Robert LiuProfessor

Education

• B.S., Stanford Physics, 1991
• Ph.D., Stanford Applied Physics, 1998
• Postdoc, UCSF Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology

Research Area

• Neuroscience

Graduate Program Affiliation

• Emory/Georgia Tech BioEngineering
• Neuroscience

Research Description

Our Computational Neuroethology Laboratory is interested in understanding how behaviorally-relevant sensory signals are encoded by cortical neurons, and what factors (e.g. experience, hormones) might lead to plastic changes in that code. We investigate this in the mouse, where ultrasonic communication between animals provides a natural behavioral context for these studies, and transgenic methods offer future possibilities for mechanistic dissection of coding mechanisms.

Our experimental approaches include electrophysiology in awake mice, hormonal manipulations, immunohistochemistry, and behavioral analysis. We also employ computational methods to analyze the information-processing capabilities of neurons.

Research Lab Description

Winship Distinguished Research Professor (2014-2017) We study how neurons in the brain are activated by communication sounds. We are particularly interested in the changes that occur when individuals learn the behavioral significance of these sounds.

Publications