Carmen Varela

Our ability to learn and remember shapes how we navigate the world. Every day, the brain forms new episodic memories that would be of limited use if they simply faded over time. Instead, the brain strengthens and integrates these memories through a process called consolidation, which helps abstract patterns and rules, connect experiences, and apply past knowledge to new situations (generalization). In our lab, we study the neural mechanisms that make learning and memory consolidation possible, focusing on how brain activity during sleep and wakefulness facilitates memory formation and integration to support cognitive behavior. Specifically, we investigate thalamocortical circuits, using state-of-the-art neuroscience approaches to uncover fundamental principles by which these circuits contribute to learning.