Contextual control of dynamic memory recall in neuronal networks
Research Project | 2 Project Members
Understanding how the brain selects appropriate memories and behaviours in different situations is a fundamental question in neuroscience. However, we still don't fully understand how it integrates all the relevant information to do so. This project explores how the brain combines different types of information, like internal states (hunger, attention) and external cues (environment, sensory input), to guide memory and behaviour. We know that brain activity is not static: memories and thoughts unfold as dynamic sequences, shaped by both what's happening outside the body and what's going on inside. But the mechanisms that allow this kind of flexible, context-dependent processing are still not well understood. We propose that a key part of the answer lies in the brain's complex structure. Neurons differ in type, shape, and how they're connected to one another, and these features likely play a central role in determining how information flows through the network. Using recent data on brain connectivity and mathematical models of neural circuits, this project will explore how context can shift the brain into different modes of operation, allowing the same cue to trigger different responses depending on the situation. By advancing our understanding of how the brain integrates multiple sources of information, this research aims to uncover some of the basic principles that make flexible, intelligent behaviour possible.
