Laura Ahumada is a PhD candidate and Fulbright scholar from Colombia. She earned a Master’s degree in Psychobiology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Brazil, and obtained her B.S. in Psychology at the National University of Colombia. Laura’s main research focus on comprehending how neural plasticity and learning evolve in the sensory cortex using paradigms such as aversive conditioning. The above includes evaluating how high order brain areas contribute to changes in the visual cortex activity during learning using connectivity analysis with the EEG-derivated data. Additionally, Laura has been implementing mathematical approaches to quantitatively describe tuning functions in the visual cortex and above. Aside from the lab, Laura is an active member in SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science), organization that hosts outreach activities that aim to build strong community values and an inclusive space in science.