GPMLS Lecture - Alexander Fleischmann

Alexander Fleischmann, professor of neuroscience, and director of the neuroscience graduate program at Brown University, USA, will give a lecture titled "Cortical neural circuits for olfaction" in the GPMLS lecture series. The lecture will be held in English.

Abstract: The sense of smell guides key behavioral decisions, and its neural circuit structure has been conserved across millions of years of evolution. Olfaction thus provides an excellent experimental model for understanding core neural circuit functions in health and disease.

In the lab, we have utilized viral tracing combined with single cell and spatial omics technologies to elucidate the cellular organization of cortical neural circuits across species. In addition, we have developed in vivo imaging, mouse behavior, and computational modeling approaches to reveal the functional properties of neural networks that drive olfactory learning and decision making. Recent advances provide insight into fundamental neural circuit mechanisms that control sensory-motor transformations in the mammalian brain.

Bio: Alexander is a professor of neuroscience and director of the neuroscience graduate program at Brown University. He studies the formation and function of neural circuits underlying sensory processing and behavior. Understanding the role of neuronal identity and neural circuit structure and function has been the main driving force of his research. His lab has made major contributions to understanding the diversity of olfactory sensory neurons in the nose, and of principal neurons in the olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex of mice.