Andrea Benucci

Andrea Benucci is a Professor in Visual Neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, with an honorary Senior Lecturer appointment at University College London (Institute of Ophthalmology) and a Senior Visiting Scientist role at RIKEN-CBS. His research focuses on linking neural circuit architectures to computations in visual processing and decision-making, integrating all-optical dissection of circuits with artificial neural network models. He has held academic positions at RIKEN-CBS (2014–2024) and UCL, with postdoctoral training at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute (San Francisco). His lab develops experimental platforms for mouse behavior and physiology, including automated training setups and optogenetic techniques. Key research themes include neural signal interactions, sensory-motor integration, and attention-driven modulation of cortical activity.

Education

• Bachelor’s in Physics, University of Padua, Italy
• PhD in Neuroscience, ETH Zurich/University of Zurich

Research Interests

Benucci’s work bridges experimental neurophysiology and computational modeling. His lab investigates how visual information is processed in the cortex, emphasizing context-dependent computations and the role of motor-related signals in perceptual stability. Techniques include two-photon imaging, optogenetics, and artificial neural networks constrained by biological data to predict behavioral outcomes under perturbations. Recent studies explore efficient coding of natural images and the anatomical basis of thalamocortical circuits in whisker-related processing.

Grants & Labs

His lab at QMUL focuses on high-throughput mouse behavior and physiology. Collaborations include developing transgenic mice for neural circuit targeting (e.g., with Madisen et al., 2015). Postdoctoral opportunities are available in experimental (optogenetics, imaging) and theoretical (machine learning, ANN modeling) neuroscience.

Labs & Teams

Current lab members include postdocs, PhD candidates, and technicians. Former members from his RIKEN-CBS era include Dmitry Lyamzin, Federico Bolaños, and others who contributed to studies on arousal states, attention, and cortical dynamics.