Stockholm university

Research group Christian Broberger's research group

In our laboratory, we are interested in the organization of brain circuits that control innate behaviours, such as aggression, reproduction, feeding as well as sleep. These circuits often originate in the hypothalamus, an evolutionarily old part of the brain, and include the neuroendocrine system, the interface between the brain and the endocrine system.

Group description

We want to understand how behaviour emerges from the electrical properties of neurons, and the connections they form with each other through classical (chemical) synapses and electrical synapses (gap junctions). To this end, we employ a range of techniques that allow us to study the central nervous system and its function on many levels, including electrophysiology, histochemistry, voltammetry, optogenetics, cell culture and behavioural paradigms. Questions that we have been intrigued by in recent years include:

  • How does the behaviour of a population of neurons change when the cells are connected by gap junctions?
  • Why do the males of some species express paternal behaviours, while males of other species do not?
  •  Why is aggressive behaviour expressed in stereotyped ways, and can the organization of specialized neurons in the hypothalamus explain why aggression emerges only in some animals under some conditions?
  • What is the role of the nucleobindins, Ca2+-binding proteins that are found in all neurons?
  • How do neurons in the hypothalamus change in the brains of female animals to prepare for pregnancy and motherhood?
  • What is the function of neurons in the deepest layer of the cerebral cortex, the so-called persistent subplate neurons?

We welcome applications from students for longer internships, e.g. MSc projects. Students with a neuroscience background are particularly encouraged to apply. For inquiries, please send an e-mail to christian.broberger@dbb.su.se.

Group members

Group managers

Christian Broberger

Professor of Neurochemistry

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Christian Broberger

Members

Marvin Müller

Student

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Jimena Ferraris

Researcher

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Jimena Ferraris

Laura Heikkinen

Guest researcher

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Roksana Khalid

PhD student

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Andrea Locarno

Postdoc

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Andriana Mantzafou

PhD student

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Debora Masini

Postdoc

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Debora Masini

Liam Moran

PhD student

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Liam Moran

Olga Netsyk

Researcher

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Paul Williams

Research engineer

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Research projects

News