Brain Controls Behavior Through Emotions and Motivation
Professor Anna Schroeder at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München researches how the brain translates emotions and needs into action and adapts behavior to the environment.
Anna Schroeder, a newly appointed professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU München), is investigating how the brain converts emotions, needs, and motivation into actions. Her research focuses on understanding how the brain adapts behavior to changing environmental conditions.
According to Schroeder, behavior is the result of complex neural processes. The brain links internal states, such as fear or hunger, with external stimuli, making continuous decisions. Her goal is to comprehend how the brain generates flexible and situationally adaptive behavior.
The research specifically targets behaviors driven by emotions and motivation, including defensive reactions, food intake, and social interactions. These behaviors are based on internal states generated by the brain itself, which influence perceptions and responses.
Schroeder is also studying a less-explored brain region known as the "zona incerta" or "uncertainty zone." Initial indications suggest this area may play a key role in selecting and coordinating behavior by linking internal states with external sensory information.
The research group employs a variety of methods, including optogenetics and calcium imaging, to analyze neural networks at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. The studies are primarily conducted on mice, which exhibit a diverse range of behaviors. Schroeder highlights the research's potential for developing new therapeutic approaches for neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and neurodegenerative diseases.