My research focuses on the cellular and network mechanisms operating in the thalamus and cortex during sleep and absence epilepsy, focussing on both neuronal and astrocytic assemblies. My multi-disciplinary group uses a combination of electrophysiological, morphological, immunocytochemical, computational and 2-photon laser scanning microscopical techniques both in normal animals and transgenic models. These techniques are applied to in vitro (primary culture, brain slices), as well as in anaesthetized and freely behaving preparations. We also use MRI spectroscopy to measure neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the brain of children and teenagers with absence epilepsy.