Dr. Philipp Brand
Evolutionary Neuroscience and Behavior Group
Max Planck Institute for Brain Research
Max-von-Laue-Str. 4
60438 Frankfurt am Main
Email: philipp.brand@brain.mpg.de
Scientific Focus
The Brand lab investigates how the nervous system evolves behavior to derive general principles underlying neural circuit function and diversification. Leveraging the power of natural variation, we aim to identify the core genetic and circuit mechanisms controlling behavior by isolating causal differences in the nervous system and their underlying genetic basis.
Methods
- Quantitative Behavior, in vivo Functional Imaging, Optogenetics, Transgenetics, Genetics/Genomics
Selected Publications
Ryba, A.; Brand, P.; Coleman, R. T.; Greenfeld, Y.; Tsitohay, Y. N.; Hollunder, F.; Keller, K. R.; Hathiyari, M.; Wei, T.; Barbano, P. E. et al.: Strain variation identifies a neural substrate for behavioral evolution in Drosophila. Current Biology (2026)
Brand, P.; Keller, K.; Coleman, R. T.; Eghbali, N. B.; Zylka, S.; Prieto-Godino, L.; Ruta, V.: Ecological cues orchestrate concerted courtship in a Drosophila host specialist. bioRxiv (2025)
Brand, P.; Coleman, R. T.: From neurons to novelty: Circuit mechanisms shaping courtship evolution. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 95, 103137 (2025)
Brand, P.; Hinojosa-Díaz, I. A.; Ayala, R.; Daigle, M.; Yurrita Obiols, C. L.; Eltz, T.; Ramírez, S. R.: The evolution of sexual signaling is linked to odorant receptor tuning in perfume-collecting orchid bees. Nature Communications 11 (1), 244 (2020)
Brand, P.; Robertson, H. M.; Lin, W.; Pothula, R.; Klingeman, W. E.; Jurat-Fuentes, J. L.; Johnson, B. R.: The origin of the odorant receptor gene family in insects. eLife 7, e38340 (2018)