Christina Tyagi
Lab Manager · Vision & Perception Neuroscience Lab · Stanford University
I study how category-selective visual regions in the human brain develop from the first months of life through adulthood. Working in the Vision and Perception Neuroscience Lab at Stanford University, I design and conduct infant fMRI+MRI research to analyze developmental trajectories of the ventral temporal cortex.
Neuroimaging structural and functional MRI to map the developing brain
Developmental neuroscience cortical organization from infancy to adulthood
Vision science category-selective regions of the ventral temporal cortex
Cognition how the brain encodes high-level visual categories
SfN 2025 poster
- Design and implement fMRI-MRI studies investigating category-selective activations in the ventral temporal cortex in infancy.
- Characterize functional development of category-selective regions from infancy to adulthood.
- Lead participant recruitment and coordinate MRI & fMRI scans across infant, child, and adult populations.
- Collect, preprocess, and analyze data from 100+ infants across their first year of life.
- Studied how social media feed bias affects voting preferences of undecided voters; assisted with literature review, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation.
- Developed participant recruitment campaigns for online behavioral surveys.
- History minor! Emphasis on the Americas.
doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.20.660718 ↗
doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.18.649604 ↗
doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02116-6 ↗
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284495 ↗
Tyagi, C. [Presenter], Natu, V., Ortiz, D., Horenziak, J., & Grill-Spector, K. — Assessing visual category representations in infant visual cortex using fMRI.
Abstract ↗Natu, V. [Presenter], Yan, X., Tyagi, C., Kubota, E., et al. — Mapping microstructural gradients of the human putamen from infancy to adulthood.
Abstract ↗Bacmeister, C. [Presenter], Natu, V., Tung, S., Tyagi, C., et al. — Investigation of myelin development in human visual cortex with qMRI and immunohistochemistry.
Natu, V. [Presenter], Bacmeister, C., Xiaoqian, Y., Tyagi, C., et al. — Distribution of iron and myelin in basal ganglia and primary sensory cortices from infancy to adulthood.
Rispoli, B. [Presenter], Tyagi, C., et al. — Dynamic properties of stimuli drive differential responses in category-selectivity between lateral and ventral cortex.
Abstract ↗Kubota, E. [Presenter], Yan, X., Tung, S., Fascendini, B., Tyagi, C., et al. — White matter connectivity is organized by cytoarchitecture from birth.
Tung, S. [Presenter], Xiaoqian, Y., Fascendini, B., Tyagi, C., et al. — Structural development of early emerging sulcal folds during the first year of human life.
- Mentored three undergraduates, guiding independent research projects over two summers.
- Trained mentees on infant MRI/fMRI scanning and cortical surface ROI delineation.
- Led literature reviews and supported scientific development.
- Coordinated outreach for the annual Paths to PhD event and participated in Q&A panels.
Feel free to reach out about research, work, and collaboration.