Daniela Pollak
Behaviour is a direct output of brain function. The complexity of cognitive, social, and emotional behaviours arises from an intricate interplay of internal and external factors that shape neural circuits. Genetically determined, hardwired neural connections are modulated by an individual’s inner state throughout lifetime. External factors, including environmental cues and experiential learning interact with the internal dynamics to sculpt the brain's networks. We aim to uncover the mechanistic interface that modulates the bidirectional interdependence between internal and external factors that jointly determine the intricacy of behavioural outputs in health and disease.