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Stauffer Lab
{ REWARD ⋂ COGNITION }
The neural basis of thinking
We study how the primate brain reasons, values, and decides - from single neurons to behavior.
// FROM THE LAB
Striatal cell types - rostra-caudal series
Frontal cortex cell types
Monkey Knapsack task
// RESEARCH
What we work on
Neurophysiology of reasoning
How DLPFC neurons build a decision
Cell-type-specific molecular reagents
Enhancer-AAV tools for defined cell types
Cell-type-specific
MSN subtypes, incl. a novel RGS6+ population
// LATEST NEWS
Aug 2026 Lab at Armamentarium Consortium meeting
Jan 2026 Tao Hong successfully defends his dissertation
Nov 2025 New multimodal atlas of primate stratal MSN subtypes
Nov 2025 Lab at SfN Meeting, San Diego
ALL NEWS ->
// SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2025 Ambiguity aversion driven by pessimistic estimates
2025 A multimodal atlas of MSN subtypes & RGS6+ population
2025 ML identification of enhancers in rhesus genome
2024 Basal ganglia: circuit logic, matrix & striosome
ALL PUBLICATIONS ->
// LAB MOTTO
go deep || go home
"go deep, or go home" - the lab's long-standing motto.
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