Research

The research goals are to elucidate cellular mechanisms of normal and impaired peripheral and central sensory processing, to explore sensorimotor transformation, the modulation of sensory and motor function and to study goal-directed behavior. Peripheral sensory research combines cell-physiological and biophysical approaches with molecular strategies for the investigation of cellular signaling complexes in the sensory cells of ear, eye, and nose.

Projects deal with coding at ribbon synapses and transduction in olfactory receptor neurons. A combined cell-physiological and genetic approach to the calyx of Held synapse is used to explore the mechanisms underlying temporal acuity, reliability, and plasticity of information processing in the auditory brainstem.

Systems physiology and computational approaches are used to elucidate processing principles and circuit plasticity in the auditory system of insects and in the primate visual cortex, where also the modulation by attention is studied.

Research on sensorimotor transformations, complex perception-action loops, learning of adaptive, anticipatory behavior, and the modulation of motor function by transcranial magnetic stimulation and direct current stimulation uses both experimental and theoretical approaches.