Research Programs

The human brain contains 86 billion neurons with 100 trillion synapses between them, all packed within just one fifth of the volume of a soccer ball. The brain is thus a system of mind-boggling complexity, a giant neuronal circuit composed of a vast number of neuronal types and other supporting cells. To study the brain, just as the first step for learning how a machine works is to dissect how its components connect with each other, neuroscientists must first work out the wiring diagram of the neurons relevant to a percept or behaviour. Many recent neural technologies have been developed to permit the dissection of neural circuits at ever finer precision and accuracy. Indeed, a major goal of contemporary neuroscience is to understand neural functions by relating the structure, activities, and plasticity of neural circuits to specific percepts, motor behaviours, or cognitive phenomena. A solid understanding of how specific information is encoded by neural circuit activities is a prerequisite for the eventual development of robust neural-machine interfaces.

At the Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, multiple PIs are working on dissecting and understanding the neural circuits of different neural systems, how circuit abnormalities may be related to diseases, and how this knowledge may inform novel treatment strategies. Our research encompasses how spinal interneuronal circuits coordinate muscle activities in both animal models and individuals with different movement disorders, how cortical or subcortical circuits are altered in neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders, and how sounds are processed by the auditory circuits with applications toward developing next-generation cochlear implants.

Through strategic partnerships with other leading institutions and industry collaborators, we accelerate the translation of circuit-level discoveries into practical therapeutic solutions. Our mission centers on decoding neural circuit principles to address fundamental questions in neuroscience while developing effective interventions for neurological disorders.