We focus on the neuronal basis of naturalistic social behaviors and investigate how circuit level disruptions give rise to social deficits in conditions such as autism, depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer's disease. Our long term goal is to identify circuit level therapeutic targets that restore normal social function.
We study how neural circuits generate social behavior and how their dysfunction leads to social impairment in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Defining how specific neural circuits control naturalistic social behaviors and emotional processing.
Understanding how disruptions in social circuits give rise to social withdrawal and impairment in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Linking circuit function to cellular and molecular signatures of behavior relevant neuronal populations.
Identifying circuit level intervention targets to restore normal social function.
Computer vision and machine learning algorithms automatically track and classify complex social behaviors at unprecedented scale.
We link behavior to neural activity using cutting-edge calcium imaging and large-scale electrophysiology to understand how social behaviors are encoded in the brain.
Neural Activity Visualization
Recording data coming soonWe map circuit architecture using state-of-the-art anatomical and physiological techniques to understand how neural circuits are organized.
Circuit Architecture Visualization
Tracing example coming soonWe test causal relationships between neural activity and behavior using precise manipulation of genetically defined neuronal populations.
Optogenetic Manipulation
Manipulation example coming soonSingle-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics provide a complementary molecular perspective on behavior-relevant neuronal populations.
Molecular Profiling Visualization
Sequencing data coming soonOur research has been published in leading journals including Science, Nature Neuroscience, and Neuron.
Science. 387, eadq2677 (2025)
Read PaperNature Neuroscience. 24, 516-528 (2021)
Read PaperNature Neuroscience. 26, 1529-1540 (2023)
Read PaperNeuron. 99, 1016-1028.e5 (2018)
Read PaperNeuron. 97, 406-417.e4 (2018)
Read PaperNeuron. 111, 1486-1503.e7 (2023)
Read PaperNature Communications. 15, 8575 (2024)
Read PaperNature Communications. 13, 1194 (2022)
Read PaperWe are always looking for talented and motivated researchers to join our team.
We have open positions for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research technicians interested in neural circuits and social behavior.
Meet Our Team & Open Positions
Sanger Hall, Room 9-060
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23298