Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · BiologySocial Decision-Making Lab
Ebru Demir · Carbondale, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Ebru Demir's lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale investigates how animals make decisions between social interactions and satisfying basic needs, like hydration. The research focuses on understanding the brain circuits involved in these decision processes, particularly how they operate in a naturalistic setting with mice. By using advanced techniques, the lab aims to uncover the neural mechanisms that influence social behavior, which can help address issues related to mental health, such as autism and addiction.
social decision-makingneural circuitsforaging behavioroptogeneticspsychological reinforcement
Research Aims
4AIM 01Quantify decision rules that influence social hydration trade-offs.
AIM 02Map the neural computations involved in social decision-making.
AIM 03Investigate how environmental factors affect social interactions.
AIM 04Establish a framework linking ecological theory and neural mechanisms of behavior.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRanimal behavior observationoptogeneticsdata modelingneuroanatomyethological analysisbehavioral assaysmicroscopystatistical analysis
Output against the department
Publications69bottom 19% of dept.838th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.5kbottom 18% of dept.850th 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.