Baylor College of Medicine · NeuroscienceJi Lab
Daoyun Ji · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Daoyun Ji's lab at Baylor College of Medicine focuses on understanding how the brain enables observational learning, which is the process of learning by watching others. By studying the neural circuits involved, particularly the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms behind how we learn to navigate spaces and obtain rewards. This research has implications for understanding social learning and may provide insights into mental disorders where this type of learning is impaired.
observational learningneural circuitsspatial working memoryhippocampusanterior cingulate cortexreward processingbehavioral neuroscienceoptogeneticsanimal models
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how observational learning occurs in the brain.
AIM 02Characterize the neural circuits involved in reward-directed learning tasks.
AIM 03Analyze the interaction between the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex during observational learning.
AIM 04Identify how disruptions in neural activity affect learning and performance.
AIM 05Explore the implications of these findings for understanding psychiatric disorders.
Skills the Lab Values
high-density tetrode recordingoptogeneticselectrical stimulationanimal behavior testingdata analysis with MATLABneural circuit manipulationspatial navigation tasksreward learning assessmentsbehavioral performance evaluation
Output against the department
Publications64bottom 16% of dept.561st of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.8kbottom 28% of dept.484th 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.