Fan Lab
How does the brain support learning and memory?
Identify the learning rules and the synaptic basis of memory
Identify the learning rules and the synaptic basis of memory
Research
QUESTIONS
The ability of the brain to learn from and remember experiences lies at the heart of our existence and individuality. Disorders of memory represent a huge challenge to society. The goal of our lab is to decipher the neural codes underlying learning and memory and to identify the physical basis of learning and memory. Our main questions are:
1. What are the learning rules of brain circuits? For instance, what kinds of activity trigger the encoding and storage of information?
2. How are the learning rules implemented? For instance, where is the information stored?
3. Ultimately can we infer the memories from mapping the neural functional connectivity patterns?
APPROACHES
Addressing these questions requires understanding the language the brain uses to speak to itself, the little electrical impulses of neurons. We have worked on developing and applying high-precision all-optical technologies for simultaneously mapping and controlling membrane potential in specific neurons within the intact brain. We continue to develop and apply these cutting-edge technologies and integrate them with behavioral, molecular, and computational approaches to understand how the brain encodes, stores, and recalls information.
News
Awards (2024-07)
Congrats to Adrienne on receiving the Sculpted Light in the Brain travel award! Linlin received the Whitehall Foundation Research Grant and the Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neuroscience.
Welcome Kailong and Navid (2024-04)
Kailong Wen from the University of Chicago joins us as a new postdoc. Navid Ghazi from UCSD joins us as a new technical associate. Welcome both!
First graduate student (2024-04)
Adrienne officially joins the lab. Hooray!
New rotation student (2024-02)
Evan Ruesch from the BCS program signed on for a rotation. Welcome Evan!
New paper in Science (2024-01)
Our new paper on inhibitory synaptic plasticity just got accepted to Science. Congratulations! Great collaboration with Ivan Soltesz and Barna Dudok.
Welcome to Xiaoyi and Adrienne (2024-01)
Xiaoyi Wang from Imperial College London joins the team as our first postdoctoral scholar. Adrienne Kashay from the BCS program joins us for a rotation. Welcome both!
Lab launched (2024-01)
The lab launched on January 16, 2024.
Join us?
We are always looking for passionate people to join us.
We are committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
We are committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists.