University of California-Berkeley · BiochemistryThe Perception Circuit Lab
Hillel Adesnik · Berkeley, California
Research Focus
Hillel Adesnik's lab at UC Berkeley focuses on understanding how neural circuits in the primary visual cortex process visual information. They study how excitatory and inhibitory neurons interact to help us perceive our surroundings, particularly looking at phenomena like figure/ground segregation. The work involves advanced imaging and optogenetics to explore the detailed architecture and functioning of these circuits.
visual cortexneural circuitssurround modulationoptogeneticscalcium imagingsensory perceptionexcitatory/inhibitory balancefigure/ground segregationelectrophysiologyobject recognition
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of surround modulation in visual perception.
AIM 02Map the connectivity of cortical interneurons in the visual cortex.
AIM 03Examine how neural circuits contribute to image segmentation.
AIM 04Reveal the mechanisms underlying excitatory and inhibitory balance in perception.
AIM 05Study the influence of visual stimuli on neuronal responses.
Skills the Lab Values
two-photon calcium imagingoptogeneticspatch clamp electrophysiologyholographic mesoscopyin vivo imagingneuron connectivity mappingdata analysisanimal behavior studiesvisual stimulus presentationexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications125bottom 35% of dept.260th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.8kbottom 46% of dept.219th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.