Mechanisms of experience-dependent CA1 place field activity
We have examined the microcircuit mechanisms of place field generation using whole-cell voltage recordings and two-photon optical imaging of hippocampal CA1 neurons in mice running on a linear…
Read MoreNeuronal mechanisms of cue-triggered action initiation
We trigger actions in response to external sensory cues, like pushing the gas pedal when the lights turn green. This cue-triggered action is often spared in Parkinson’s patients,…
Read MoreNeural basis of water and sodium balance
Fluid homeostasis is a vital function that regulates the balance between water and sodium. When this balance shifts in one direction, the brain detects the changes and triggers…
Read MoreFeedforward and Feedback Interactions for Vision
The thalamus and cerebral cortex are intimately interconnected by a dense network of feedforward and feedback circuits. In the visual system, the response properties of neurons in the…
Read MoreThe Good, the Bad and Something Inbetween
In active avoidance tasks, subjects have to learn to execute particular actions in order to avoid an aversive stimulus, such as a shock. Such paradigms pose a number…
Read MoreHuman-specific modifiers of synaptic development, cortical circuit connectivity and function
The remarkable cognitive abilities characterizing humans has been linked to unique patterns of connectivity characterizing the neocortex. Comparative studies have shown that human cortical pyramidal neurons (PN) receive…
Read MoreTIPS with Henry Dunn and Madineh Sarvestani
Henry Dunn Laboratory of Dr. Kirill Martemyanov, Scripps Research Endogenous trans-synaptic modulators of group III mGluRs temper neuropsychiatric manifestations Trans-synaptic modulation of GPCRs represents an emerging dimension in…
Read MoreNeural circuits for learning and predicting self-generated sounds
Like walking or speaking, most of our movements have predictable acoustic consequences. Our brain’s ability to recognize self-generated sounds such as these is critical for normal hearing as well as for learning…
Read MoreDeep learning tools for the analysis of animal behaviors
Recent advances in computer vision have made accurate, fast and robust measurement of animal behavior a reality. In the past years powerful tools specifically designed to aid the…
Read MoreNeurobiology of Social Behavior
Social interactions are essential for animals to survive, reproduce, raise their young. Over the years, my lab has attempted to decipher the unique characteristics of social recognition: what…
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