Laura Busse

Prof. Dr. Laura Busse is a Professor in the Department of Biology II, Division of Neurobiology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. She leads the Vision Circuits Lab, focusing on understanding how neural circuits mediate contextual processing in the visual system. Her work combines electrophysiological recordings, optogenetics, and computational modeling in mice to study feedback mechanisms, behavioral state effects, and spatial integration in visual pathways. Key collaborations include the Wachtler Lab, Tübingen's CIN, and the MPI for Brain Research. Busse is affiliated with the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN) and the Research Training Group (RTG) 2175. She actively supervises PhD students including Simon Renner, Gregory Born, and Felix Schneider. Her research spans cellular and systems neuroscience, with a focus on how visual perception adapts dynamically to context and behavioral goals.

Dr. Busse’s research interests include thalamocortical interactions, corticothalamic feedback, and the role of inhibitory circuits in visual processing. She investigates how locomotion and behavioral state modulate early visual system activity, and how natural visual inputs are processed across retinal and thalamic stages. Her lab employs advanced multi-electrode recordings and naturalistic stimuli to dissect the neural mechanisms underlying visual perception. Current projects explore contrast invariance, serotonin's role in visual acuity, and the impact of impaired inhibition on network oscillations.

Busse has received funding from the DFG, SFB 870, and BCCN Smart Start grants. Her work bridges systems neuroscience and computational modeling, emphasizing translational insights into neural circuit dynamics. The lab collaborates extensively with institutions like the University of Tübingen and the MPI for Biological Cybernetics.