Lounsbery Lecture

"Neural Mechanisms of Natural Spatial Behavior in Freely Flying Bats"

Our lab seeks to understand the neural basis of natural spatial behaviors in mammals. To do so, we take a neuroethological approach that leverages the specialization of the bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) for 3D spatial movement and in particular, its ability to elegantly navigate at high spatial precision during high-speed flight and across different sensory conditions. In parallel, we pioneer a suite of cutting-edge technologies that make it possible to study the behavior and neural circuits in freely flying bats in ways not previously possible. In this talk, I will focus on the neural representation in the hippocampus of flying bats across space and time. I will discuss findings addressing how the hippocampus represents spatial information during aerial navigation on both short (milliseconds/seconds) and long (days/weeks) timescales and from single neurons to ensemble dynamics. 

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