Active Research Projects
Neural Networks & Neurodegeneration
In the Kahn lab, we use animal models to study brain changes that occur in normal aging, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders. As we age, natural changes in the brain lead to a level of normal and expected cognitive decline over time. However, a subset of individuals will develop neurodegenerative disorders in old age that present a much more rapid and severe decline in cognitive ability.
High-order cognitive processes and goal-directed behavior in learning and memory
The lab studies high-order cognitive processes supporting learning and memory, with a focus on active sensing mechanisms as a way to understand the underlying processes. We use olfaction in mice as a model to study active sensing and have developed an experimental setup to monitor sniffing behavior non-invasively in behaving mice to examine brain-wide responses during learning.