Antoine Adamantidis, PhD, is interested in the underlying neural mechanism for wakefulness or vigilance states. His research projects involve understanding, dissecting and probing the dynamics of neural circuits that control the sleep-wake cycle in the mammalian brain. He is using a combination of state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and behavioural technologies, which include genetic mouse engineering, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, behavioural paradigms and the emerging field of optogenetics. Optogenetics combines optical and genetic methodologies to modulate the activity of neural circuitry at very high speed, in order to understand how information is processed in the brain.

His research findings may lead to a better understanding how the brain controls vigilance states. This may open new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of sleep disorders and neuropsychiatric illnesses associated with sleep disturbances.