
Zengcai Guo
Email:zengcai.guo@gmail.com
Research Area:
The long term goal of our research is to understand how high level cognitive functions such as perception, working memory and decision-making are implemented by neural circuits in the mammalian brain. To do so, we will integrate optogenetics, multi-electrode recordings, 2-photon optical imaging and behavioral measurements to probe neural circuits underlying perceptual decision making behaviors.
We are particularly interested in the following questions:
1. What are the brain areas involved in perceptual decision making?
2. When are these areas involved during perceptual decision making behaviors?
3. What is the neural circuitry in each brain area?
Selected Publications::
1. N Li, T Chen, ZV Guo, C Gerfen, K Svoboda. A motor cortex circuit for motor planning and movement. Nature, in press.
2. ZV Guo, SA Hires, N Li, DH, O’Connor, T Komiyama, E. Ophir, D Huber, C Bonardi, K Morandell, D Gutnisky, S Peron, N Xu, J Cox, K Svoboda. Procedures for behavioral experiments in head-fixed mice. Plos one. 2014, 9(2): e88678.
3. ZV Guo, N Li, D Huber, E Ophir, D Gutnisky, JT Ting, G Feng and K Svoboda. Flow of cortical activity underlying a tactile decision in mice. Neuron. 2014, 81, 179-94.
4. DH O’Connor, SA Hires, ZV Guo, N Li, J Yu, Q Sun, D Huber and K Svoboda. Neural coding during active somatosensation revealed using illusory touch. Nature Neuroscience. 2013, 16, 958-965.
5. Z Wei, ZV Guo, L Dudte, H Liang and L Mahadevan. Geometric mechanics of periodic pleated origami. Physical Review Letters. 2013, 110, 215501-5.
6. K Askin, C Shen, ZV Guo and S Ramanathan. Controlling interneuron activity in Caenorhabditis elegans to evoke chemotactic behavior. Nature. 2012, 490, 273–277.
7. ZV Guo, AC Hart and S Ramanathan. Optical interrogation of neural circuits in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature Methods. 2009, 6, 891-896.
8. ZV Guo and L Mahadevan. Limbless undulatory propulsion on land. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2008, 105(9), 3179-3184.