University of Pennsylvania · NeuroscienceStriatal Circuitry Research Lab
Marc V Fuccillo · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Marc V Fuccillo's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how specific types of neurons in the brain's striatum contribute to controlling behaviors and decisions. By studying interactions between different neuron types and neurotransmitters, the lab seeks to uncover the biological basis of goal-directed behaviors, which can be disrupted in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Their research combines advanced techniques such as optogenetics and calcium imaging to investigate both molecular mechanisms and circuit functions in real-time.
neural circuitsstriatumgoal-directed behaviorneuropsychiatric diseasesinterneurons
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of striatal interneurons in motor control and decision-making.
AIM 02Examine how mutations in Neurexin1 affect neuromodulatory signaling in the brain.
AIM 03Explore the differential roles of specific interneuron subtypes in processing value-based choices.
AIM 04Utilize behavioral tasks combined with neural recording methods to study decision-making processes.
AIM 05Assess the impact of altered dopamine and acetylcholine signals on behavior in mice.
Skills the Lab Values
optogeneticscalcium imagingin vitro electrophysiologybehavioral modelingviral genetic techniques
Output against the department
Publications77bottom 22% of dept.523rd of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.6kbottom 34% of dept.444th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.