Aviv Mezer Lab

ELSC Members

Human Brain Biophysics lab
The Belgian Friends Laboratory for the study of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Research in the lab is focused on in-vivo mapping of human brain structures. We are investigating the relationship between structure, function. Our main research tool is in in-vivo quantitative magnetic resonance imaging – qMRI. We are developing tools to biophysically explain the brain’s MRI signals at different levels and resolutions: from molecular local sources through the cellular organization to the mapping of networks across the entire brain. Using these tools, we are studying brain normal development and aging, as well as characterizing neurological disorders. Our research group’s ultimate goal is to develop an understanding of how individual-specific biological structures influence human cognition, under both normal and pathological conditions.

Envelope Phone-alt

Aviv Mezer

Professor

Email: aviv.mezer@elsc.huji.ac.il
Phone: +972-2-6584617
@AvivMezer
Address: The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences
The Suzanne and Charles Goodman Brain Sciences Building,
Level 2, Room 2202, Edmond J. Safra Campus,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401
Human Brain Biophysics lab
The Belgian Friends Laboratory for the study of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Research in the lab is focused on in-vivo mapping of human brain structures. We are investigating the relationship between structure, function. Our main research tool is in in-vivo quantitative magnetic resonance imaging – qMRI. We are developing tools to biophysically explain the brain’s MRI signals at different levels and resolutions: from molecular local sources through the cellular organization to the mapping of networks across the entire brain. Using these tools, we are studying brain normal development and aging, as well as characterizing neurological disorders. Our research group’s ultimate goal is to develop an understanding of how individual-specific biological structures influence human cognition, under both normal and pathological conditions.

Abeer Karmi Hallak
Abeer Karmi Hallak, Ph.D.
Lab Manager
Imri_Lifshitz
Imri Lifshitz
Ph.D. Student
Shai_Tishby
Shai Tishby
Ph.D. Student
YoavRubinstein
Yoav Rubinstein
Ph.D. Student
Maayan_Moshkovitz
Maayan Moshkovitz
PhD Student
Netta Livneh
Netta Livneh
PhD Student
ADMIN PHOTO
Asia Prag
MSc Student
ADMIN PHOTO
Or Nathan
Undergraduate Student
unnamed
Hila Topaz
Undergraduate Student
Shai Tishby Tamari, Yoav Rubinstein, Netta Livneh, Maayan Moshkovitz, Abeer Karmi, Lilach Avitan

Neural temporal scaling accounts for robust hunting behavior across temperatures

Nature Communications (2026)

Imri Lifshitz, Asia Prag, Netta Livneh, Maayan Moshkovitz, Abeer Karmi, Lilach Avitan

Distinct distributed neural dynamics predict pallium-dependent social approach

Nature Communications (2026)

Y Rubinstein, M Moshkovitz, I Ottenheimer, S Shapira, S Tiomkin, L Avitan

A detailed quantification of larval zebrafish behavioral repertoire uncovers principles of hunting behavior

iScience (2025)

Suárez, Rodrigo, Tobias Bluett, Michael H. McCullough, Lilach Avitan, Dylan A. Black, Annalisa Paolino, Laura R. Fenlon, Geoffrey J. Goodhill, and Linda J. Richards.

Cortical activity emerges in region-specific patterns during early brain development

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.  (2023)

Zhu, Shuyu I., Michael H. McCullough, Zac Pujic, Jordan Sibberas, Biao Sun, Thomas Darveniza, Bianca Bucknall, Lilach Avitan, and Geoffrey J. Goodhill

fmr1 Mutation Alters the Early Development of Sensory Coding and Hunting and Social Behaviors in Larval Zebrafish

Journal of Neuroscience (2023)

Triplett MA, Pujic Z, Sun B, Avitan L, Goodhill GJ.

Model-based decoupling of evoked and spontaneous neural activity in calcium imaging data

PLoS Comput Biol. (2020)

Avitan L, Pujic Z, Mölter J, Zhu S, Sun B, Goodhill GJ

Spontaneous and evoked activity patterns diverge over development

Elife, 19;10:e61942 (2021)

Lilach Avitan, Carsen Stringer

Not so spontaneous: Multi-dimensional representations of behaviors and context in sensory areas

Neuron (2022)

Marcus A. Triplett , Lilach Avitan , and Geoffrey J. Goodhill

Emergence of spontaneous assembly activity in developing neural networks without afferent input.

Computational Biology (2020)

Avitan, L., Pujic, Z., Molter, J., Sun, B., Myhre,A.E., Goodhill, G.J.

Behavioral Signatures of a Developing Neural Code

Current Biology (2020)

Avitan L. and Goodhill G.J.

Code Under Construction: Neural Coding Over Development

Trends in Neurosciences (2018)

Mölter, J., Avitan, L. & Goodhill, G.

Detecting neural assemblies in calcium imaging data

BMC Biol (2018)

Triplett, M., Avitan, L. and Goodhill, G.J.

Emergence of spontaneous assembly activity in developing neural networks without afferent input

PLoS Computational Biology, 14(9):e1006421 (2018)

Marachlian, E., Avitan, L., Goodhill, G.J., and Sumbre, G.

Principles of Functional Circuit Connectivity: Insights From Spontaneous Activity in the Zebrafish Optic Tectum

Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 12, 46 (2018)

Avitan L., Pujic Z., Mölter J., Sun B., Van De Poll1 M., Teng H.,Amor R., Scott E.K., and Goodhill G.J.

Spontaneous Activity in the Zebrafish Tectum Reorganizes over Development and Is Influenced by Visual Experience

Current Biology, Volume 27, Issue 16, Pages 2407-2419.e4 (2017)

Avitan, L., Pujic Z., Hughes J.N., Scott E.K. and Goodhill J.G.

Limitations of Neural Map Topography for Decoding Spatial Information

Journal of Neuroscience, 36(19):5385–5396 (2016)

Suarez, R., Fenlon, L., Marek, R., Avitan, L., Sah, P., Goodhill, G.J. and Richards, L.J.

Balanced Interhemispheric Cortical Activity Is Required for Correct Targeting of the Corpus Callosum

Neuron, Volume 82, Issue 6, Pages 1289-1298 (2014)

Avitan L., Teicher M., and Abeles M.

EEG Generator—A Model of Potentials in a Volume Conductor

Journal of Neurophysiology, 102: 3046-3059 (2009)

Avitan L., Teicher M., and Abeles M.

Resolving the dynamics of EEG generators by multichannel recordings

Biological Cybernetics, 98(1):49-59 (2008)

We are looking for bright and highly motivated doctoral and postdoctoral students.
Media:
ABC Science show Australia

Cosmos magazine

Australasian Science
Envelope Phone-alt

Lilach Avitan

Assistant Professor

Email: lilach.avitan@mail.huji.ac.il
Phone: +972-2-5494829
Lilach Avitan
@LilachAvitan
Address: The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences
The Suzanne and Charles Goodman Brain Sciences Building,
Level 2, Room 1203, Edmond J. Safra Campus,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401
לחצו למעבר להרשמה

“Working memory”

New exhibition titled “Working memory” by the artist Alon kedem and in collaboration with ELSC Prof. Leon Deouell. In the picture: Moshe Lion, the mayor of Jerusalem and Prof. Asher Cohen, the president of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.