Four-dimensional analysis of information processing in brain circuits

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Analysing how neurons process information could provide us with knowledge of the basic function of the brain as well as insights to neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim is to understand how does a single neuron process its synaptic inputs to arrive at an output response. To achieve this, the project will follow two approaches: it will study single neurons via in vitro experiments, where spatiotemporal patterns of light stimuli mimic physiological synaptic inputs; and, it will build a unique in vivo microscope to map sensory inputs to neuronal circuits in the intact brain. The first approach provides an accurate analysis of neuronal circuits while the second creates an overall map of cortical processing of sensory inputs from a live animal.