The Challenge
We constantly move from one point to another or navigate in the world: in a room, building or around a city. While navigating, we look around to understand the environment, and our position within it. We use vision naturally and effortlessly to navigate in the world. "How does the brain use visual images observed by the eyes for natural functions such as navigation?" We are a systems neuroscience lab investigating such questions.
Methods
The lab uses a combination of experimental and computational approaches to investigate brain function. The main experimental techniques include: large-scale extracellular electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, virtual reality, rodent behaviour and optogenetic manipulation of neural activity. Computational techniques include: decoding activity from large populations of neurons and systems level models of neural systems.
Environment
Led by Prof. Aman Saleem, the lab is based in the UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, which has a very dynamic and collaborative environment for neuroscience research. The institute hosts 5 groups with distinct but overlapping research interests. The centre has a mix of researchers from diverse backgrounds, with around 9 postdoctoral researchers, 10 PhD students and a steady stream of Masters and rotation students.
The institute is part of the UCL neuroscience domain, which is one of the epicentres of neuroscience research in the world. We benefit from a large number of researchers across various topics, including cellular, systems, cognitive, computational and theoretical neuroscience.
contact
Address: UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, 26 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AP, London, UK
(Room 507 - Aman's office; Rooms 509 & 512 - PhD and Postdoc offices)
Email: aman.saleem [AT] ucl.ac.uk