Humans, like mice and rats, are social beings. We understand and navigate our environment not only through cognitive processes but also emotionally—often shaped by interactions with others. This duality means we store both cognitive and emotional memories, which are often interconnected. But how do cognition and emotion interact in the brain? How does information about logical relationships and feelings reach the brain's memory structures?
Our research group is dedicated to answering these questions. A central focus is understanding how prosocial behaviors, such as learning to help one another, arise at the neuronal level and how environmental factors influence this process. Ultimately, we aim to apply this knowledge to better understand and address disorders associated with social behavior.
To tackle these questions, we use a range of cutting-edge techniques, including in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, and computational approaches.
