If it would be possible to watch nerve cells "at work", scientists could address many questions about processes and diseases in the nervous system. We design genetically encoded fluorescent indicator molecules which make such processes visible by changing their fluorescent properties. [more]

How is the brain wired? What we see, understand, and think is computed by the outer shell of the brain, called cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex contains billions of nerve cells, which each connect to about a thousand other neurons. This research group is aiming at mapping parts of this highly complex neuronal network in order to understand the computations that the cerebral cortex can perform.

[more]

In order to recognize and process sensory information nerve cells need to be connected in a specific way. We aim at understanding how these connections develop in the olfactory system and how they lead to a functional neuronal network. To this end, we investigate the specification and connectivity of sensory neurons in the olfactory system, using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system to analyze underlying molecular mechanisms. [more]

The brain is able to link sensory information to specific memories or experiences. In this way, for example, a fruit fly is able to associate a certain odor with a mild electric shock. We aim to understand the mechanisms of this association on the neuronal level using the model system Drosophila. [more]