Objective
Emotional states such as aggression and fear are vital for survival and mental health, yet we still lack clear, causal rules for how the brain builds, sustains, and reads them out. I propose that emotional states are generated by algorithms represented as stable patterns of population activity in specific brain circuits. Inputs, neuromodulators, and body signals tune the strength and duration of the emotional state, and downstream pathways read these population patterns to guide actions.
I will test this hypothesis using a deep-brain two-photon microscope that can both record and control the activity of specific neurons in awake mice, guided by testable models that predict how the population pattern evolves over time. With this approach, I will causally connect the emotion-state algorithms inferred from neural activity to the underlying circuits that generate them.
Building on my recent findings, expertise, and preliminary data, I propose an ambitious yet feasible plan to (i) define how inputs, neuromodulators, and body states set the intensity and persistence of emotional states by measuring and controlling the stability of population-activity patterns and behaviors; (ii) identify and compare organizing rules across different emotional states to distinguish shared and state-specific algorithmic and circuit architectures constructing them; and (iii) determine how downstream pathways interpret low-dimensional population dynamics to produce scalable, persistent behavioral outputs.
By using model-guided causal experiments, integrating theoretical modeling with circuit dissection, these efforts will establish core principles and mechanisms for examining how emotional states are implemented in the brain. This will open the path to facilitate comparative research across circuits and species, and lay the groundwork for closed-loop control of dysregulated affect.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.