How does the brain adapt to new challenges?

Our goal is to understand how neurons in the brain flexibly control skilled compositional behaviors — such as typing an e-mail or sketching a portrait. To carry out such actions, the brain must weave together individual movement elements into a coherent whole. We study crows and their brains to uncover the neuronal foundations and evolution of complex behaviors — like tool use — that lie at the intersection of cognition and fine motor control.

We are a team led by Felix Moll at the University of Tübingen, affiliated with the lab of Andreas Nieder.

To decipher the neuronal code that guides skilled crow behaviors, we simultaneously record the activity of large populations of neurons. Watch and listen to crow neurons in action (audio on!):