Dr. Arseny Finkelstein
We study how cognitive abilities emerge from interactions between neurons. Our lab is especially interested in understanding how the collective activity of neurons in brain networks gives rise to cognitive phenomena, such as the ability to make decisions and form new memories. We study these questions in mice engaged in cognitively complex behaviors involving decision-making, navigation, and the use of short-term memory.
We employ cutting edge electrophysiological, imaging, and optogenetic techniques that enable turning ON and OFF specific neurons, in combination with advanced computational methods for modeling and analysis of neural dynamics. This allows us not only to ‘read’ the mind by recording neural activity during behavior, but also to manipulate cognitive processes by ‘writing’ information directly into the brain to influence decisions and create artificial memories.
Our lab is also interested in reorganization of brain networks during neurodegeneration, with a focus on brain plasticity following stroke.
Behavioral Neuroscience
Computational & Theoretical Neuroscience
System & Physiological Neuroscience
- Inagaki KH, Chen S, Daie K, Finkelstein A, Fontolan L, Romani S, Svoboda K. Neural algorithms and circuits for motor planning.Annual Review of Neuroscience (2022) https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-092021-121730
- Finkelstein A*, Fontolan L*, Economo MN, Li N, Romani S, Svoboda K. Attractor dynamics gate cortical information flow during decision-making.Nature Neuroscience (2021) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-021-00840-6
- Finkelstein A, Ulanovsky N, Tsodyks M, Aljadeff Y. Optimal dynamic coding by mixed-dimensionality neurons in the head-direction system of bats. Nature Communications (2018) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05562-1
- Sarel A*, Finkelstein A*, Las L, Ulanovsky N. Vectorial representation of spatial goals in the hippocampus of bats. Science (2017) https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aak9589
- Finkelstein A*, Derdikman D*, Rubin A, Foerster JN, Las L, Ulanovsky N. Three-dimensional head-direction coding in the bat brain. Nature (2015) https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14031
