Yatang Li

About half of the human brain is involved in processing visual information. Visual processing starts at the retina, where vast amounts of information enter the eyes (~1 billion bits/sec) and are processed by retinal circuits. The retina sends the information mainly to two principal visual centers: the superior colliculus (SC) – an evolutionarily conserved structure, and the visual cortex – a newly emergent structure in mammals. Visual processing not only creates a coherent perception of what we see but also extracts a tiny amount of specific knowledge to guide our behavior (~20 bits/sec). To reveal the neural mechanisms and computational principles underlying such processing, my laboratory uses an integrative approach including whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, two-photon and widefield imaging, functional perturbation with optogenetics or chemogeneitcs, neural modeling, and quantitative analysis of behavior.

Our interests are 1) population coding of the visual information and its underlying neural circuits; 2) neural mechanisms underlying visual attention; 3) neural circuits for visually evoked decision-making behavior; 4) biologically inspired computer vision. We expect that our research will uncover principles in neuroscience, shed light on the treatment of visual deficits, and inspire the next generation of artificial intelligence.

2019– 2024   NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)

2015 – 2018   Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship

2013   Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad

2013   Academic Professional Development Award

2011   Zach Hall Travel Award

* equal contribution

# corresponding author

1. Li YT^#, Turan Z, and Meister M^# (2020) Functional architecture of motion direction in the mouse superior colliculus. Current Biology: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.023

2. Li YT, Fang Q, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2018) Spatial Asymmetry and Short-Term Suppression Underlie Direction Selectivity of Synaptic Excitation in the Mouse Visual Cortex. Cerebral Cortex 28: 2059–2070.

3. Ibrahim LA, Mesik L, Ji XY, Fang Q, Li HF, Li YT, Zingg B, Zhang LI^#, and Tao HW^# (2016) Cross-modality sharpening of visual cortical processing through layer-1-mediated inhibition and disinhibition. Neuron 89: 1031–1045.

4. Li YT, Liu BH, Chou XL, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2015) Synaptic Basis for Differential Orientation Selectivity between Complex and Simple Cells in Mouse Visual Cortex. J Neurosci 35: 11081–11093.

5. Li YT, Liu BH, Chou XL, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2015) Strengthening of Direction Selectivity by Broadly Tuned and Spatiotemporally Slightly Offset Inhibition in Mouse Visual Cortex. Cerebral Cortex 25: 2466–2477.

6. Zhou M, Li YT, Yuan W, Tao HW, and Zhang LI^# (2014) Synaptic mechanisms for generating temporal diversity of auditory representation in the dorsal cochlear nucleus. J Neurophysiol 113: 1358–1368.

7. Li LY, Ji XY, Liang F, Li YT, Xiao Z, Tao HW^#, and Zhang LI^# (2014) A feedforward inhibitory circuit mediates lateral refinement of sensory representation in upper layer 2/3 of mouse primary auditory cortex. J Neurosci 34: 13670–13683.

8. Tao HW^#, Li YT, and Zhang LI^# (2014) Formation of excitation-inhibition balance: inhibition listens and changes its tune. Trends Neurosci 37:528–530.

9. Li YT, Ibrahim LA, Liu BH, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2013) Linear Transformation of Thalamocortical input by Intracortical Excitation. Nat Neurosci 16: 1324–1330. (Featured with a preview in Nat Neurosci)

10. Li L.Y., Li YT, Zhou Mu, Tao HW, and Zhang LI^# (2013) Intracortical Multiplication of Thalamocortical Signals in Mouse Auditory Cortex. Nat Neurosci 16: 1179–1181. (Featured with a preview in Nat Neurosci)

11. Ma WP^*, Li YT^*, and Tao HW^# (2013) Down-regulation of Cortical Inhibition Mediates Ocular Dominance Plasticity During the Critical Period. J Neurosci 33: 11276–11280.

12. Li YT, Ma W.P., Li LY, Ibrahim LA, Wang SZ, and Tao HW^# (2012) Broadening of Inhibitory Tuning Underlies Contrast-Dependent Sharpening of Orientation Selectivity in Mouse Visual Cortex. J Neurosci 32:16466–16477.

13. Li YT, Ma WP, Pan CJ, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2012) Broadening of Cortical Inhibition Mediates Developmental Sharpening of Orientation Selectivity. J Neurosci 32:3981–3991.

14. Liu BH^*, Li YT^*, Ma WP, Pan CJ, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2011) Broad inhibition sharpens orientation selectivity by expanding input dynamic range in mouse simple cells. Neuron 71:542–554.

15. Ma WP^*, Liu BH^*, Li YT, Huang ZJ, Zhang LI, and Tao HW^# (2010) Visual representations by cortical somatostatin inhibitory neurons--selective but with weak and delayed responses. J Neurosci 30: 14371–14379.

16. Liu BH, Li P.Y., Sun YJ, Li YT, Zhang LI^#, and Tao HW^# (2010) Intervening inhibition underlies simple-cell receptive field structure in visual cortex. Nature Neuroscience 13: 89–96.

17. Liu BH, Li PY, Li YT, Sun YJ, Yanagawa Y., Obata K, Zhang LI^#, and Tao HW^# (2009) Visual receptive field structure of cortical inhibitory neurons revealed by two-photon imaging guided recording. J Neurosci 29: 10520–10532.

18. Li YT, Qiu JH, Yang Z, Johns EJ, and Zhang T^# (2008) Long-range correlation of renal sympathetic nerve activity in both conscious and anesthetized rats. J Neurosci Methods 172: 131–136.