Neural Engineering and Translation Labs aim to advance the understanding of neuro-cognitive circuits across the lifespan. We apply neural engineering methods in both animal models and human research to stimulate brain plasticity in target circuits and change behavior.

Team

Directors
Dr. Jyoti Mishra
Dr. Jyoti Mishra    pdf mail
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Focus: Neurotechnology studies in humans to advance diagnostics and therapeutics for mental health disorders.

Dr. Dhakshin Ramanathan
Dr. Dhakshin Ramanathan    pdf mail
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Focus: Neural engineering studies in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Faculty
Dr. Miranda Francoeur

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Dr. Miranda Francoeur     mail
Assistant Professor
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Jonathan Mishler

Engineered Neuroplasticity

Dr. Jonathan Mishler     mail
Dr. Satish Jaiswal

Human Neuro-Cognition

Dr. Satish Jaiswal     mail
Dr. Morteza Salimi

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Dr. Morteza Salimi     mail
Research Associates
Alyssa Terry

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Alyssa Terry     mail
Suzie Purpura

Human Neuro-Cognition

Suzie Purpura     mail
Simran Saha

Human Neuro-Cognition

Simran Saha     mail
Reyana Menon

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Reyana Menon     mail
Sahar Jomehpour

Human Neuro-Cognition

Sahar Jomehpour     mail
Graduate Students
Jason Nan

Neural Engineering

Jason Nan     mail
Shanze Syed

Neural Engineering

Shanze Syed     mail
Undergraduate Students
Reno Guo

Human Neuro-Cognition

Reno Guo     mail
Jon Claros

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Jon Claros     mail
Yilin Wang

Human Neuro-Cognition

Yilin Wang     mail
Victoria Krasnyanskiy

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Victoria Krasnyanskiy     mail
Seth Dizon

Human Neuro-Cognition

Seth Dizon     mail
Katelyn Rode

Animal Neuro-Cognition

Katelyn Rode     mail
Ansh Sarda

Human Neuro-Cognition

Ansh Sarda     mail
Affiliates
Alankar Misra

Mobile Applications

Alankar Misra    github  mail
Alejandro Ojeda

Neural Engineering

Alejandro Ojeda    github  mail
Houtan Afshar

Psychiatry

Houtan Afshar     mail
Pragathi Balasubramani

Computational Psychiatry

Pragathi Balasubramani    github  mail
 

Research

Our research has four major goals:

  1. To better understand typical functioning of neural circuits underlying cognitive behaviors.

    For our human studies, we have developed an integrated software-hardware platform, the Brain Engagement platform (BrainE for short) that deploys rapid, mobile cognitive assessments with wireless electroencephalography (EEG). Using BrainE, we are studying neural circuits in humans in the lab, in clinics as well as local and international community settings.

    Our animal studies have implemented a complementary BrainER platform to study neuro-cognition in rodents using single unit and local-field potential (LFP) recordings coupled with rodent behavior. These studies aim to understand micro-circuit contributions to the neural dynamics underlying cognition.

  2. To better understand how neural circuits underlying cognitive behaviors are impacted in neuropsychiatric disorders.

    Our human studies are focused on unraveling mechanistic, functional neural markers in individuals across the lifespan suffering from depression and anxiety and related cognitive challenges.

    Our animal studies are currently examining rodent models of traumatic brain Injury and schizophrenia to understand how genetic and/or environmental perturbations result in specific cognitive impairments.

  3. To develop and advance closed-loop technologies for targeted treatment of neural circuit dysfunctions.

    We are engineering and testing targeted and personalized circuit manipulation approaches, which integrate cognitive training, brain stimulation, neurofeedback as well as mindfulness, compassion and lifestyle based interventions.

    We utilize long-term digital monitoring along with machine learning methods to develop treatment personalization strategies.

  4. To study the relationships between neuro-cognition, mental health and pressing societal issues.

    In our human research, we are embedding our digital mental health technologies within communities, as well as leveraging open-source databases, to better understand how neural, cognitive and mental health factors interact with diverse environmental challenges, and how we can promote psychosocial wellbeing & resilience in a changing climate. See related curriculum.

research

Technologies

BrainE logo
BrainE - Our Brain Engagement platform to assess & train neural and cognitive functions across the human lifespan. Contact us for research access. Read our privacy policy.
 
WellMind - Our personalized mood monitoring and intervention tech. Read more.
 
BrainER logo
BrainER - Our Brain Engagement platform for Rodents to assess & train neural and cognitive functions in animals. Contact us for research access.
 
Simulink Brain Signal Interface logo
SimBSI - Our Simulink Brain Signal Interface for executing closed loop neuroscience experiments. Access here.
 
DSI - Our Distributed Source Imaging Toolbox for electromagnetic signals. Access here.
 

Book

The Little Brain book
 

Contact us to purchase a signed copy of the 5-star rated Little Brain or purchase online. All book proceeds contribute to our brain health research.


Participate

We are recruiting for the following clinical trials for Depression:

Mindfulness Engaged Brain Stimulation | Meditative Neurofeedback
 
Please email to participate.

 

At NEATLabs, we believe

Science is real

SCIENCE
is real

Love is love

LOVE
is love

Black lives matter

BLACK LIVES
matter

Feminism is for everyone

FEMINISM
is for everyone

Circuits are cool

CIRCUITS
are cool

Immigrants are welcome

IMMIGRANTS
are welcome

 

We take this racial justice, inclusion and diversity pledge.

 

Publications

2024

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

 

News

Check out our NEATLabs Weekly


2024
  • KPBS radio interview with Jyoti on the impacts of extreme heat and climate change on our health.
  • Nature covers our climate change and mental health research and education initiatives.
  • The Guardian covers our 'fire brain' research.
  • NEATLabs awarded NIMH award for the Mindfulness Engaged Neurostimulation for Depression (MEND) project.
  • Listen to Jyoti on the Mind & Life podcast on how mindfulness relates to climate trauma.
  • Jyoti joins the Healer's Voices podcast to discuss ecotherapy.
  • UC San Diego news stories cover our work on climate change and mental health: feature 1 | feature 2.
  • We are featured in this UCSD Campus Gardens video on sustainability and belonging.
  • University of California spreads news about our Climate Resilience course.
  • Congratulations to our postdoc Jonathan Mishler for being selected for the CESAMH VA Fellowship in Data Science.
  • Jyoti had the recent honor to present UCSD Psychiatry Grand Rounds, watch here!

 
 

Positions

Postdoctoral Fellows

We are always looking for talented postdoctoral fellows interested in our integrated research foci. Please contact NEATLabs directors with your cover letter, CV and academic transcript.