About the research:
In the lab, the project focuses on developing a translational model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in non-human primates — an ideal species for studying the neural mechanisms underlying complex cognitive functions. The research focus is to understand how the disease alters cortical neuronal dynamics, especially gamma oscillations, which are associated with perception, attention, and memory and tend to weaken in aging and pathological conditions. To this end, we combine behavioral training, eye tracking, and electrophysiological recordings at multiple cortical sites, aiming to characterize longitudinally the functional changes induced by AD. This approach will allow us to establish a robust model and to test the effectiveness of non-invasive therapies based on flickering stimuli in the gamma frequency band.
Selected publications:
Self M, Vilela-Filho O, Neuenschwander S, Silva-Filho H F, Goulart L C, Roelfsema PR. Effects of eye closure on the spiking activity of human lateral geniculate neurons. Nature Communications (2025), 16, 10402 (2025). doi.org:10.1038/s41467-025-65383-x
Neuenschwander, S et al. On the Functional Role of Gamma Synchronization in the Retinogeniculate System of the Cat. J. Neurosci. 43, 5204–5220 (2023). doi.org:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1550-22.2023
Onorato I, Neuenschwander, S et al. A Distinct Class of Bursting Neurons with Strong Gamma Synchronization and Stimulus Selectivity in Monkey V1. Neuron 105, 180-197.e5 (2019). doi.org:10.1016/j.neuron.2019.09.039
Lima B, Singer W, Chen N-H, Neuenschwander S (2011). Gamma responses correlate with temporal expectation in monkey primary visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience 31, 15919–15931. doi.org:10.1523/jneurosci.0957-11.2011
Lima B, Singer W, Chen N-H, Neuenschwander S (2010). 1. Synchronization dynamics in response to plaid stimuli in monkey V1. Cerebral Cortex 20, 1556–1573. doi.org:10.1093/cercor/bhp218
