Current Projects
What is the logic underlying neocortical structure and function? Answering this question will require precise measurements and perturbations of specific neuronal populations in behaving animals.
- Quantitative behavior of head-fixed mice
Inspired by work in primates, we have developed complex behavioral tasks in head-fixed mice. In one task mice use their whiskers to measure the distance to an object for a water reward. This task provides exquisite experimental control: the motor programs (whisking and licking) and the sensory inputs (whisker-object contact, force on the follicle) can be precisely measured. Another task is based on olfactory discrimination. These head-fixed behaviors allow us to apply reductionist biophysical techniques, such as whole cell recordings, population imaging with single cell resolution, photostimulation, and local pharmacology to dissect the contributions of specific neurons and neuronal populations to the behavior.
- Reverse engineering neocortical circuits
We are mapping the functional circuits underlying somatosensation at the level of identified groups of neurons. To probe long-range projections we employ a combination of classical anatomy followed-up by ChR2-based circuit mapping. To probe local cortical microcircuits we use glutamate uncaging-based circuit mapping.
- Recording and imaging neuronal populations
We use a variety of electrophysiological and imaging approaches to monitor the dynamics of neuronal populations in behaving mice.