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 sensory encoding and movement. 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 compute 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; midbrain feedback to refine the coordination of concurrent orofacial motor actions; and thalamocortical to cortical transformations specifically to deduce object location through vibrissa touch. 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. We address vascular control in terms of feedback dynamics and, for the case of vasomotion, are guided by the mathematics of coupled oscillators. Our current focus is three-fold: exploring and formulating the spatiotemporal dynamics of arteriole vaso-oscillations in terms of competive inputs from internal brain signals and external sensation; measuring and understanding metabolic load at the level of individual neurons; and determining the nature and sensitivity of the venus return of blood. 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 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 neural circuits. We are presently exploring all-optical determination of dense feedforward graphs of neural connections. We maintain electronic, optical, and computational workshops and have access to a modern mechanical shop.
(... 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
