The main scientific goal at NeuroPSI is to understand the nature and logic of the neural circuits that govern the behavior of animals as they interact with their environment. We use various animal models and combine experimental and theoretical approaches to understand how different types of neural architectures can perform brain tasks. Our projects aim to determine how cellular interactions lead to neuronal populations, how these populations assemble into functional circuits, and how these circuits operate to integrate different sensory modalities, generate behaviors and control cognitive functions. We also investigate, through comparative and genetic approaches, how evolutionary forces shape the brain and create individual brain diversity in natural populations.