Neurosciences Seminar - Hillel Chiel, PhD

Neurosciences Seminar
Thursday, December 11, 2025
12 PM, BRB 105

Hillel J. Chiel, PhD
Distinguished University Professor of Biology, Neurosciences, and Biomedical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University

Host: Dr. Britton Sauerbrei

Lecture Title: "Brains, Behavior and Biomechanics"

Abstract: Adaptive behavior, behavior that allows animals to survive and reproduce, emerges from the ongoing interaction between the brain, the biomechanics of the body, and the environment. We have studied a specific adaptive behavior, feeding, in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica, because it is possible to analyze both the neural control and biomechanics of the behavior. We have addressed several general questions using this system: How can the same neurons and muscles generate multiple different behaviors? How can local changes in synaptic plasticity lead to global changes in behavior? How does the nervous system and the body adjust the control of behavior as animals grow? How can ideas from neuroscience lead to improvements in artificial intelligence, control and robotics? These studies have led to a deeper understanding of principles of multifunctionality and learning, the physical constraints and affordances that shape adaptive behavior, and biologically-inspired approaches to creating artificial devices.

Publications:
Rogers, S. M., Gill, J. P., De Campos, A. S., Wang, K., Kaza, I. V., Fan, V. X., Sutton, G. P., & Chiel, H. J. (2024). Scaling of buccal mass growth and muscle activation determine the duration of feeding behaviors in the marine mollusc Aplysia californica. Journal of Experimental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.246551

Li, Y., Webster-Wood, V. A., Gill, J. P., Sutton, G. P., Chiel, H. J., & Quinn, R. D. (2024). A computational neural model that incorporates both intrinsic dynamics and sensory feedback in the Aplysia feeding network. Biological Cybernetics, 118(3–4), 187–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00422-024-00991-2

Sutton, G. P., Szczecinski, N. S., Quinn, R. D., & Chiel, H. J. (2023). Phase shift between joint rotation and actuation reflects dominant forces and predicts muscle activation patterns. PNAS Nexus, 2(10). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad298

Tam, S., Hurwitz, I., Chiel, H. J., & Susswein, A. J. (2020). Multiple Local Synaptic Modifications at Specific Sensorimotor Connections after Learning Are Associated with Behavioral Adaptations That Are Components of a Global Response Change. The Journal of Neuroscience, 40(22), 4363–4371. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2647-19.2020


Seminar Format
• Introduction by the host
• Presentation (approx. 45-50 min.)
Questions during the presentation are at the individual speaker’s discretion.
• 10-15 minutes of Q&A
We encourage students to ask the first questions.


Attendee Information
Free and open to the public. Seminars are not recorded.
Livestream will be available via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person.

Event updates and Zoom links are distributed through the Neurosciences seminar email list. Subscribe to our weekly announcements. https://case.edu/medicine/neurosciences/news-events/seminars-events

Questions - Neurosciences@case.edu

case.edu/medicine/neurosciences

Department of Neurosciences | Website | View More Events

Contact the organizers