Li Lab

Li Lab

Li Lab develops multi-photon imaging methods and applies them to neuroscience.



Shasha Yang
Postdoc associate
Research interest: Thalamocortical inputs regulate the development of inhibitory circuitry in the mPFC
Email: sy458@drexel.edu

经历简介：
Education:
2013-2015 Master student Capital Normal University Advisor: Ping Yu
2015-2017 Visiting student Drexel University Advisor: Wen-Jun Gao
2017-present Ph.D. student Drexel University Advisor: Wen-Jun Gao
2020-present Visiting student Fudan University Advisor: Yousheng Shu
Work experience:
2021.08 Postdoc Fudan University Advisor: Bo Li

Journals:

  1. Wen-Jun Gao *, Sha-Sha Yang, Nancy R. Mack, Linda A. Chamberlin (invited Expert Review): Aberrant connectivity and maturation of prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia – contribution of NMDA receptor development and hypofunction. Molecular Psychiatry (in revision).
  2. Sha-Sha Yang, Nancy R. Mack, and Wen-Jun Gao*. (2021) Prefrontal GABAergic interneurons gate long-range afferents and regulate prefrontal cortex dependent complex behaviors. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience (Invited topic review, in preparation)
  3. Bo Xing, Nancy R. Mack, Kai-Ming Guo, Yu-Xiang Zhang, Billy Ramirez, Sha-Sha Yang, Li Lin, Dong V. Wang, Yan-Chun Li, Wen-Jun Gao*. (2020) A subpopulation of prefrontal cortical neurons is required for social memory. Biological Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.08.023
  4. Erin P. McEachern1, Austin A.Coley1, Sha-Sha Yang, Wen-Jun Gao* (2020) PSD-95 deficiency alters GABAergic inhibition in the prefrontal cortex. Neuropharmacology. Volume 179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108277
  5. Yan-Chun Li, Priyalakshmi Panikker, Bo Xing, Sha-Sha Yang, Cassandra Alexandropoulos, Erin P. McEachern, Rita Akumuo, Elise Zhao, Yelena Gulchina, Mikhail V. Pletnikov, Nikhil M. Urs, Marc G. Caron, Felice Elefant, Wen-Jun Gao (2019) Deletion of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in D2 Receptor–Positive Neurons Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment via NMDA Receptor–Dependent Synaptic Plasticity. Biological Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.10.025 *Commentary: Michael F. Jackson. Epigenetic Mechanism Links NMDA Receptor Hypofunction and Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia to D2 Receptors. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.01.024
  6. Sha-Sha Yang, Yan-Chun Li, Austin A. Coley, Linda A. Chamberlin, Ping Yu* and Wen-Jun Gao*(2018) Cell-Type Specific Development of the Hyperpolarization-Activated Current, Ih, in Prefrontal Cortical Neurons. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience. Volume 10, article 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00007
  7. Dan-Dan Hong, Wen-Qiang Huang, Ai-Ai Ji, Sha-Sha Yang, Hui Xu, Ke-Yi Sun, Aihua Cao, Wen-Jun Gao, Ning Zhou, Ping Yu (2018) Neurons in rat orbitofrontal cortex and medial prefrontal cortex exhibit distinct responses in reward and strategy-update in a risk-based decision-making task. Metabolic Brain Disease. https://doi: 10.1007/s11011-018-0360-x
  8. Yan-Chun Li, Sha-Sha Yang, Wen-Jun Gao* (2016) Disruption of Akt signaling decreases dopamine sensitivity in modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in rat prefrontal cortex. Neuropharmacology 108: 403-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.05.002
  9. Wen-Qiang Huang, Sha-Sha Yang, Ping Yu* (2016) Neural mechanisms of risky decision-making based on rodent research (review). Advances in psychological science 24(11): 1767-1779. https://doi:10.3724/SP.J.1042.2016.01767
  10. Meng-Lin (Merry) Li, Sha-Sha Yang, Bo Xing, Brielle Ferguson, Yelena Gulchina, Yan-chun Li, Feng Li, Xi-Quan Hu, Wen-Jun Gao* (2015) LY395756, an mGluR2 agonist and mGluR3 antagonist, enhances NMDA receptor expression and function in the normal adult rat prefrontal cortex, but fails to improve working memory and reverse MK801-induced working memory impairment. Experimental Neurology 273:190-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.08.019


Conference Presentations:

  1. Sha-Sha Yang*, Wen-Jun Gao. Thalamocortical inputs regulate the development of inhibitory circuitry in the mPFC. DUCOM Discovery Day. Oct 8, 2020 (online).
  2. Sha-Sha Yang* and Wen-Jun Gao. Mediodorsal thalamic inputs modulate local circuitry development in the prefrontal cortex through somatostatin interneurons. DUCOM Discovery Day. Nov 7, 2019.
  3. Sha-Sha Yang* and Wen-Jun Gao. Cell type specific innervation of prefrontal cortical interneurons from the mediodorsal thalamus. Gordon Research Seminar & Gordon Research Conference. Newry, ME. Jul 14-20, 2018.
  4. Sha-Sha Yang* and Wen-Jun Gao. Cell type specific input from mediodorsal thalamus to prefrontal cortical interneurons. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA. Nov 3-7, 2018.
  5. Austin A. Coley*, Sha-Sha Yang, Bo Xing, Wen-Jun Gao. PSD-95 deficiency alters afferent-specific projections in the mPFC. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA. Nov 3-7, 2018.
  6. Cassandra Alexandropoulos*, Sha-Sha Yang, Nancy Mack, Wen-Jun Gao, and Yan-Chun Li. The role of Igsf9b in the prefrontal cortical function. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA. Nov 3-7, 2018.
  7. Sha-Sha Yang*1, 2, Yan-Chun Li1, Ping Yu2, and Wen-Jun Gao1. Postnatal Development of Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Ih in Pyramidal Neurons versus PV-interneurons in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex. DUCOM Discovery Day. Oct 20, 2016.
  8. Sha-Sha Yang*1, 2, Yan-Chun Li1, Ping Yu2, and Wen-Jun Gao1. Postnatal Development of Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Ih in Pyramidal Neurons versus PV-interneurons in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex. Society for Neuroscience., San Diego. Nov 12-17, 2016.
  9. Sha-Sha Yang*, Yan-Chun Li, and Wen-Jun Gao. Postnatal Development of the Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Ih in Mouse Prefrontal Cortical Pyramidal Neurons. DUCOM Discovery Day. Oct 8, 2015.