What we do
We investigate the origins of behavioral individuality
The Linneweber lab investigates the developmental origins of behavioral individuality. Our primary model organism is the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster, but we also recently started using non-model Drosophila species and the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. We use a full repertoire of behavioral assays and methods to visualize brain wiring.
Source of Funding
The DFG Emmy Noether programme
The DFG research group “The circuit variability underlying Drosophila behavioral individuality” founded our lab. We are incredibly grateful for the generous contribution of the DFG.
The DFG Research unit RobustCircuit
From Imprecision to Robustness in Neural Circuit Assembly
Current projects
Understanding the Origins of Individuality
Why are we all different, and where does this variability come from? These are critical questions in Neurobiology and Psychology and guide our research. We use the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster and several visual and non-visually guided behaviors to answer these questions.
Individual variability in visual and non-visual behaviors
We are investigating individual behavioral variability in several different behaviors. These include classical assays in the visual system, but we are also experimenting with non-visual behaviors such as circadian rhythmicity, aggression, and courtship. In the long run, we hope to understand how exactly these interindividual differences are generated.
The circuit variability behind individuality
We are interested to understand the circuit-wide differences between individuals of a species. Is variability equally distributed throughout the brain, or are some neurons more stereotypic than others? We are using a combination of electron microscopy reconstruction and light microscopic variability analysis to investigate this.
Stability of Individuality – what a brain needs for reproducible behaviors
Individual variability is a fundamental feature of all members of a species. Is this individual variability a bug or a feature? To investigate this, we are exploring the essential requirements for individual differences. Are there genetic pathways that mediate individual differences and stability? These questions are related to human disease states affecting individuality.
Joining us
If you are interested in what you read so far and are thinking of joining us as a postdoc or graduate student or undergraduate student, please get in touch! We are accepting applications all year round. Please send all informal inquiries to Gerit Linneweber.