Prof. Dr. Richard H.R. Hahnloser

 

Main Goals, Keywords

Neural Basis of Behavior in Songbirds: I am interested in understanding how songbirds learn to sing; and more generally, how the brain represents and acquires learned sequential behaviors.

Computational Neurosciences and Computational Neuroanatomy.  I also like to develop computational tools for the analysis of neural circuits, on both levels of electrophysiology and anatomy.

Group Members

1 Technician, 7 PhD Students

Previous and Current Research

Songbirds have the rare ability of vocal learning. They learn their songs in a sensory phase during which they memorize a template of tutor song and in a sensorimotor phase, in which they refine their vocalizations to gradually approximate the tutor song. They achieve this remarkable feat using a highly specialized set of brain areas, termed the song system. Our research is directed at elucidating the neural mechanisms of song production and song learning in these brain areas.

Future Projects

Our future research is directed towards multi single-unit recordings from auditory brain areas using multi-trodes and the development of correlative microscopy techniques for reconstruction of synaptic networks among projection neurons.

Techniques and Equipment

In vivo : Extracellular single-unit recordings, pharmacological manipulations, electrical stimulation, distortions of auditory feedback. 

Other: Model-based computer simulations. Fluorescence and electron microscopy. 

Selected Publications

• Fiete, I.R., Senn, W., Wang, C. & Hahnloser, R.H. Spike time-dependent plasticity and heterosynaptic competition organize networks to produce long scale-free sequences of neural activity. Neuron, 65(4): 563-76 (2010).
• D'Souza, P., Liu., S.-C. & Hahnloser, R.H. The perceptron learning rule derived from spike-frequency adaptation and spike-time dependent plasticity. PNAS, 107(10): 4722-7 (2010).
• Hahnloser, R.H. and Wang, C. and Nager, A. and Naie, K. Spikes and bursts in two types of thalamic projection neurons differentially shape sleep patterns and auditory responses in a songbird. Journal of Neuroscience May 7; 28(19): 5040-5052 (2008).

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation, University of Zurich

URL

http://www.ini.unizh.ch/~rich/