The Yu Lab investigates the complex connections between neurons that link sensation to behavior. In particular, the lab studies the mouse olfactory system, which detects odors, and the related vomeronasal system, which detects pheromones. Uncovering the neuronal mechanisms can advance scientific understanding of the development of the nervous system and neurological diseases.

The Yu Lab established a mouse line using genetic tools to detect calcium signals in the nervous system. This development allowed researchers to record signals for hundreds of cells simultaneously. Using this technique, Yu reported how vastly different sets of neurons respond to male or female pheromones. The lab discovered a brief “critical period” in the mouse olfactory system to fix neuronal wiring problems — a window that lasts until about a week after mice are born. They have also identified two classes of pheromone receptors crucial for the mating process in mice.

The team is investigating how developmental and aging processes affect the sense of smell, as the inability to smell is often the earliest sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Additional research focuses on physiological and theoretical studies of how neuronal information is processed by the brain.