Marcus Haag holds a BSc in Cognitive Science (Cognitive Psychology) from the University of Osnabrueck, and MSc in Neurosciences (Systems Neurosciences) from the University of Bremen. During his first degrees, he analysed the mechanistic implementation of signal transmissions in the brain using a variety of methodological approaches (e.g. single- and multi-electrode electrophysiology, electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging). His PhD work at the University of Reading investigates network dynamics in primary cultures of neuronal tissue using multi-channel electrophysiological, signal processing and molecular biological approaches in order to enhance the efficacy of anti-epileptic drugs. His supervisors were Dr Ben Whalley, Dr Gary Stephens (both School of Pharmacy) and Dr Christian Wolff (UCB Pharma). Marcus currently works at the Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle where he is investigating the role of the thalamus in signal processing between (sub-)cortical areas.