Projects

Most cognitive functions are based on computations that take place in the cerebral cortex. In most cortical areas a similar vertical organization of cortical modules is repeated, suggesting that the same fundamental computation scheme is carried out. Despite the large amount of available data, this processing capability of the cortical modules is still poorly understood. The EU-funded IP project NeuroSeeker aims at providing new hardware and software tools to investigate local as well as global cortical circuits. We will develop neural probe arrays with a dramatically increased density of electrodes providing an unprecedented view of currents in the extracellular medium and optogenetic tools providing layer and cell-type specificity. We will take full advantage of the rich data that can be obtained with these new devices by producing new strategies for signal classification, to locate cells in cortical layers and assign them to a cell type based on the spatiotemporal fingerprint generated at each action potential. With these technological advances, we will analyze cortical function at multiple scales in a number of contexts, from memory formation, to ongoing processing during decision making, and to sensorimotor integration for actions, advancing our understanding of cortical representations.