The LCCC’s main objective is to understand the structural design of human cortical circuits, in order to understand how they contribute to function, both in normal conditions and disease (e.g. epilepsy, Alzheimer´s disease).

For this purpose, different levels of analysis are coordinated using the following main methodological approaches:

1. Study of the structural components of the cerebral cortex using high-resolution techniques to distinguish cell types.

2. Detailed architecture of cell morphology using cell filling techniques that allow detailed analysis of their structural characteristics. Our main focus is to decipher the structure of pyramidal cells in different regions of the human cerebral cortex, to determine adaptations of human pyramidal cells to particular functions.

3. Ultrastructure of the cerebral cortex: using 3D electron microscopy, we obtain data of the structural characteristics of the brain at the nanometric level. We mainly study the synaptic junctions of the neuropil.

4. New computer tools: The LCCC is actively involved in the design and improvement of new analysis and visualization techniques. To do this, we work closely with national and international laboratories specialized in the development of new applications and computational models.