Sensory and Motor Neuroscience: University of Göttingen

Scientific focus:

The research goals are

• to elucidate cellular mechanisms of normal and impaired peripheral and central sensory processing
• to explore sensorimotor transformation
• the modulation of sensory and motor function and to study goal-directed behaviour.

Peripheral sensory research combines cell-physiological and biophysical approaches with molecular strategies for the investigation of cellular signalling complexes in the sensory cells of ear, eye, and nose. Projects deal with coding at ribbon synapses and transduction in olfactory receptor neurones. A combined cell-physiological and genetic approach to the calyx of Held synapse is used to explore the mechanisms underlying temporal acuity, reliability, and plasticity of information processing in the auditory brainstem. Systems physiology and computational approaches are used to elucidate processing principles and circuit plasticity in the auditory system of insects and in the primate visual cortex, where the modulation by attention is also studied. Research on sensorimotor transformations, complex perception-action loops, learning of adaptive, anticipatory behaviour, and the modulation of motor function by transcranial magnetic stimulation and direct current stimulation uses both experimental and theoretical approaches.

The doctoral programme Sensory and Motor Neuroscience is member of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB). The graduate school offers a joint modular training programme to which the twelve doctoral programmes of GGNB contribute and that is open to all GGNB students.

In addition to a lecture and seminar programme, training consists of

1. individual counselling by thesis committees,
2. intensive methods courses of 1-3 weeks in special training labs,
3. 2-3-day methods courses in the laboratories of the participating faculty,
4. professional skills courses such as scientific writing, presentation skills, intercultural communication, project management, team-leadership skills, conflict resolution, ethics, and career development, and
5. student-organised scientific meetings, industry excursions, and intercultural events. Students will be able to tailor their individual curriculum by choosing from a large number of courses and events.

In addition to seminars on sensory and motor physiology, the programme will contribute to GGNB training with short methods courses in state-of-the-art techniques in cell physiology, high resolution imaging/anatomy and bioinfomatics both at an introductory and advanced level.