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Alessandra Angelucci

Current Research

Structure and function of the visual cerebral cortex


My research focuses on identifying neuronal circuits that underlie the functional properties of neurons in the visual cerebral cortex and visual perception. The laboratory uses optical imaging to record the activity of neuronal populations combined with electrophysiological recordings of the response properties of single neurons and tract tracing techniques to label neuronal circuits. These methods allow us to map the anatomical structure onto the underlying functional architecture of the visual cortex and, thus, to understand how specific cortical circuits are functionally organized. In collaboration with the group of Prof. Paul Bressloff (Dept. Mathematics, University of Utah) we also generate anatomically and physiologically-based neural network models of visual cortex.


Research in the lab is currently directed towards understanding: 1) the circuits and mechanisms underlying contextual influences in visual information processing and perception; 2) the degree of segregation and/or cross-talk between parallel channels in the visual cortex specialized in processing specific visual attributes (e.g. color, form, motion, etc); 3) Anatomical and functional characterization of primate area V3. 4) The functional organization and role of top-down feedback pathways in the visual cortex.