Seminar: Understanding brain circuits and their modulation using connectomic and novel in vivo imaging approaches

Tianyi Mao's laboratory is interested in elucidating the structure-function relationship of brain circuitry underlying sensory-motor integration and understanding how these circuits are changed and modulated by disease, brain state and behavioral context. They use cutting-edge technology including modern anatomy, computation, genetics, imaging and functional circuit mapping in the mouse model to examine the principles governing neuronal connectivity and their regulation. In parallel, they also develop and implement novel imaging tools and computational algorithms for monitoring and manipulation of these circuits. 

In this talk, Mao will first focus on establishing comprehensive connectomic maps at the mesoscopic scales between the mouse cortex, thalamus and striatum. Connections across these brain structures are essential for motor control, affective pain sensation, decision making and reward. Structural principles governing the neuronal connectivity will be discussed. The second part of the talk will address how to utilize such comprehensive structural connectomic maps together with novel in vivo imaging modality to study neuromodulation of these circuits by dopamine, norepinephrine, adenosine and opioids.