The laboratory of Professor Min ZHUO is conducting cutting-edge research on the cellular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the central nervous system, mainly in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Their primary focus is on understanding how changes in synaptic transmission can impact ACC function, and they are particularly interested in investigating the functional implications of these changes.

To achieve this goal, the lab employs a diverse range of approaches, including genetic, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and behavioral techniques. They use these techniques to investigate long-term plastic changes in synaptic transmission and to explore the role of these changes in information storage within the ACC.

At the single neuron level, the lab uses whole-cell patch clamp recordings to study synaptic responses. This technique allows them to examine the activity of individual neurons and to gain insights into how synaptic transmission is affected by different stimuli and conditions. At the systems level, the lab studies neuronal plasticity in emotional learning, persistent pain, and drug addiction using neuronal evoked responses in intact or freely moving animals. This enables them to investigate how changes in synaptic transmission impact brain function at a larger scale. They also discovered that AC1 (adenylyl cyclase 1) is an important enzyme to maintain long-term potentiation in ACC. Finally, at the behavioral level, the lab combines pharmacological and genetic approaches in mice to study the molecular mechanisms of emotional fear memory and pain. Overall, the lab's research advances our understanding in how complex mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity relate to chronic pain and anxiety, which paves the way for developing interventions for these disorders.