Neuroethology combines two scientific traditions, that of the neurobiologist working in the laboratory with that of the ethologist who studies animal behavior in its natural environment and focuses on animals that are specialists in the particular behaviors that relate to their natural ecology.
We use rats, mice, fish, wasps and cockroaches as model animals and explore the neuronal circuits these animals use to solve problems related to their environments. For this purpose, we use electrophysiological, imaging and behavioral techniques.
Neuroethology Researchers
The interdisciplinary Computational Vision Lab
(iCVL) studies biological (and in particular, human) vision and machine vision
from both theoretical and applied perspectives. We bring together these fields
to (1) develop algorithmic solutions to challenges in computer vision and image
understanding, (2) devise computational explanations of biological visual
function, and (2) employ insights from studying vision for exploration of other
types of information processing, both sensory and cognitive. To meet these goals,
research is highly interdisciplinary, involving various combinations of
computational and mathematical work, machine learning techniques, behavioral
exploration and visual psychophysics (with both humans and animals), and
inquiry into visual neuroscience
website
We investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling neuronal development, which is fundamental for comprehending how the brain is assembled and functions. Moreover, we aim to translate our findings into a better understanding and treatment of brain disorders.
In particular, we explore the genetic pathways controlling the development, survival, function and degeneration of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. We combine this basic research approach with studying the pathophysiology of dopamine and serotonin-associated disorders such as Parkinson's disease and mood disorder, thus advancing the development of new therapies for these conditions.
Our goal is to investigate how parasites, using a cocktail of neurotoxins and neuromodulators, manipulate neuronal circuits to control the behavior of their hosts.
We approach this goal at the molecular, cellular, network and behavioral levels.
As a consequence, we are also interested in motor control and the pharmacology of neurotoxins and neuromodulators.
We are interested in information processing in the visual system. Specifically how the information, which enters the eye in the form of light, enables the animal to find and identify objects in space. In addition, we are interested in how animal navigated in the world, a task is heavily linked with learning and memory of the environment.
