Internship projects

1) Conceptual Knowledge: How do we think about things that we cannot see, hear or touch? How do we think about the past or plan the future? How can we represent other's people minds, desires and beliefs? How do we retrieve, maintain and manipulate information in our mind's eye? We are exploring the possibility that the mental machinery evolved to represent and navigate space has been recycled to represent and navigate conceptual information and memories.

2) Language processing: How do we make sense of words? How comes that meaningless strings of written signs or arbitrary sounds are related to concepts? How do we retrieve and manipulate conceptual knowledge? Our research follows a semiotic framework according to which meaning is generated by iconic, indexical and symbolic processes that requires the interaction of the memory, language and sensorimotor system.

3) Consciousness: What is the difference between conscious and unconscious cognition? What is the role of consciousness in language processing and it relations with semantics? Why is Siri not yet conscious? We think that our research on knowledge and semantics may help to provide and answer to these fundamental questions.

Over-reactivity and defensive behaviors in response to tactile stimuli are common symptoms in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These behaviors have also been observed in mice lacking ASD-associated genes such as Fmr1 (fragile X mental retardation protein 1). Recently, we showed that mice lacking the ASD-associated gene Engrailed 2 (En2-/- mice) have a reduced connectivity in somatosensory cortex, accompanied by fear and active avoidance responses to repeated whisker stimulation. Thus, impaired somatosensory processing is a common feature in mice lacking ASD-related genes. In this project, we want to extend our analyses to other monogenic mouse models of ASD, namely Cntnap2 and Shank3b knockout mice, which are known to have anatomical defects in the somatosensory cortex. By using gene expression and behavioural approaches, we aim at characterizing somatosensory defects in these mutant mouse lines relevant for ASD.

methodology: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; motion tracking of the human body; Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping in neurosurgical patients; MR-tractography.

We aim to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of brain networks that transform explicit intentions and inner needs, together with information about the outside world, into voluntary or automatic movements. Particular attention is put on brain connectivity. Experimental models include neurostimulation and tractography in healthy human volunteers and lesion-behaviour mapping in neurosurgical patients.

general topic: Neuronal coding, Neural network dynamics, Connectivity, Olfaction, Vision, Learning & Memory, Magnetoreception, Neurophysics, Neuroactive substances, Neurotoxins

methodology: Two-photon microscopy, Calcium imaging, Optogenetics, Data analysis, Maschine Learning, small animal models (insects, fish)

We offer an involvement in different projects on the above-mentioned topics. Our core facility is a two-photon in vivo imaging platform, our standard models are honeybees, fruitflies, ants, and zebrafish. Students will receive training in all required techniques, e.g. genetic engineering, in vivo morphological and functional imaging, immunohistochemistry, image postprocessing, advanced image analysis, programming platforms: MATLAB, LabView, Machine learning, Behavioural assays, Statistical data analysis, Beekeeping.

general topic: Neurobiology of Comparative Cognition

methodology: behavioural measurements and training of domestic chicks, neuronanatomical and histological preparations, neuroanatomical staining procedures, immunohistochemistry, mapping neuronal activity on the basis of immediate early gene products (e.g. c-Fos), lesioning and tracing, electrophysiological recordings of single unit and low field potentials in the brain of domestic chicks.

We are constantly running various projects investigating the neurobiological basis of spatial and social cognition in domestic chicks. We are focusing on visually guided behaviours and pay particular attention to lateralisation of brain functions. If you are interested in comparative neuroscience, animal behaviour/neuroanatomy and are willing to learn neurobiological methods used in our lab, please don't hesitate to write an email to Dr. Uwe Mayer who will provide you more specific infos about currently available projects. Please visit also our Group website.

We are currently working on different projects on the above-mentioned topics. Students are offered the opportunity to be involved in various experimental phases (from experimental planning, to data collection and data analysis) by running experiments both inside and outside the laboratory.

type of internship: curricular/Post-graduate

methodology: fMRI, MEG, psychophysics

Please consult the group's website for further details of the research projects. Students will be offered the opportunity to be involved in various experimental phases (from literature research to experiment design, data collection and data analysis).

type of internship: curricular/Post-graduate