Projects
Neural circuits for action and spatial cognition
Goal-directed behaviours rely critically on internal representations of the surrounding space. While we understand increasingly well how neurons represent space, how brains construct such spatial representations and use them to guide action remains unknown. Here, we plan to investigate the transformation of neural spatial representations into actions, and how such representations emerge from sensorimotor experience. By taking advantage of the genetic accessibility of the mouse model, we aim to uncover the circuit and molecular principles that link cognition to action.
The evolution of cognition
One of the hallmarks of the evolution of behaviour in animal species is the progressive shift from reflexive to adaptive behaviours. How this switch has occurred over evolution remains unknown. By performing multi species circuit and molecular analysis, we investigate the evolutionary path that led animals to gain the ability to switch from reflexive to adaptive behaviour, allowing the acquisition of progressively more complex cognitive abilities.
Molecular and circuit underpinnings of attentional disorders
A link between neurodevelopmental attention disorders and atypical neural responsivity has been proposed, but the precise circuit and molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. We investigate the idea that heightened responsivity within sensorimotor circuits contributes to the neural basis of these conditions. This work offers a new perspective on the circuit and molecular origins of attention-related disorders and may help identify actionable molecular targets to alleviate symptoms, while also deepening our understanding of the genetic basis of attention.
Novel Molecular Tools for Circuit Manipulations
We are constantly developing new methods to map and manipulate neural circuits. Several hurdles remain, and we have multiple projects addressing them. Our current efforts focus on creating multinode tracing strategies and developing new approaches to achieve single-cell resolution across brain-wide networks.