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My major research interests are neural plasticity and the control of behaviour.
My past work comprises map reconstruction and plasticitiy inrodent SI cortex
(extracellular recordings in vivo), optical imaging with voltage sensitive
for a comparative analysis of cortical areas (in rat and mouse brain slices),
and an analysis of the gustatory system of the honeybee with special reference
to its importance in relaying the unconditioned stimulus in learning experiments
(electrophysiology, behaviour, and neuroanatomical tracing). I have also
briefly worked with the pharyngeal system of C. elegans. Currently, I am
chiefly concerned with pheromone information processing and orientation
in the male silkmoth. This topic spans various levels (from intact animal
EAGs at the input to motoneurons and muscular effectors at the output)
and necessits a wide range of techniques including neuroanatomical tracing,
electrophysiology, microstimulation of specific brain areas, and pharmacological
manipulations in order to understand how the brain of the silkmoth generates
motor control signal sequences resulting in zig-zag walking and looping
behaviour, the components that allow the male silkmoth to localise a pheromone-releasing
mate with 100% certainty. This robust goal-finding behaviour in the presence
of intermittent input and a shallow concentration gradient is futher employed
as a model system to implement these desirable properties in autonomous
systems. Other projects pursued for some time already include orientation
in fiddler crabs to understand path integration and comparative neuroanatomy
of arthopods.
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