The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University probes the complex network of brain cells and their connections.

Led by Eric Kandel, M.D. (2000 Nobel laureate), and co-directors Thomas Jessell (2008 Kavli Prize laureate) and Rafael Yuste (Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute), the Institute uses advanced imaging technology to observe neurons, synapses, and neural circuits as they develop and function, and as they respond to learning.

Web Information

Kavli web page: http://www.kavlifoundation.org/columbia-university

Institute for Brain Science website: http://kavli.columbia.edu/

About the Institute for Brain Science

From the Kavli web page

The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University probes the complex network of brain cells and their connections. Led by Eric Kandel, M.D. (2000 Nobel laureate), and co-directors Thomas Jessell (2008 Kavli Prize laureate) and Rafael Yuste (Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute), the Institute uses advanced imaging technology to observe neurons, synapses, and neural circuits as they develop and function, and as they respond to learning. Researchers examine the brain at the cellular, molecular, and systems level to understand how the nerve cells of neural circuits connect during development to control behavior, and how these neural circuits perform and are modified by learning and memory. As Kandel has noted, “[We need] more powerful tools to ...

Summary

Columbia Neuroscience is centered around the Kavli Institute for Brain Science and the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute with 70 labs in 15 different departments.

Cumulatively, the Columbia neuroscience community of world-class neurobiologists generates more research funding than any other group in the country. Among them are two Nobel Prize winners, KIBS Director Eric Kandel  and KIBS Investigator Richard Axel; 11 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators; eight members of the National Academy of Sciences; and 13 members of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

Information

Columbia Neuroscience/KIBS website: kavli.columbia.edu/ Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute website: zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/ Brain Initiative Grant –  “Developing drivers for neuron type-specific gene expression”

Email: kavli@columbia.edu Phone: 646-774-6830 Address:Kavli Institute for Brain Science Columbia University 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 87 New York, NY 10032

Director: Eric Kandel

Mortimer B. Zucker­man Mind Brain Behavior Institute

Vision

The mechanisms of the brain, the workings of the mind, the complexities of human behavior—these are the challenges that define the scientific frontier for the Mortimer B. Zucker­man Mind Brain Behavior Institute.

The past 30 years have revolutionized our understanding of the biology of the brain, as new methods and tools have been used to explore the structure of its component neurons and circuits. Unraveling the details of how these neuronal networks function ...

William Bloor Professor of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Member of BRAIN Multi-Council Working Group (NINDS council)

Dr. Abbott, trained as a physicist, joined Columbia in 2005 as co-director of the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience. Using computational modeling and mathematical analysis, Dr. Abbott explores how single neurons respond to synaptic inputs, how neurons interact in neural circuits, and how large networks of neurons represent, store, and process information.

Web Information

Columbia Webpage:  neurotheory.columbia.edu/~larry/

Contact Information

Email: lfabbott@columbia.edu

Phone: 646-774-7317

Address: Center for Neurobiology and Behavior Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Kolb Research Annex, Rm 759 1051 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10032

Biography

Dr. Abbott trained as a physicist and worked in theoretical particle physics at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, CERN, the European center for particle physics, and Brandeis. He began his transition to neuroscience research in 1989 and joined Columbia in 2005 as co-director of the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience.

Using computational modeling and mathematical analysis, Dr. Abbott explores how single neurons respond to synaptic inputs, how neurons interact in neural circuits, and how large networks of neurons represent, store, and process information in processes including olfaction, motor-pattern generation, and memory and decision-making.

Dr. Abbott is a faculty member in theNeuroscience and  Physiology & Cellular Biophysics departments at P&S and the ...

Summary

Professor, Biological Sciences and Neuroscience and Co-Director, Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University Member, Multi-Council Working Group (BRAIN Initiative) Member, Advisory Committee to the Director (NIH)

Dr. Yuste has pioneered the application of imaging techniques, such as calcium imaging of neuronal circuits, two-photon imaging, photostimulation using caged compounds and holographic spatial light modulation microscopy.

Information

Columbia/Kavli Webpage: kavli.columbia.edu/leadership/yuste Lab Webpage: columbia.edu/cu/biology/faculty/yuste/ Allen Institute Webpage: alleninstitute.org/our-institute/advisors/profiles/rafael-yuste/ Twitter:  @yusterafa

Email: rafaelyuste@columbia.edu Phone: 212-854-5023 Address: 901 NWC Building 550 West 120th Street New York, NY 10027

Research

The goal of Dr. Yuste’s research is to understand the function of the cortical microcircuit. The cortex constitutes the larger part of the brain in mammals. In humans it is the primary site of mental functions like perception, memory, control of voluntary movements, imagination, language and music. No accepted unitary theory of cortical function exists yet; nevertheless, the basic cortical microcircuitry develops in stereotyped fashion, is similar in different cortical areas and in different species, and has apparently not changed much in evolution since its appearance. At the same time, the cortex participates in apparently widely different computational tasks, resembling a “Turing machine”. Because of this, it is conceivable that a “canonical” cortical microcircuit may exist and implement a relatively simple, and flexible, computation.

We pursue the reverse-engineering of the ...