The team

People currently working in the lab

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PD Dr. Michael Pecka

PD Dr. Michael Pecka

Position PI

I strive for a functional understanding of the neural mechanisms of auditory scene analysis. Current particular interests of the lab are spatial hearing under realistic circumstances, the role of context for predictive coding and goal-oriented behavior during active sensing, as well as studying the circuits of selective listening. A longstanding goal is to help improving the effectiveness and design of cochlear implants and other hearing aids. You can find my full CV at the bottom of this page.

Dardo Ferreiro, PhD

Dardo Ferreiro, PhD

Position Post-Doc

Our brain interprets reality through our sensory systems. How this is done in terms of neuronal mechanisms is what I am most curious about, especially in areas such as visual and auditory cortex. Currently I am investigating A1 coding in the freely moving sound source localization (Sonic Scenes) paradigm.

Andrey Sobolev, PhD

Andrey Sobolev, PhD

Position Postdoc

In the brain, building and maintenance of mental representations share mechanisms with spatial localization. Hearing plays a key role in spatial localization and enables to study not only the perception of complex sounds but also how this sensory modality is used in spatial encoding. The current goals are to use optogenetics to understand which areas of the brain are involved in spatial modulation in the primary auditory cortex.

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Paula Gundi

Paula Gundi

Position GSN master student

I work on two projects: First, I perform morphological measurements and image analysis on axonal and glial properties in the auditory brain stem. Second, I train gerbils in SIT.

Valentin Winhart

Valentin Winhart

I am a trained economist turned neuroscience student. I am particularly interested in the field of neuro-economics of decision making. To this end, I currently work on extending the huSIT project into a credit-foraging strategy paradigm.

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Barbara Beiderbeck

Barbara Beiderbeck

Position PhD student

I study the role of timed synaptic inhibition for generating optimal stimulus sensitivity in microcircuits. Most recently, I revealed the impact of high temporal precision of synaptic inhibition to facilitate neuronal sensitivity to spatial cues.

Diana Amaro

Diana Amaro

Alum PhD student

I developed a behavioral paradigm with multiple sound sources, in which freely moving rodents make context-dependent decisions based on selective listening. I investigate how context-dependent relevance of a sound source influences the spatial sensitivity of neurons in the auditory cortex.

Michael Pecka's CV

·       CONTACT INFORMATION

PD Dr. Michael Pecka

Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich

Department Biology II

Großhaderner Straße 2

D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8960-1651

·        PERSONAL INFORMATION

Marital status:  Married, two children

·        CURRENT POSITION

                       Research group leader (Akademischer Ober-Rat a. Z.)

                       Neurobiology group, Department Biology II, LMU, Munich, Germany

·        PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2012 – 2018    Junior research group leader (Akademischer Rat a. Z.)

                       Neurobiology group, Department Biology II, LMU, Munich, Germany

2011 – 2012     Postdoctoral Researcher (Fellow of the Alexander-von-Humboldt foundation)

                       Neurobiology, Department Biology II, LMU, Munich, Germany

2009 – 2011     Postdoctoral Researcher (Fellow of the Alexander-von-Humboldt foundation); Department of Neuroscience, University College London, UK

2008 – 2009     Postdoctoral Researcher

                       Neurobiology, Department Biology II, LMU, Germany

·        EDUCATION

2018                Habilitation and Venia Legendi in Neurobiology

2008                PhD (Dr. rer. nat., summa cum laude)

                       Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany

2004                Master/Diploma in Zoology/Neurobiology

                       Biology, LMU, Munich, Germany

1997                Abitur

·        FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2015 - 2018      Associated Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities

2014 – 2016     Elected as spokesman of the “Junges Kolleg” of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences

2013&2014       Excellence in teaching award, LMU Munich

2012 – 2018     Elected member of the “Junges Kolleg” of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences

2008                Doctoral degree: Summa cum laude, LMU Munich

2005 – 2008     PhD student in the "International Max-Planck Research School", Munich, Germany

·        SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

Since 2011     current: 1/3/2 (Postdocs/ PhD/ Bachelor), Neurobiolgy, LMU

                       past:               1/2/7 (Postdocs/ PhD/ Bachelor), Neurobiology, LMU

·        TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2018                 Habilitation and Venia Legendi in Neurobiology

2012 – 2018     Animal/Human Physiology (lectures and practical course for Bachelor students)

2012 – 2018     Auditory Neurophysiology (practical course for Master and PhD students)

2013 – 2018     Basics in Neuroscience (practical/lecture for Bachelor students)

2013 – 2018     Audition and Communication (lectures for Master and PhD students)

2015 – 2018     Systematic Zoology (practical course Bachelor)

·        ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

2019                Organizer, international symposium: “Short‐term adaptation in early auditory processing: from synaptic depression to focal perception” at the 13th Goettingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society, Göttingen, Germany

2017                Organizer, International symposium: “Food for thought- thinking about healthy eating and the brain”; Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Munich, Germany

2014                Organizer, International symposium: “Towards spatial hearing with cochlear implants”; Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Munich, Germany

·        INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

Since 2015       Member of multiple Thesis Advisory Committees, LMU, Munich, Germany

2015                Member of selection committee for W2 Professorship, Neurobiology, LMU, Munich

2014 – 2016     Spokesman of the “Junge Kolleg” of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, Germany

Since 2009       Ad-hoc reviewer for journals in the field (Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Neurophysiology, Frontiers in Neuroscience, ect.)

·        MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

Since 2018       Member of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology

Since 2018       Member of the German Neuroscience Society (NWG)

Since 2018       Member of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

2015 – 2018     Associated Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Since 2012       Associated Member of the “Munich Center for Neurosciences” (MCN)

2005 – 2007     Member of the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN)

·        MAJOR SCIENCTIFIC COLLABORATIONS

§ Prof. D. McAlpine PhD, Director of Hearing Research, Macquarie U., Australia

§ Prof. E. Friauf, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Germany

§ Prof. N. Lesica, Ear Institute, University College London, UK

§ Prof. R.M. Burger, Lehigh University, USA

§ Prof. M. Dietz, Oldenburg University, Germany