Lak Group

Circuit Mechanisms of Learning and Decision Making

Our goal is to gain a quantitative circuit-level understanding of neuronal mechanisms that subserve learning and decision-making. To achieve this we combine neurobiological, behavioural, and computational tools.

Our group is interested in how the brain learns to make efficient decisions in uncertain situations, in particular how the brain integrates sensory signals with internal reward and motivational signals for guiding decisions. We focus on understanding the roles that frontostriatal circuits play during decision-making, and how neuromodulators, in particular the dopamine system, shape learning and decision-making under uncertainty.

We investigate these questions at two levels: at the levels of large populations of neurons, as well as at the level of genetically- and anatomically-defined neuronal circuits. To do so, our group employs a multi-disciplinary approach including high-count electrophysiology (Neuropixels probes), two-photon cell type-specific calcium imaging, optogenetic manipulations, highly-controlled behavioural tasks in mice, and computational modelling of behavioural and neuronal data.

Our team

Armin Lak

Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Huriye Atilgan

Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow
Matthias Fritsche

Postdoctoral Fellow
Samuel Liebana

DPhil Student
Blake Russell

DPhil Neuroscience Candidate
Marko Tvrdić

DPhil Student
Jessica Moretti

Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Michael Lynn

Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Isabel Lau

DPhil Student
Ethan Newnham

DPhil Student
Rathi Puliyadi

Lab Manager

Selected publications

Distinct representations of economic variables across regions and projections of the frontal cortex.

Majumdar A. et al, (2025), Neuron, 113, 4232 - 4244.e8

Dopamine encodes deep network teaching signals for individual learning trajectories.

Liebana S. et al, (2025), Cell, 188, 3789 - 3805.e33

Temporal regularities shape perceptual decisions and striatal dopamine signals.

Fritsche M. et al, (2024), Nat Commun, 15

Dopaminergic and Prefrontal Basis of Learning from Sensory Confidence and Reward Value.

Lak A. et al, (2020), Neuron, 105, 700 - 711.e6

Orbitofrontal cortex is required for optimal waiting based on decision confidence.

Lak A. et al, (2014), Neuron, 84, 190 - 201

Dopamine prediction error responses integrate subjective value from different reward dimensions.

Lak A. et al, (2014), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 111, 2343 - 2348

Join the Lak Lab

We are looking for motivated postdocs and students who are interested in combining state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical tools to investigate neuronal bases of cognition.

_Postdocs

If you are interested in pursuing novel and demanding projects using cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative environment please get in touch. Previous experience with either calcium imaging, electrophysiology or computational tools are desirable. Please send a CV, a brief statement of your research interests, and contact information of 2-3 people who are familiar with your research background and skills to armin.lak@dpag.ox.ac.uk.

_{Doctoral students}

Students interested in joining the lab for a Ph.D. should apply to one of the relevant doctoral programme at Oxford University, including:

Doctoral Programme in Neuroscience (1+3)
Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics DPhil
Interdisciplinary Bioscience Partnership

Please send an email to armin.lak@dpag.ox.ac.uk for further details.

_{MSc & Undergraduate students}

Students interested in joining the lab for a MSc degree can apply to MSc in Neuroscience programme at Oxford University.

We also accept applications from undergraduate students at Oxford as well as MSc students enrolled outside Oxford who wish to perform their dissertation project in the lab. Please send your CV to armin.lak@dpag.ox.ac.uk.