We want to understand the mechanisms of central nervous system diseases and their effect on the processing of information and cognitive processes. My group focuses on two main research questions: (1) We investigate neuronal ensembles and circuits involved in spatial and social cognition to decipher their role for behaviour and their impairments in the context of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. (2) We further aim at deciphering the interactions of tumors of the central nervous system with their microenvironment, to identify routes of communication and thus novel treatment strategies.To address these questions, we make use of two-photon in vivo microscopy, combined with tools for visualization and manipulation of neuronal activity and behavioral readouts in transgenic mice.