Our lab focuses on understanding how the brain processes information through neural coding and decoding, which are essential for studying both normal brain function and disorders like neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. We explore how neurons communicate across different brain regions and how glial cells interact with neurons, using advanced tools such as in vivo recordings, optogenetics, chemogenetics, machine learning, and signal processing techniques. A key part of our work involves developing new tools and methods, including innovative materials and computational algorithms, to analyze neural signals like spikes, local field potentials, EEG, and optical data. By combining basic research with practical applications, we aim to uncover new insights into brain function, improve treatments for brain disorders, and advance technologies for brain-machine interfaces, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of the brain and better outcomes for patients.

Selected publications

Lv Z, Chen L, Chen P, Peng H, Rong Y, Hong W, Zhou Q, Li N, Li B, Paolicelli RC, Zhan Y*. Clearance of β-amyloid and synapses by the optogenetic depolarization of microglia is complement selective. Neuron. 2024, 112: 740-754.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.003

Chen Z, Han Y, Ma Z, Wang X, Xu S, Tang Y, Vyssotski AL, Si B, Zhan Y*. A prefrontal-thalamic circuit encodes social information for social recognition. Nat Commun. 2024. 15: 1036. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45376-y.

Dou Y, Xia J, Fu M, Cai Y, Meng X*, Zhan Y*. Identification of epileptic networks with graph convolutional network incorporating oscillatory activities and evoked synaptic responses. NeuroImage. 2023: 284:120439. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120439

Xie J, Zhang J, Sun J, Ma Z, Qin L, Li G, Zhou H*, Zhan Y*. A Transformer-Based Approach Combining Deep Learning Network and Spatial-Temporal Information for Raw EEG Classification. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2022, 30:2126-2136. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2022.3194600

Wang S, Chen H, Zhan Y*. Novel Causal Relations between Neuronal Networks due to Synchronization. Cerebral Cortex. 2022, 32(2): 429-438. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhab219

Dong W, Chen H, Sit T, Han Y, Song F, Vyssotski AL, Gross CT, Si B*, Zhan Y*. Characterization of exploratory patterns and hippocampal–prefrontal network oscillations during the emergence of free exploration. Science Bulletin. 2021, 66: 2238-2250. DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2021.05.018

Guan H, Lv D, Zhong T, Dai Y, Xing L, Xue X*, Zhang Y*, Zhan Y*, Self-powered, wireless-control, neural-stimulating electronic skin for in vivo characterization of synaptic plasticity. Nano Energy. 2020, 67, 104182. DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104182

Zhan Y*. Theta frequency prefrontal hippocampal driving relationship during free exploration in mice, Neuroscience, 2015, 300:554 565. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.05.063

Zhan Y, Paolicelli RC, Gozzi, A, Pagani F, Gozzi A, Vyssotski A, Bifone A, Ragozzino D, and Gross C*. Deficient neuron-microglia signaling results in impaired functional brain connectivity and social behavior, Nature Neurosci. 2014,17(3): 400-406. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3641

Zhan Y, Halliday D, Jiang P, Liu X and Feng J*. Detecting time-dependent coherence between non-stationary electrophysiological signals-A combined statistical and time-frequency approach. J. Neurosci. Methods. 2006,156: 322-332. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2006.02.013