Keith Hengen

Keith Hengen is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology. His research focuses on understanding how biological systems generate computation, particularly exploring sleep's role in maintaining robust neural computation. He employs systems neuroscience tools, theory, and molecular manipulations to study neuronal networks and brain dynamics.

Education: PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison. His lab is located in Bayer Lab 209. He teaches Principles of the Nervous System, emphasizing the scientific method and exposure to WashU neuroscience.

Research Interests: Neural computation, sleep neuroscience, and emergent dynamics in neural networks. His work investigates why sleep is essential for computational stability and how disease impacts information flow in neurons. He uses machine learning to analyze complex neural data, including recordings from thousands of neurons in freely behaving animals.

Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on sleep's role in cortical networks, tauopathy effects on neural dynamics, and modeling brain states using organoids. His work bridges computational methods with experimental neuroscience, emphasizing systems-level understanding.

Labs and Teams: Leads a lab developing IoT architectures for high-throughput biological experiments. Collaborates on projects combining self-supervised learning with neural activity analysis. Research includes studying hibernation's impact on neuronal function and GABAA receptor plasticity.