Neurophysics Research
(Turn and face the strange*)
Philosophy:
We seek to discover principles that explain the design and function of circuits in the brain. Our work is guided by curiosity and theory. Our experiments involve rodents.
Active sensing:
Our goal is an integrated circuit of movement and sensory decoding. Specifically, we addresses the circuits for orofacial motor actions that underlie exploration and foraging. These circuits coordinate movement of sensory organs and sensors and then decode a stable world view in the presence of self-motion. Our current focus is three-fold: brainstem connections for the modulation of orofacial and head movement by the breathing oscillator; thalamocortical to cortical transformations in the vibrissa system to deduce object location through touch; and midbrain feedback to refine the coordination of multiple orofacial motor actions. We use a full spectrum of approaches that include anatomy, behavior, computational analysis, electro- and opto-physiology, and structural and functional imaging..
Brain vasodynamics:
Our goal is an integrated view of how the brain is reliably perfused with blood in the face of fluctuations in vascular transport properties and shifting metabolic needs. Specifically, we address vascular control in terms of feedback dybnamics and, for the case of vasomotion, are guided by the physics of coupled oscillators. Our current focus is four-fold: relating changes in metabolic load and neurological state to vasomotion; exploting our understnding of vasomotion to increase the sensitivity of fMRI; determining the nature and sensitivity of the venus return of blood; and mapping the anatomy of subcortical cortical of vasodynamics. We use a full spectrum of approaches that include anatomy,connectomics, computational analysis, electro- and opto-physiology, and structural and functional imaging.
Neurotechnology and analysis:
We maintain an ongoing effort to develop tools that advance our scientific studies. Our past and ongoing efforts involve functional imaging, e.g., adaptive-optics, the automation of anatomical studies, e.g., and all-optical histology, and analytical methods to model and understand circuit dynamics and computation.
(... we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.**)
Link to Rhythm-n-Rodents github
