Flexible neural interfaces. A major challenge for neuroelectronic stimulation or recording devices is the degradation of signal quality due to implant rejection over time. To overcome this problem, we develop and test new flexible and ultrathin neuroelectronic interfaces. These devices can interact with neural tissue over very long time scales and form the basis for long-term studies of neural activity and novel therapeutic tools for neurological disorders in humans.

Neural information processing. The transformation of complex sensory information into behavioral decisions requires the coordinated activity of many brain regions. We want to understand how these regions process sensory inputs and interact with each other to generate a unified behavioral decision. Using 2-photon microscopy, we study the function of individual neurons in large neural networks of awake mice that perform a perceptual task. Our goal is to reveal the underlying principles that allow biological neural networks to efficiently process sensory information.

Neuromodulation of cortical circuits and behavior. Neuromodulatory brain centers orchestrate the highly coordinated function of different brain areas and are often disrupted in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or Schizophrenia. By combining functional imaging and high-density electrophysiology, we study how neuromodulation affects the function of different brain areas to provide insights that can guide the development of novel treatments for neurological diseases.