Tansu Celikel

Professor and School Chair

Research Interests

Neural information processing, Cognitive AI, Computational Modeling, Network Models, Causal Inference, Sensorimotor Transformation, Neuroplasticity, Real-Time Close-loop Neuromodulation.

About

Our lab, Neuroloops, studies perceptual learning as we observe, model, and control the brain and behavior. Our earlier work exclusively focused on animals to shed a mechanistic light on how sensory information is translated into action and how experience alters this transformation and behavior throughout the lifespan. We have identified fundamental mechanisms through which egocentric (self-centered) and allocentric (world-centered) representations of the sensory world in the brain are formed, stored and modified in an experience-dependent manner (e.g Nature Neuro. 6:291, Nature Neuro. 7:534, Science 319:101, Cell Stem Cell 5:178, Cell Stem Cell 12:204, PLOS Comput. Biol. 11:31004386, PLOS Comput. Biol. 12: e1004984). To extend this research towards controlling behavior in freely behaving animals, we have developed new hardware, software, and computational methods (e.g. J. Neurophy. 100:504, J. Neurophy. 109:3094, J. Neurophy. 110:620, J. Neural Eng. 16:065001), and training paradigms that allow precise quantification of sensory input to the brain and behavior in millisecond resolution (e.g. Science 319:101, PNAS 104:1395).

Using some of these methods, we have established quantitative behavioral, neural, and computational read-outs of perceptual learning, which we are translating into control architectures for robotic agents (Science Robotics 7:67). Our experiments have shown that within 90 ms (in rodents) to 230 ms (in humans), the brain collects the somatosensory information from the periphery, creates a percept of the stimulus, builds a tactile memory trace and the associated expectations (i.e. the prior in the Bayesian context), generates a motor plan (i.e. posterior) and executes it while keeping track of the “error” in the sensory and motor computation given its previous experiences. We are now developing methods to control every step of perceptual learning in rodents and humans. This unique bridging of animal and human experiments will help shed a mechanistic light on perceptual learning.

Selected Publications

The tuning of tuning: how adaptation influences single cell information transfer
Zeldenrust, F, Calcini, N, Yan, X, Bijlsma, A, Celikel, T (2024). PLoS Computational Biology 

Experience-dependent regulation of dopaminergic signaling in the somatosensory cortex 
Jamal, T, Yan, X, Lantyer, AS, ter Horst, JG, Celikel, T (2024). Progress in Neurobiology 

Nonlinear super-resolution signal processing allows intracellular tracking of calcium dynamics
Calcini, N, Lantyer, AS, Zeldenrust, F, Celikel, T (2024). Journal of Neural Engineering 

Where top-down meets bottom-up: Cell-type specific connectivity map of the whisker system
Rault, N, Bergmans, T, Delfstra, N, Kleijnen, BJ, Zeldenrust, Celikel, T (2024). Journal of Neuroinformatics 

Neuromorphic computing hardware and neural architectures for robotics
Sandamirskaya, Y, Kaboli, M, Conradt, J, Celikel, T (2022).  Science Robotics 

Cortical representation of touch in silico.
Huang, C, Zeldenrust, F, Celikel, T (2022).  Neuroinformatics 

Assessing the utility of MAGNETO to control neuronal excitability in the somatosensory cortex
Kole, K, Zhang, Y, Jansen, ER, Brouns, T, Biljsma, A, Calcini, N, Yan, X, Lantyer, AS, Celikel, T (2020).  Nature Neuroscience

Real-time contextual feedback for close-loop control of navigation
Lim, J, Celikel, T (2019).  Journal of Neural Engineering 

Adaptive spike threshold enables robust and temporally precise intracellular information transfer
Huang, C, Reznik, A, Celikel, T*, Englitz, B* (2016) PLOS Computational Biology

A developmental switch for Hebbian plasticity
Martens, MB, Celikel, T, Tiesinga, P (2015). PLOS Computational Biology

Tactile object localization by anticipatory whisker motion
Voigts, J, Herman, DH, and Celikel, T (2015). Journal of Neurophysiology

Loss of Dickkopf-1 restores neurogenesis in old age and counteracts cognitive decline
Seib, DR, Corsini, NS, Ellwanger, K, Plaas, C, Mateos, A, Pitzer, C, Niehrs, C, Celikel, T, Martin-Villalba, A (2013). Cell Stem Cell

Unsupervised whisker tracking in unrestrained behaving animals
Voigt, J, Sakmann, B, Celikel, T (2008). Journal of Neurophysiology

Ongoing in vivo experience triggers synaptic metaplasticity in the neocortex
Clem, R, Celikel, T, Barth, AL (2008). Science

Sensory integration across space and in time for decision making
Celikel, T, Sakmann, B (2007). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A

Modulation of spike timing by sensory deprivation during induction of cortical map plasticity 
Celikel, T, Szostak, V, Feldman, DE (2004). Nature Neuroscience