Information coding in neurons: bridging the gap between cellular and behavioral neuroscience

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OBJECTIVE: The long-term objective of our laboratory's research program is to link the activity of neurons in the brain to our higher-level perceptual experiences. To understand how neuronal activity is linked to our perception of the external world, we need to know the rules neurons use to encode information in their action potential (or spike) output. This is usually referred to as understanding the "neural code". APPROACH: Our laboratory studies the neural code at two levels. In the first, we use electrophysiological recordings from the visual cortex to link neuronal activity to visual capabilities. The second level of investigation addresses the cellular mechanisms of spike integration in single neurons. The goal of this proposal is to reveal how single neurons integrate time-varying information in a way that can be applied to understanding the neural bases of visual perception. SPECIFIC AIMS: The goal of this research grant is to link together two separate levels of investigation - cellular and behavioral neurophysiology - using quantitative and mathematical approaches. Aim 1: Determine the cellular-level rules that neurons use to integrate arriving spike trains. Aim 2: Determine the systems-level rules that link spike trains to behavioral performance in visually-guided tasks. Aim 3: Reveal the convergence of cellular- and behavioral-level rules to produce a unified description of the neural code. IMPACT: The results of this research will provide us with an understanding of how neurons process information, which is critical for understanding how the brain underlies our mental life and the basis of diseases that affect mental health.