We aim to understand the cellular and molecular basis for computations that underlie episodic memory.
We are based in the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
Our research follows four themes:

Circuit organisation. We are investigating the local and long-range organisation of circuits in the entorhinal cortex. We want to understand how molecular level organisation within the entorhinal cortex leads to architectural principles that are critical for memory storage and retrieval.

Circuit computations. We are using high density neural recordings and neural network models to investigate how entorhinal cortex circuits implement computations important for spatial memory.

Technology development. With collaborators in the Institute for Integrated and Nano Systems we are developing kilohertz frame rate cameras for imaging neural activity, and with collaborators in the School of Informatics and the Centre for Statistics we are developing new tools for analysing the organisation and activation of neural circuits.

Circuit disorders. Many disorders of the brain appear to result from circuit level deficits. We believe that understanding the fundamental principles for neural circuit computation will be essential for understanding and treating disorders. We are addressing this by focusing on models of autism spectrum disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.