Optical Tools for Dissecting Neural Information Processing
Recent developments in optical microscopy techniques have revolutionized our ability to record, and more recently perturb, functional signals from identified elements in mammalian cortical circuits. We hope that, in the near future, we will be able to make use of these tools to not only uncover the basic operating principles of the cortical circuit – which underlie how we perceive, move and think – but also to aid in the development of therapeutic strategies for dysfunctioning cortical circuits – for instance following neurodegenerative disorders. In this talk, I will describe work in my laboratory on the development of enabling technology (both experimental and computational/theoretical) for reverse-engineering cortical circuit function, including two-photon targeted, robotically automated whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology, high fidelity action potential detection from calcium signals, novel galvanometric optical scanning algorithms, information theoretic data analysis methods, and novel decoding algorithms. I will illustrate the use of these tools with application to understanding the encoding of information underlying sensory perception, locomotion, and memory.
Date:
14 June 2017, 13:30
Venue:
Le Gros Clark Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QX
Venue Details:
Lecture Theatre
Speaker:
Dr Simon Schultz (Imperial College London)
Organisers:
Dr Rafal Bogacz (University of Oxford),
Dr Tim P Vogels (University of Oxford),
Dr Rui Ponte Costa (University of Oxford)
Part of:
Oxford Neurotheory Forum
Topics:
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Rui Costa
