The Devineni Lab at Emory University
We study how the brain integrates information from our internal and external worlds.
An animal’s survival depends on interpreting cues from the outside world and selecting an appropriate behavioral response, such as hiding when a predator’s scent is detected. Moreover, behavioral flexibility is crucial for survival. For example, a hungry animal may prioritize finding food over staying hidden. A fundamental challenge in neuroscience is to understand how the brain integrates internal and external cues to generate flexible behavior.
Fruit fly feeding (by S. Acharya, Wikimedia Commons)
We address these questions in the fruit fly taste system.
The taste system is a great model to study how the brain integrates different signals to generate flexible behavior. We use our sense of taste to determine what to eat, and our responses to food are profoundly gated by internal signals such as hunger, experience, and reward.
Different subsets of neurons stained in a fly brain.
The fruit fly Drosophila offers a wiring diagram of the brain and genetic tools to study neural circuits at single-cell resolution. We combine a broad range of approaches, from molecular and cellular studies to optogenetics, functional imaging, connectomics, behavior, and computational analysis and modeling.
Our goal is to achieve a mechanistic understanding of how neural circuits integrate and transform information, and how these mechanisms are dysregulated in models of disordered behavior.
The lab is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We acknowledge that academia suffers from a lack of diversity and that individuals from certain groups face systemic barriers to their success. We strive to:
use inclusive hiring and recruiting practices
create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their position
engage in discussions about bias and privilege
advocate for change in our larger community
Header image: Responses of fly taste neurons to different types of bitter taste, recorded with calcium imaging (from Devineni et al., 2021)