Research

Our recent work suggests that behaviors critical for survival are not encoded in isolated brain regions but are orchestrated by distributed neural networks across the brain (Stagkourakis et al., 2023). We have identified anatomically dispersed representations of instinctive behaviors such as aggression, fear, and food intake, highlighting coordinated activity across multiple brain regions. Building on this, we aim to map the dynamic, distributed circuits that drive adaptive behavior, and to understand how neural activity evolves in response to changing environments and internal physiological states.

We have also investigated how synaptic plasticity within hardwired hypothalamic circuits contributes to the regulation of behavior. This work provides a foundation for understanding how internal states, such as stress, hunger, and endocrine signals, modulate hardwired neural circuits. These findings underscore the central role of neurohormonal signaling and plasticity in shaping behavioral output.

A central theme of our research is how neural circuits adapt to both external demands and internal physiological pressures. Using perturbation approaches, including optogenetics and circuit-level manipulations, we examine how disruptions to neural and neuroendocrine systems alter behavior. This allows us to uncover the mechanisms of resilience and flexibility that enable organisms to maintain adaptive responses under changing conditions.