Resolving the neural circuitry underpinning decision-making in mice

The purpose of this project is to explore the neural circuitry underpinning economic decision-making in mice. In particular, I am interested in the contribution of prefrontal cortex (PFC) and claustrum (CLA) connectivity to decision-making and reward-motivated behavior.
The prefrontal cortex is a region of the brain with an established role in higher order cognitive functions such as learning and decision-making. While the cognitive and behavioral role of the claustrum is less well established, the extensive reciprocal connectivity between these two structures implies they may function synergistically. This project will utilise large scale electrophysiological methods and optogenetics to monitor, model, and perturb PFC-CLA
connectivity in mice performing a decision-making task.
By observing the neural correlates of decision-making and the effect of perturbing this circuitry on wider network activity and behavioural output, I hope to establish the function of this pathway in the context of value-based
decision-making.

Relevant BBSRC priority areas: Data driven biology, Systems approaches to the biosciences,
In vivo strategies and the 3RS