Bah\u00e7e\u015fehir University, \u0130stanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate students Berk Y\u00fcce and Tutku Karahan presented their poster titled “Enhanced Behavior Through Perceptual Learning in an Untrained Visual Location via Topographic Reorganization.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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May, 2025: Our undergraduate assistants at Senior Project Poster Presentations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Our senior undergraduate research assistants Nilsu Sa\u011flam and Deniz Kurt have successfully completed their individual senior thesis projects and presented their work at Senior Project Poster Presentations.
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July, 2024: Our lab\u2019s first T\u00dcB\u0130TAK 1001 grant<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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We are happy to announce that our project proposal titled \u201cBehavioral and Neural Correlates of Selective Attention in Adults Born Preterm\u201d has been selected for support through T\u00dcB\u0130TAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00fcrkiye)\u2019s prestigious 1001 program. This project is also our graduate student Hilal \u00c7imen\u2019s Master\u2019s thesis project. Congratulations Hilal!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

June, 2024:<\/strong> FNL at ISBCS’24<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Members of our team attended the 10th International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science (ISBCS) held at Middle East Technical University this year.
Nilsu Sa\u011flam, our undergraduate research assistant, presented her poster titled “Characterization Of Gaze Patterns in Cerebral Visual Impairment Through a Visual Search Task.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zahide Pamir, our Principal Investigator (PI), gave an invited talk at the symposium\u2019s panel session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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April 2024: Zahide Pamir gave an invited talk at METU (Middle East Technical University) Neuroscience Days.  <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

December 2023: Zahide Pamir gave an invited talk titled \u201cHow does the visual system cope with early brain injury?\u201d at Bilkent Neuroscience Days.  <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

October 2023: Zahide Pamir gave an invited talk at 4th<\/sup> Multidisciplinary Neuroscience Congress organized by Ankara University Neuroscience Society.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

September 2023: Dr. Pamir received the best oral presentation award at the National Neuroimaging Congress with her talk titled \u201cBehavioral and neural correlates of visual search in Cerebral Visual Impairment.\u201d.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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April 2023: Dr. Pamir Awarded T\u00dcB\u0130TAK 2232-B Grant<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Zahide Pamir has received a fellowship within the scope of the 2232-B International Young Researchers Program by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00fcrkiye (T\u00dcB\u0130TAK) for three years for her project titled \u201cBehavioral and functional correlates of topographic reorganization in the primary visual cortex.\u201d The Project started in April 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2232-B Program aims to encourage and provide financial support for young researchers under the age of 40, who have been working at top international research institutes, to conduct their research in T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Pamir\u2019s project focuses on neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to adapt to new sensory experiences, physiological changes, and injury. The brain\u2019s potential to change is drastic early in life, during the so-called critical period when the brain is still developing and maximally responsive to exposure to stimuli and experiences. A growing body of neural and behavioral evidence shows that neuroplasticity is also preserved in adults. However, despite a growing body of functional and structural neural evidence for adult plasticity from both human and animal studies, the nature and underlying neural mechanisms are still under debate. Additionally, the functional relevance and behavioral correlates of neuroplasticity are not well understood. Therefore, this project aims to systematically investigate the behavioral and functional correlates of neuroplastic reorganization in neurotypical (healthy) adults by employing advanced behavioral measurements and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the PaMiR (Psychophysics and MR) Lab for Functional Neuroplasticity, led by Zahide Pamir. We are affiliated with the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program at Bilkent University. Our physical location is at the Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center and the National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM). Our lab\u2019s research is… Read More »Home<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"on","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"left","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"on","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":80,"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":522,"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticity.bilkent.edu.tr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}