Systems Neuroscience & Neuroengineering

Research

The RoLi lab is the joint lab of Drew Robson and Jennifer Li. We develop novel imaging systems to record and manipulate neural activity in freely swimming larval zebrafish. We use these tools to gain a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms that control internal brain states, such as motivation and attention. Broadly speaking, we are interested in understanding the temporal dynamics of internal brain states, the logic of state transitions, and the effect of internal state on perception and decision making.  

Our lab is a part of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics

Neuroengineering

Kim DH, Kim J, Marques JC, Grama A, Hildebrand DGC, Gu W, Li JM* & Robson DN*. Pan-neuronal calcium imaging with cellular resolution in freely swimming zebrafish. Nature Methods. 2017 Nov;14(11):1107-1114

Over the last decade, larval zebrafish has emerged as an ideal system for brain-wide cellular resolution calcium imaging due to its small nervous system and high optical transparency. However, most existing imaging methods require the animal to be tethered under a microscope, which significantly restricts the range of behaviors the animal can perform. To overcome this limitation, our lab actively develops new microscopy systems that enable whole-brain imaging and manipulation in freely swimming larval zebrafish.

Using these systems, we are now investigating a wide repertoire of natural behaviors, including spatial navigation, social behavior, feeding, and reward.

Systems Neuroscience

Marques JC^ǂ, Li M^ǂ, Schaak D, Robson DN* & Li JM*. Internal state dynamics shape brainwide activity and foraging behaviour. Nature 2019. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1858-z

​Life is a multi-objective problem that every animal must solve. Our internal brain states shape our perceptions and bias our actions. The ability to transition from one brain state to another enables animals to flexibly switch between competing objectives such as seeking food, evading predators, or exploring the world.  
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Whole-brain imaging in freely behaving larval zebrafish is ideal for uncovering the neuronal networks underlying internal brain states. Using the microscopy systems that we have developed in our lab, we are beginning to understand the neural dynamics that shape the temporal structure of decision making. Our ultimate goal is to create a dynamical systems model of internal brain states and state transitions, creating a comprehensive state-space representation of an animal’s many moods and motivations during naturalistic behaviors.