Leonard Maler, University of Ottawa

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Ottawa profile.

Burst Discharge Electrophysiology Hippocampus Neural Coding Optogenetics Synapse Synaptic Plasticity Synaptic Transmission

Latest papers

Multiplexing of functionally distinct inputs by intrinsic modulation of spike timing in a monoaminergic nucleus.
Cell reports · 2026
Neural heterogeneity enables adaptive encoding of time sequences.
Communications physics · 2025
Shortcutting from self-motion signals reveals a cognitive map in mice.
eLife · 2024 · senior author

All 61 publications

Latest funding

Quantifying stimulus-evoked activity patterns in a recurrent neural network
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$40,000
Nominated for the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize
NSERC · 2017 · Co-investigator
$250,000
An optogenetic platform for high-throughput interrogation of cellular basis of physiological function in zebrafish
NSERC · 2017 · Co-investigator
$141,602

All 10 grants and awards

61 publications.

01

Multiplexing of functionally distinct inputs by intrinsic modulation of spike timing in a monoaminergic nucleus.

Lynn M, Maler L, Béïque JC

Cell reports2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117746 PMID: 42525535

02

Neural heterogeneity enables adaptive encoding of time sequences.

Lafond-Mercier R, Maler L, Wallach A, Longtin A

Communications physics2025

DOI: 10.1038/s42005-025-02408-3 PMID: 41551029

03

Shortcutting from self-motion signals reveals a cognitive map in mice.

Xu J, Girardi-Schappo M, Beique JC, Longtin A, Maler L

eLife2024Senior author

DOI: 10.7554/elife.95764 PMID: 39526583

04

Active sensing: Eavesdropping on your neighbor to locate prey.

Maler L

Current biology : CB2024First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.055 PMID: 38714163

05

Adaptive spike threshold dynamics associated with sparse spiking of hilar mossy cells are captured by a simple model.

Trinh AT, Girardi-Schappo M, Béïque JC, Longtin A, Maler L

The Journal of physiology2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1113/jp283728 PMID: 37676904

06

Active sensing: How to eliminate self-generated noise.

Maler L

Current biology : CB2023First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.049 PMID: 37433273

07

Finding food in the dark: how trajectories of a gymnotiform fish change with spatial learning.

Mirmiran C, Fraser M, Maler L

The Journal of experimental biology2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244590 PMID: 36366924

08

Mixed selectivity coding of sensory and motor social signals in the thalamus of a weakly electric fish.

Wallach A, Melanson A, Longtin A, Maler L

Current biology : CB2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.034 PMID: 34741807

09

Linking active sensing and spatial learning in weakly electric fish.

Engelmann J, Wallach A, Maler L

Current opinion in neurobiology2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.07.002 PMID: 34392168

10

Distribution of the cholinergic nuclei in the brain of the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus: Implications for sensory processing.

Toscano-Márquez B, Oboti L, Harvey-Girard E, Maler L, Krahe R

The Journal of comparative neurology2021

DOI: 10.1002/cne.25058 PMID: 33089503

Quantifying stimulus-evoked activity patterns in a recurrent neural network

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Maler, Leonard

Keywords: recurrent neural network; dynamic threshold; zebrafish; pallium; spatial memory; motor control; tectum; visual system; cortex; visual discrimination

$40,000

Nominated for the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering

Principal investigators: Longtin, André

$250,000

An optogenetic platform for high-throughput interrogation of cellular basis of physiological function in zebrafish

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Bui, Tuan

$141,602

Spatial Learning and Spatial Attention

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Maler, Leonard

$234,000

Cellular and network bases of memory storage and retrieval

Nominated PICIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Maler, Leonard; Béïque, Jean-Claude; Longtin, André

Keywords: Burst Discharge; Electrophysiology; Hippocampus; Neural Coding; Optogenetics; Synapse; Synaptic Plasticity; Synaptic Transmission; Two Photon Imaging; Whole Cell Recording

$1,298,970

Feedback control of a distributed ON/OFF cell population code during object localization

SupervisorCIHR2013Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Clarke, Stephen E

Keywords: Computational Neuroscience; Electric Fish; Electrophysiology (In Vivo); Neural Feedback; On/Off Contrast Coding; Perceptual Constancy; Spike Frequency Adaptation; Systems Neuroscience; Top-Down Information Processing

$105,000

Adaptive regulation of sensory processing

Nominated PICIHR2011Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Maler, Leonard

Keywords: Cerebellum; Computational Neuroscience; Feedback; Inhibition; Neural Coding; Neurophysiology; Nmda Receptors; Sensory Processing; Synaptic Plasticity

$782,135

Computation in Sensory Systems: Information Transfer and Decoding by Neural Networks

Nominated PICIHR2011Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Maler, Leonard

Keywords: Cerebellum; Feedback; Neural Coding; Neural Computation; Sensory Processing; Weak Signal Detection

$982,990

NSERC CREATE Training Program in Quantitative Biomedicine

Co-investigatorNSERC2009Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: Longtin, André

$1,650,000

Neurophysics CIHR Training Grant

Co-investigatorCIHR2008Training Grant

Principal investigators: De Koninck, Yves

Keywords: Advanced Microscopy; Cellular Imaging; Computational Neurosciences; Nanotechnologies; Neuroscience; Photonics

$1,950,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Co-authors at University of Ottawa, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

André Longtin

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

3 shared papers, latest 2016

Richard Naud

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2013

Jean-Claude Béïque

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Burst Discharge Dear Professor Maler, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Multiplexing of functionally distinct inputs by intrinsic modulation of spike timing in a monoaminergic nucleus." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Quantifying stimulus-evoked activity patterns in a recurrent neural network" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]