Hallucinogenic modulation of cortical functional connectivity

Hallucinogenic drugs result in profound alterations of our sensory, perceptual and higher cognitive functions. Presently, it is not understood how these drugs affect the intact brain at the level of neuronal populations. The aim of this project is to elucidate the changes in cortical activity in vivo, following the administration of classical hallucinogens, and relate these changes to alterations in behaviour, on a timescale of minutes, hours and days. This will be achieved through monitoring the behaviour and neuronal activity in freely-moving mice. We will use advanced machine-learning based software to track animals' behaviour and use chronically implanted, high-density multi-electrode arrays to track the activity of large neuronal populations. Through the use of advanced computational analyses, these data will allow us to investigate the effects of hallucinogens on the activity of individual neurons and neuronal populations.