University of California-Riverside · BiologyYang Neurophysiology Lab
Hongdian Yang · Riverside, California
Research Focus
Dr. Hongdian Yang's lab at the University of California Riverside studies how the brain allows us to adapt our behaviors based on our goals. By examining specific brain regions, the lab aims to uncover how different parts of the brain communicate to manage flexible decision-making in tasks that require tactile discrimination. This research is essential for understanding cognitive functions and may provide insights into neurological disorders.
neurophysiologycognitive functiontactile discriminationbrain regionsneurological disorders
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how neural signals interact in brain regions involved in flexible behavior.
AIM 02Test hypotheses about the contributions of the locus coeruleus and orbitofrontal cortex.
AIM 03Analyze how tactile discrimination is influenced by different brain circuits.
AIM 04Understand the role of these circuits in anxiety-related disorders.
AIM 05Explore implications for cognitive functions in aging and neurological diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
cellular-resolution neurophysiological recordingspathway-specific perturbationsbehavioral task designanimal handlingdata analysis using Python
Output against the department
Publications127bottom 45% of dept.562nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.6ktop 49% of dept.502nd of 1,033
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.