News & Updates  

Neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin don't work in isolation, even if we often talk about them that way. How do these crucial brain chemicals work together to control behavior? We're proud to announce our latest publication , in which we reveal the circuit logic that allows serotonin to be a 'brake' to dopamine's 'accelerator'. We hope this paper will be a resource to many in the field!

For decades, scientists have observed that high brain levels of serotonin lead to low levels of aggression. But it's never been clear how serotonin does this. We're proud to share the lab's latest paper , demonstrating an intricate mechanism for how serotonin 'keeps the peace'.

We’re delighted to welcome Yitao to the STAAR Lab as our newest postdoctoral researcher, and to continue our lab tradition of lunch with a celebratory lunch at Tootsies! Yitao will be probing the neural mechanisms of frustration and how it shapes other natural behaviors, such as aggression and depression. We’re happy to have him join the team and look forward to supporting him on this exciting next chapter.

Please join us in congratulating Gavin and Matt on their recent publication in Nature ! Through innovative research, they uncover the circuit mechanisms behind why the striatum releases more dopamine for high-effort rewards to further our understanding of why hard work can feel especially rewarding. For a high-level overview, listen to Neir's discussion on Nature Podcast . And take a look at the incredible artwork from Impact Media Lab , which illustrates how adding acetylcho

We are incredibly proud to share that Ja Eun has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Wu Tsai Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholars Award ! This fellowship recognizes scholars who engage in cutting-edge research to further our understanding of the brain's resilience against aging and neurodegeneration . Ja Eun’s selection is a testament to her innovative approach and dedication to advancing our understanding of aggression in autism, and we are excited to see how t

Please join us in congratulating Hyoung-Ro for receiving a prestigious award from the William and Katharine Duhamel Addiction Medicine...

We’re pleased to announce that our lab has received funding from ARIA, an autism research initiative funded by the Sergei Brin Family...

We’re proud to share that Neir has been named a 2025 One Mind Rising Star Awardee! This prestigious honor recognizes his compelling...

We're devastated to say goodbye to Teema, who has been a stalwart of the STAAR Lab for the past 2 years. To send her off on her next...