Herzog's primary interest is the cellular and molecular basis for circadian rhythms, or our biological clocks. The focus is on the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, a brain region that is required for circadian rhythms in mammals. Within the SCN, he and his group are only beginning to understand which cells are responsible for pacemaking, whether these cells are unique in their pacemaking abilities, and how these cells coordinate their activities to drive behavior.  The lab compares the circadian rhythms expressed behaviorally and by cells and tissues using a variety of techniques including behavioral monitoring, multielectrode recording, and bioluminescence detection from animals carrying trangenic reporters.

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