Home Department: Biology
Mentor: Xiaoke Chen (Biology)

“Studying Social Neuronal Pain Behavior Circuits in Mice”

The Chen lab is interested in the neural circuit underlying social pain behavior in rodents, which is analogous to empathetic behaviors observed in primates. For Emily’s project, they will focus on determining whether sensory input is necessary and sufficient to trigger this behavior and how this input correlates with other targets to mediate the social transfer of pain. To answer these questions, they will set up a social pain behavioral paradigm between two mice providing a stimulus and analyze their response. Emily will explore the neural circuit by silencing certain brain regions or neurons and observe any impact on the established response.