Dr. Susan Landau's lab at UC Berkeley focuses on how lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and cognitive stimulation can help protect brain health and reduce the risk of conditions like Alzheimer's disease in older adults. They are conducting research within the POINTER study, which aims to see if a structured lifestyle intervention has measurable effects on brain health over two years. The lab uses advanced imaging techniques to explore how these interventions impact brain biomarkers associated with dementia.

Dr. Joni D Wallis's lab at UC Berkeley explores how specific brain areas, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex and caudate nucleus, influence decision-making processes. By investigating the dynamics between these regions during flexible and habitual behaviors, the lab aims to uncover how dysfunction in these circuits can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders like OCD and addiction. The research employs advanced techniques like closed-loop microstimulation to better understand the neuronal mechanisms behind learning and decision-making.

Dr. Daniel Feldman's research lab at UC Berkeley focuses on understanding how certain brain cells, called inhibitory interneurons, regulate their activity in response to sensory experiences and learning. The lab investigates how these changes may play a role in conditions like autism, particularly looking at molecular mechanisms and plasticity in different types of interneurons. By studying how these cells can adapt in the somatosensory cortex, the research aims to uncover new therapeutic targets for improving brain function in autism and similar disorders.

Dr. Allison G Harvey's lab focuses on understanding and improving sleep and circadian functioning in midlife and older adults, as well as in adolescents with evening chronotypes (night-owls). The lab investigates innovative treatments that enhance patient memory for sleep interventions to boost treatment adherence and outcomes. They also explore habit-based interventions to promote better sleep health behaviors among youth, particularly targeting those at risk for various health complications.

Dr. William J. Jagust's lab focuses on understanding how the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology are connected. The research investigates how changes in the BBB function can lead to cognitive decline and AD, aiming to clarify the sequence of events that trigger the disease. By combining advanced imaging techniques in humans with experiments in mouse models, the lab seeks to unravel the mechanisms linking BBB disruption with protein deposits related to AD.

Professor Ehud Isacoff's lab focuses on understanding how information is stored in the brain by manipulating synapses, the connections between neurons. They use advanced techniques like optogenetics and chemical optogenetics to control synaptic activity in real-time, allowing for precise studies of memory and learning in living animals. Their research aims to enhance how we analyze and interpret the roles of synapses in neural circuits.