Dragoi Lab

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About Our Lab

Despite major advances in understanding the properties of single cells and molecule-level processes, how the cerebral cortex operates at the circuit level continues to remain mysterious. For the past several decades, neuroscientists have observed remarkable regularity in the neural architecture: cortical areas communicate through feedforward, lateral, and feedback connections. Clearly, understanding the functional principles of cortical communication is key to understanding how the entire cortex operates.

 

Research Objectives

My laboratory has embarked on a quest to understand the principles behind the network encoding of sensory information and executive control in cerebral cortex. Our long-range goal is to understand the mechanisms underlying state and experience-dependent changes in the function of cortical populations and how the coordination of distributed networks of neurons influences behavior.

 

Our Approach

To accomplish these goals, we combine electrophysiological (multi-electrode recording in restrained and freely moving non-human primates), optogenetic and electrical stimulation, behavioral approaches, and computational methods. Our basic strategy is to help develop new tools for modulating and recording population activity across cortical circuits in restrained and unrestrained animals and then apply these techniques to examine the neural computations and coding principles across cortical circuits.

 


 

Research

 

State and experience-dependent changes in cortical networks underlying behavioral decisions

 

One of our long-standing interests is to understand the relationship between the activity of populations of cortical cells and behavioral decisions. Our working hypothesis is that the accuracy of sensory representation and intracortical communication determines the accuracy of behavioral responses.

 

Optogenetic manipulation of cortical circuits

 

Viral tools for gene delivery have allowed new optogenetic methods to target cells based on cell localization and connectivity. Physiological dissection of targeted circuits, primarily by depolarizing or hyperpolarizing rhodopsins, has been extremely successful in the mouse brain, but remain of limited use in non-human primate (NHP) and human brain. We have just started a series of projects to test the function of cortical circuits by manipulating their responses and then examine the impact on perceptual decision making.

 

Real-time network interactions underlying complex behavior in freely moving animals

 

It has become increasingly understood that studying the brain in a restrained laboratory rig poses severe limits on our capacity to understand the function of brain circuits. To overcome these limitations, we have constructed a wireless system that allows us to study cortical dynamics at the population level while nonhuman primates are moving freely in their natural environment. Phenomena that were difficult or impossible to observe in an experimental rig, such as foraging, sleep, or social behavior are now possible to study.

 


 

Contact Information

Valentin Dragoi 
Laboratory Head 
email: vd19@rice.edu
tel: 713-500-5710 


Rosemary and Daniel J. Harrison III Presidential Distinguished Chair in Neuroprosthetics
Houston Methodist Research Institute
6670 Bertner Avenue
Houston, TX 77030


Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rice University
6100 Main Street 
Houston, TX 77005


Professor of Neuroscience, 
Brain and Mind Research Institute
Weill Cornell Medical College
1300 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065 



Jobs
Position for Postdoctoral Fellow

A full-time postdoctoral fellow position in systems neuroscience is immediately available in Dr. Valentin Dragoi’s laboratory in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston. This position offers opportunities for combining multiple-electrode recordings in the visual and prefrontal cortices of non-human primates, optogenetics, behavioral, and computational approaches. The ideal candidate would have a strong background in systems and/or computational neuroscience as well as experience with neurophysiological recording techniques. 

Knowledge of Matlab, C++, and statistical modeling would be a plus. Completion of the PhD degree in neuroscience, psychology, engineering, physics, or related field is required before the start date. Our institution offers a first-class training and research environment in systems and computational neuroscience, and a highly collaborative environment with scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and University of Houston. 

To apply, please send a CV and brief statement of research interests to Mitchell Slapik and Ariana Andrei with the subject line "Post-doc Position."

 Position for Research Assistant
A full-time research assistant position in systems neuroscience is immediately available in Dr. Valentin Dragoi’s laboratory in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston. This position offers opportunities for combining multiple-electrode recordings in the visual and prefrontal cortices of non-human primates, optogenetics, behavioral, and computational approaches. The ideal candidate would have a strong background in systems and/or computational neuroscience as well as experience with neurophysiological recording techniques. 

Knowledge of Matlab, C++, and statistical modeling would be a plus. Completion of a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, psychology, engineering, physics, or related field is required before the start date. Our institution offers a first-class training and research environment in systems and computational neuroscience, and a highly collaborative environment with scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and University of Houston. 

To apply, please send a CV and brief statement of research interests to Mitchell Slapik and Ariana Andrei with the subject line "Research Assistant." 



Funding Sources


Selected Publications
For a full list of our publications, please visit our Google Scholar. 


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