・How neurons generate information to drive behavior?
Tabuchi lab's goal is to understand how neural coding impacts molecular/cellular signaling, plasticity, and behavior.
We apply multidisciplinary approaches in Drosophila to understand how non-canonical (temporal or analog) neural codes represent persistent internal drive.
・We apply methods of in vivo intracellular and extracellular electrophysiology, in vivo functional imaging, optogenetics, and sophisticated behavioral analysis.
・We are interested in understanding how temporal structure of membrane potential is used as non-canonical (temporal or analog) neural codes for the persistent internal drive of sleep/waking activity and nutrition-specific hunger/satiety.
・In addition, the lab seeks to identify novel pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
・Our research scope includes hierarchical interactions of gene expression, biophysical properties such as ionic currents, temporal structure of membrane potential dynamics including spiking patterns, functional synaptic connectivity of neural circuits, and behavior, with fundamental questions of what is the determining factor of processing performance in a neural circuit, what kind of molecular and cellular events can be attributed to, and how exactly do these events have a certain power in modulating the neuronal, synaptic, and behavioral states of the animals.
By answering these questions, we expect to gain key insights into the principles of neural codes underlying persistent internal drive of the brain and to provide a framework to understand how these factors ultimately contribute to our health.
Thanks to the generous sponsors of our research
