¶ Yiyao Zhang
I am a Post Doctoral Researcher in the laboratory of György Buzsáki at New York University School of Medicine.
¶ My research interest:
The modulation of neural networks plays a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of learning and memory functions, with potential implications for treating a spectrum of brain disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, and dementia. While previous in vitro research has offered valuable insights into the receptors and mechanisms through which neuromodulators influence individual neurons and circuits, their effects on neural networks in free-moving animals during various behavioral states, and their contribution to the development of brain disorders remain largely unexplored.
My research is dedicated to unraveling the intricate relationship between neuromodulators and memory function within the hippocampus, both in healthy conditions and under pathological circumstances. I focus primarily on two key neuromodulators, acetylcholine and oxytocin, employing state-of-the-art techniques such as large-scale electrodes including tetrodes, silicon probes, and neuropixel arrays. Additionally, I utilize fiber photometry to observe real time fluctuations in neuromodulator concentrations at the millisecond scale. This multidimensional approach enables me to uncover critical correlations between neuromodulator activity and the states of neural networks, such as excitation-inhibition balance and synaptic transmission. I also explore the causal relationships between neuromodulators and neural activity by using innovative methods like optogenetics, chemogenetics, and pharmacology.
The ultimate aim of my research is to shed light on the intricate connection between neuromodulators and the dynamic states of neural networks, with a particular focus on their potential role in the onset and progression of brain disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and dementia.
¶ Home page
Visit my personal webpage
¶ Google scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ge_FNtUAAAAJ&hl=en