brembs

Björn Brembs
FU Berlin
Germany

on the web

brembs.net
blog

Interests

Invertebrate Neuroscience, learning & memory, operant conditioning, Drosophila, Aplysia, evolution

The Organization of Behavior

Main research topics focus around the general organization of behavior with regards to reward, punishment and decision making: How do brains accomplish adaptive behavioral choice? Specifically, operant (instrumental) conditioning paradigms are used and contrasted with classical (Pavlovian) conditioning situations in flies (Drosophila) and snails (Aplysia). Such comparisons highlight the differences and similarities between behavioral and environmental learning, the two forms of predictive learning. Methods used include a number behavioral paradigms, in vitro conditioning, electrophysiology, transgenes, molecular biology and some pharmacology. Computer modelling of simple networks complements the experimental work. Further research interests include the neurobiology of aggression, behavioral ecology, the evolution of cooperation and evolutionary psychology.

Current Projects

* Order in spontaneous behavior (Do fruit flies have free will?)
* Brains as output/input devices
* Hierarchical interactions between stimuli and actions suppress habit formation in Drosophila
* Imaging the buccal ganglia of Aplysia
* Profound flight deficit in Drosophila lacking octopamine