In the brains of mammals, birds and invertebrates, the sensory world is organized into regular neuronal arrays or maps.  Common examples are the map of body surface in somatosensory cortex (the so called “homunculus”) and the representation of oriented bars or edges in visual cortex. We are interested in understanding how genes (‘nature’) and the environment (‘nurture’) interact to guide the development of neuronal maps. Our research focuses on development of the visual and somatosensory systems. We employ a broad range of experimental techniques, including neuroanatomy, molecular biology and biochemistry, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology as well as optical imaging. This array of approaches allows us to examine neural circuit development from many perspectives, and provides synergistic impetus to our exploration of the cellular and molecular mechanisms for sensory map development.

My research is concerned with understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that control neural circuit formation. Currently, I'm interested in describing the cooperative and competitive interactions that impact structural and physiological plasticity in developing neuronal networks. Further insight into the dynamics of circuit connectivity that shape functional networks will advance our understanding of how pathophysiological activities are generated in developmental disorders.

I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural and functional development of topographic maps. My current work focuses on studying the tissue specific role of calcium/calmodulin stimulated AC1 in retinocollicular map formation by using multiple anatomical techniques and various genetically modified mice. I have also been focusing on developing in vivo electroporation protocols to label and genetically modify retinal ganglion cells postnatally. This will allow us to analyze the function of AC1 and other molecules during various stages of map development.

I'm interested in the role of neural activity during development of the visual system. In mammals, prior to eye opening, waves of spontaneous activity sweep over the retina. These retinal waves are thought to support the formation of retinotopic maps in the target brain areas. Using a combination of electrophysiological and computational tools, I examine visual map development in a novel line of transgenic mice that have modified retinal waves. Insights from this study will advance our understanding on how spontaneous activity in the developing nervous system, together with genetic/molecular mechanisms, guide the formation of neural maps, a key organizational principle in the brain.

[PubMed] [CV]

My research interest is to study the mechanisms of brain development, synapse formation and experience-dependent neuronal plasticity. To reveal the mechanisms of brain development could not only enable us to cure neuronal developmental disorders but also pave our way to understanding the mechanisms of learning and memory. I am very interested in combining molecular biology, imaging and electrophysiology methods to study how brain cells are generated and how neuronal circuitry is constructed. Questions about what genes are involved in brain development, the interactive talk between genes (proteins) and experience modified by neuronal activity should be of great interest to explore.

I am interested in the synaptic mechanisms of topographic map formation and refinement, specifically those that are activity-dependent. I am studying the mouse retinocollicular synapse to examine these questions, as retinal ganglion cells form a precise retinotopic map onto the superior colliculus. I am interested in understanding how patterned neural activity early in development can be "read-out" by retinocollicular synapses in order to both prune and strengthen inputs during the formation of a precise retinotopic map. First, my project involves testing whether synapse maturation depends on correlated activity. Furthermore, I am interested in characterizing the learning rule for retinocollicular synaptic plasticity to test whether correlated activity can drive the appropriate changes necessary for synaptic strengthening and weakening. The ultimate goal is to test whether there is indeed a mechanistic link between patterned activity, synaptic plasticity, and the emergence of precise neural circuits.