We aim to understand the mechanisms that give rise to conscious perception and how these mechanisms are altered in psychiatric disorders.

Our laboratory is dedicated to exploring the neuronal circuit basis of conscious perception and investigating how these circuits become dysregulated in disease. Specifically, we focus on the effects of consciousness-altering drugs, widely used in psychiatric treatments, on the mouse cortex. Despite the extensive use of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, surprisingly little is understood about their effect on neuronal activity. By identifying functional patterns in cortical activity that are common across drugs within the same category—independent of their receptor binding profiles—we aim to isolate the treatment-relevant changes induced by these drugs. This approach may reveal the core neural changes necessary for therapeutic efficacy. Ultimately, we aspire to leverage this understanding to develop alternative strategies for achieving similar therapeutic outcomes, potentially paving the way for more effective and targeted treatments.

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Circuit neuroscience community Basel

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Our lab is based at the FMI in Basel. It is embedded in a vibrant circuit neuroscience community (CNCB) with members across the IOB, the Biocenter, and the DBM. 

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