Dynamics in Neural Systems
We are interested in understanding the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms that give rise to the rich neural dynamics observed in the brain. Neural dynamics, the ongoing time‐varying activity patterns in populations of neurons, are critical for a wide range of motor and cognitive behaviors. To understand neural dynamics, we work at the interface between physics and biology, applying in awake animals an approach that combines molecular‐genetic manipulations, electrophysiology, multi‐photon imaging and perturbation, connectomics, statistical and machine learning, computational modeling, and control theory. Our efforts not only yield basic science insights into neuronal computations and how neurons interact to generate global function, but also help outline therapeutic strategies for dealing with disorders of neural dynamics.
