Northwestern University · BiologyThe Temperature Perception Lab
Marco Gallio · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Marco Gallio's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how temperature is sensed and processed in the brain using fruit flies (Drosophila). They investigate the neural circuits and mechanisms that determine how flies differentiate between hot, cold, and noxious temperatures, and how these perceptions influence behavior. By studying these processes, the lab aims to uncover fundamental principles of sensory processing that may apply to more complex organisms, including humans.
Drosophilatemperature sensingneural circuitsbehavioral responsessensory processing
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the neural circuits responsible for temperature detection in Drosophila.
AIM 02Analyze how temperature information is processed in the fly brain.
AIM 03Explore the association between thermal cues and behavioral responses.
AIM 04Uncover conserved principles of sensory processing across species.
Skills the Lab Values
electrophysiologygenetic manipulationbehavioral assaystwo-photon microscopydata analysis with Python
Output against the department
Publications29bottom 3% of dept.997th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.1kbottom 15% of dept.880th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.