Kenneth C. Catania Research Group

Vanderbilt University

How do mammalian sensory systems organize to support behavior in diverse sensory environments and survival? The lab uses studies of animal behavior to link sensory input to observed actions across mammal species. Researchers investigate peripheral sensory receptor structure and function to determine how receptors transduce environmental stimuli. The group examines the organization of the central nervous system, with an emphasis on neocortex, to map neural circuits underlying sensation. Information from these different approaches is integrated to obtain a broad view of how sensory receptors and nervous systems have evolved to meet ecological challenges.