"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change" - Stephen Hawking
We explore natural neural algorithms underlying intelligent behaviour, brain orchestration, and brain-body coordination. As our entrypoint, we use genetically-distinct, brain-wide projecting neurons essential for normal brain function, and implicated in arousal and nutrition, such as orexin/hypocretin neurons of the hypothalamus. We monitor and control them at the speed at which the brain normally makes decisions (milliseconds). This enables a causal and mechaninstic understanding of how the brain controls itself and our behavior, and the influences upon this of lifestyle factors such as the foods we eat.
Recent News and Publications:
Transient targeting of hypothalamic orexin neurons alleviates seizures in a mouse model of epilepsy: external pageNature Communications 2024call_made
Nik interviewed on TV (Swiss German): external pageTele-Zcall_made
Control and coding of pupil size by hypothalamic orexin neurons: external pageNature Neuroscience 2023call_made , press release
Disentangling the role of NAc D1 and D2 cells in hedonic eating: external pageMolecular Psychiatry 2023call_made