Current Research

Synaptic plasticity is thought to play an important role in learning and memory across a variety of brain regions, including auditory circuit. The malfunction of plasticity and signal processing may lead to pathological state of hearing, such as tinnitus and hearing loss. My current research primarily investigates the intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms of learning and memory in the auditory system, and the pathophysiology of hearing disorders, using electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches.

Selected Recent Publications

Amyloid Beta Peptides Block New Synapse Assembly by Nogo Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of T-Type Calcium Channels
Neuron    Oct 11, 2017
Zhao Y, Sivaji S, Chiang MC, Ali H, Zukowski M, Ali S, Kennedy B, Sklyar A, Cheng A, Guo Z, Reed AK, Ravindra R, Borowski J, Frost G, Beukema P, Wills ZP

Muscarinic receptor activation enables persistent firing in pyramidal neurons from superficial layers of dorsal perirhinal cortex
Hippocampus    June 22, 2012
Navaroli VL, Zhao Y, Boguszewski P and Brown TH

Physiological activation of muscarinic AChRs control associative synaptic plasticity via modulation of endocannabinoid signaling
Journal of Neuroscience    Mar 2, 2011
Zhao Y and Tzounopoulos T

Mechanisms Underlying Input-Specific Expression of Endocannabinoid-Mediated Synaptic Plasticity in the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus
Hearing Research    Sep 1, 2011
Zhao Y, Rubio ME and Tzounopoulos T

Combined LTP and LTD of modulatory inputs controls neuronal processing of primary sensory inputs
Journal of Neuroscience    Jul 20, 2011
Doiron B, Zhao Y (co-first author), Tzounopoulos T