Lab Leader: Weiqun Fang

Lab Name: Laboratory of Cognitive Regulation & Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Lab Info：Neuronal ensembles are recognized as basic functional building blocks of the brain.  The Fang laboratory investigates how ensembles’ structural and functional plasticity regulates cognition and behavior, mainly focusing on visual perception and visually-guided behaviors.  Our group explores ensemble-regulating mechanisms by various cell types, signaling pathways and critical periods in normal and diseased brains.   We then leverage the knowledge to guide precise interrogation on ensembles with all-optical approaches to reshape cognition and drive behavior.

Main directions:

1) Exploring ensembles’ structural and functional development and their cellular crosstalk mechanisms;

2) Investigating ensemble mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction and behavioral maladaptation arising from neurodevelopmental abnormality;

3) Developing new optical imaging and circuit manipulating approaches to reshape ensembles for regulating cognition and behaviors.

Key techniques:

In vivo two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetics, photochemistry (e.g. two-photon glutamate uncaging), in utero electroporation

Lab Members: