The Seung Lab

Richard Hahnloser, Ph.D.

Postdoc
(617) 252 - 1739
rhahnloser@mit.edu

Zebra finch song system

I am interested in understanding the neural mechanisms of song production in zebra finches. In particular, I am interested in the neural dynamics of the premotor nuclues RA and the high vocal center (Hvc). In the laboratory of Michale Fee at Bell Labs, I perform extracellular single-unit recordings in sleeping zebra finches. We hope to understand more about the song system by studying the mechanisms of sleep burst generation.

Neural integrator in the head-direction system

This project deals with the analysis of network models for the neural integrator in the head-direction system. Together with Xiaoohui Xie, we are trying to understand how head-direction neurons have to be synaptically connected in order to collectively achieve fast and precise integration. Another aspect of this project is to design simple learning rules for the integrator.