What type of neuroscience research do you do and what got you interested in this research?

Our research primarily focuses on exploring how basal ganglia outputs interact with other brain regions to select, initiate, and execute motivated behavior, both in healthy individuals and those affected by neurological disorders. The basal ganglia play a crucial role in regulating motor functions, cognition, and emotions, making them a fascinating area of study.

What initially captivated us about this research was the opportunity to delve into the neural basis of learning and executing actions. Understanding how the brain processes and translates intentions into actions is fundamental to unraveling the complexities of human behavior. Moreover, the prospect of uncovering potential mechanisms to alleviate basal ganglia diseases such as Parkinson's and addiction further fueled our motivation.

What challenges did you encounter along the way, and how did you overcome these challenges?

My biggest challenge has been handling large datasets, especially those generated by cutting-edge neural technologies like Neuropixels, presented a significant challenge in our research journey. These technologies produce massive amounts of data, making it difficult to analyze and extract meaningful insights.

To overcome this hurdle, we took a multifaceted approach. We understood the importance of forming a diverse team consisting of individuals from different fields such as computer science, data science, and engineering. By combining expertise from various disciplines, we approached data analysis from different angles, enhancing our ability to make sense of the information.

Moreover, we utilized advanced computational techniques and machine learning algorithms to process and interpret the large datasets efficiently. Working closely together, our interdisciplinary team developed innovative methodologies tailored to the specific challenges posed by the data, ensuring that we could extract valuable insights effectively.