#  Pehlevan Group 

 



Our goal is to elucidate the theoretical foundations of natural and artificial intelligence through the lens of neural computation. Our research intersects with theoretical and computational neuroscience, deep learning theory, the physics of learning, machine learning, statistical mechanics and high-dimensional statistics. We are particularly interested in how computation emerges in neural networks through the collective dynamics of simple processing units, or neurons. By uncovering these dynamics, we aim to understand the capabilities and limitations of intelligent systems across various contexts, informing future innovations in machine learning and neurotechnology.



 

##  Group News 

 



  [### ICML 2026 Presentations from our group

 ](/news/2026/06/icml-2026-presentations-our-group) June 15, 2026 

 

   ![ICML](/sites/g/files/omnuum6471/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-07/icml_logo.png?h=be8ef812&itok=aqvVzgCr) 

 



 

 

   [### Alex passes CS Qualifying Exam!

 ](/news/2026/05/alex-passes-cs-qualifying-exam) May 07, 2026 

 

   ![Alex Meterez](/sites/g/files/omnuum6471/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/pehlevan/files/alexmeterez.jpeg?itok=xU1s2x6G) 

 



 

 

   [### A toy model to understand how AI learns

 ](/news/2026/05/toy-model-understand-how-ai-learns) May 05, 2026 

 

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   [### Congratulations, Dr. Ben Ruben!

 ](/news/2026/04/congratulations-dr-ben-ruben) April 29, 2026 

 

   ![Ben](/sites/g/files/omnuum6471/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/pehlevan/files/benheadshot_0.jpg?itok=qOWwULat) 

 



 

 

   [### ICLR 2026 Presentations from our group

 ](/news/2026/04/iclr-2026-presentations-our-group) April 16, 2026 

 

   ![ICLR 2025](/sites/g/files/omnuum6471/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-04/Mt1ozX07_400x400.jpg?itok=KQPvzgsO) 

 



 

 

   [### COSYNE 2026 Presentations from our group

 ](/news/2026/03/cosyne-2026-presentations-our-group) March 10, 2026 

 

   ![COSYNE 2025](/sites/g/files/omnuum6471/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-03/cosyne_brain_png.png?itok=NCpl9oGe) 

 



 

 

  

 

 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) 

 

 

 

##  Affiliations 

 



 [John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences chevron\_right](https://www.seas.harvard.edu/) [Center for Brain Science chevron\_right](http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/) [Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural & Artifical Intelligence chevron\_right](https://www.harvard.edu/kempner-institute/) [Simons Collaboration on the Physics of Learning and Neural Computation chevron\_right](https://www.physicsoflearning.org/) [Swartz Program in Theoretical Neuroscience chevron\_right](http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/swartz-program) [Center of Mathematical Sciences and Applications chevron\_right](https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/) [Harvard Machine Learning Theory chevron\_right](https://mltheory.org/) [Harvard Data Science Initiative chevron\_right](https://datascience.harvard.edu/) [Neurotheory chevron\_right](https://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/research/theory/) [Program in Neuroscience chevron\_right](https://www.hms.harvard.edu/dms/neuroscience/) [The Biophysics Program chevron\_right](https://biophysics.fas.harvard.edu/) [Harvard Brain Science Initiative chevron\_right](http://brain.harvard.edu/) [The Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative chevron\_right](https://mbb.harvard.edu/) [The NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions (… chevron\_right](https://iaifi.org/)