Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Fritjof Helmchen

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

As an experimental neuroscientist with physics background my general research interest is to reveal principles of neural computation on the cellular and network level using electrophysiology and particularly optical methods. My lab has contributed to advances in the field of in vivo two-photon microscopy for the study of neuronal and glial function in vivo. Most recently we have applied genetically-encoded calcium indicators for longitudinal imaging studies as well as for imaging neocortical dynamics in awake, behaving mice. Currently, my lab is further expanding studies of behaviour-related neural dynamics in various brain regions, including hippocampus, using new microscopy concepts, genetically encoded sensors, and optogenetic and chemogenetic tools to monitor and manipulate specific neuronal populations. Our goal is to gain a mechanistic understanding of signal flow on the mesoscale, between local microcircuit operation and large-scale brain dynamics, under healthy conditions as well as in brain dieseases.

Member of Collaborative/interdisciplinary Research Consortia

University Research Priority Program 'Adaptive Brain CIrcuits in Development and Leanring' (URPP AdaBD), Co-Director
Neuroscience Center Zurich (Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften Zürich, ZNZ), Director
EXCITE Zurich