We are interested in understanding how the brain transforms intentions into actions. An important task of the brain is to extract and process information from the outside world and to transform it into appropriate motor actions. The implementation of these motor actions is achieved through the action of neuronal circuits in the brainstem and spinal cord, which in turn activate precise sequences of limb and body muscles. The motor pathway – from brain to muscle – involves diverse neuron types that form functional circuits that endow animals with a repertoire of mental and motor faculties. A major goal of our laboratory is to decipher these neuronal circuits and to understand the principles underlying the versatility of motor actions. We have a special focus on neural circuits in the brainstem and spinal cord responsible for the generation of movements such as those enabling us to walk or run.
