Bertram Gerber

Head of the Department of Genetics of Learning and Memory at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg

We want to understand how the organisation of behaviour is rooted in the brain’s molecular and cellular architecture. We study the acquisition, maintenance, and behavioural impact of memory at the levels of molecules, neurons, and neuronal circuits. We do so in larval and adult Drosophila. Our experiments use modern transgenic technology allowing us to express any gene of interest, in any cell, at any time. To the extent that mnemonic processes are shared between Drosophila and man, this research resonates with the medical sciences. Given the numerical simplicity of the Drosophila brain, these experiments can furthermore reveal minimal-circuit solutions that balance robustness and flexibility in the organisation of behaviour, which is interesting from an engineering perspective.

Keywords: learning – memory – cognition – behavior – dopamine

Location: LIN

Webpage: Link