Richard Lee Schalek

This study investigates how distributional reinforcement learning is implemented in the basal ganglia by analyzing dopamine neuron activity and striatal representations.

The paper uses connectomics to map a cerebellum-like circuit in weakly electric fish, revealing structured synaptic connectivity that supports predictive sensory processing and continual learning.

RAEM enables targeted, multi-resolution imaging of biological specimens by combining low-resolution 3D surveys with high-resolution imaging of specific regions.

This paper introduces CAptVE, a method for fluorescent aptamer-based labeling that enables molecular analysis in ultrastructurally reconstructable electron micrographs.

The paper presents a multimodal imaging pipeline that combines diffusion MRI and high-resolution X-ray microscopy to map the human connectome across multiple scales.

SmartEM accelerates electron microscopy image acquisition by using machine learning to intelligently allocate imaging time, achieving up to 7-fold speedup in connectomic samples.

This study investigates synaptic connectivity development in the mouse cerebellum, revealing sequential input-dependent wiring and individualized parallel fiber inputs to Purkinje cells.

The paper presents a connectomic dataset of a larval zebrafish brain, enabling circuit analysis through synaptic and neuronal annotations.

The paper uses correlative light and electron microscopy to identify synaptic motifs in larval zebrafish that support visual motion processing.

The paper characterizes ionocyte subtypes in zebrafish olfactory epithelium, identifying three types with distinct functions and distributions.

The paper identifies extensive soma-soma plate-like contacts (ephapses) between SCN neurons that may enable synchronization without chemical or electrical synapses.

The paper presents a connectomic analysis of a human cerebral cortex fragment, revealing structural and connectivity features of neurons and synapses.

The paper introduces sample preparation methods for volume electron microscopy in the gastropod mollusc Berghia stephanieae, addressing challenges in cryopreservation and processing time.

The paper presents a vCLEM protocol to map Aβ and pTau in AD mouse hippocampus connectomics data, revealing new molecular and structural alterations.

The paper introduces a 12-step protocol called ODeCO to infiltrate osmium in whole mouse brains, preserving ultrastructure for connectome mapping.

The paper analyzes the connectome of the Octopus vulgaris vertical lobe, identifying novel synaptic structures and functional roles in memory acquisition.

The paper introduces a vCLEM method using fluorescent scFvs to combine molecular labeling with ssEM, revealing new cell types and subcellular features in mouse cerebellar cortex.

The paper reconstructs the post-embryonic maturation of the C. elegans motor circuit using electron microscopy, showing how structural rewiring maintains functional output during development.

This study investigates how zebrafish larvae distinguish self-generated reafferent mechanosensory signals from exafferent stimuli using lateral line hair cells and neural circuits.

The paper traces neuromuscular connectivity in mice across development, revealing that synaptic pruning follows a global activity-based ordering rule.

This study uses connectomics to show how brain circuits change with age in C. elegans, revealing principles of brain maturation through structural and functional remodeling.

The paper develops a compression method for connectomic images using denoising and standard codecs, achieving 17-fold compression with minimal loss in 3D reconstruction and synaptic detection.

The paper shows that during cerebellar development, climbing fibers add synapses to a subset of Purkinje cells through positive feedback, without pruning other connections, and that this process is economical due to matching axon and Purkinje cell numbers.