Exploring the universal neural mechanisms underlying attention and behavior across diverse organisms
Our neuroscience lab investigates how similar behaviors emerge across diverse animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) despite their macroscopically different nervous systems.
We study how similar neurons and neurotransmitters in species like insects, crustaceans, and higher vertebrates may lead to similar behavioral responses through different or shared neural circuits. Our research also examines whether a “master circuit” for specific behaviors exists, and how evolution and environmental factors shape these circuits, allowing complex species greater behavioral flexibility.
Ultimately, our work aims to uncover the evolutionary mechanisms that shape neural pathways for essential behaviors throughout the animal kingdom.
