Xu Lab

We are interested in understanding some of the fundamental questions in neuroscience and physiology: How are sensory inputs perceived by the nervous system, how do neural circuits and synapses process sensory information to generate behavioral output, and how do genes and drugs of abuse regulate these processes?  We also investigate how sensory cues and genes modulate aging and longevity.  To address these questions, we use the genetic model organism C. elegans because of its simple and well characterized nervous system.  We take a multidisciplinary approach combining functional imaging, molecular genetics, behavioral analysis, and electrophysiology.