Personal Biography:
Born in 1989. I graduated from Fudan University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in information and computing science. After university, I joined the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences to study the neural mechanisms of learning working memory tasks in mice and received a Ph.D. degree in 2018. Subsequently, joined RIKEN(Japan), to investigate the inference of emotional memory by previous experiences in rats. After completing postdoctoral training in 2026, I joined the School of Life Sciences at Southern University of Science and Technology. My research focuses on the functional changes of cortical neurons during cognitive learning and explores the underlying principles and mechanisms, aiming to provide insights and inspiration for brain-inspired computing and the development of novel artificial intelligence in the future.
Research Interests：
I am interested in the dynamic functionalization mechanism of cortical neurons during learning. Using calcium imaging to track and record changes in the activity properties of the same neuron across different learning stages, combined with retrograde adeno-associated virus (AAV) labeling of neuronal projection patterns, and using optogenetics to establish a causal link between neuronal activity and behavior, my study ultimately explores the principles and mechanisms by which the cerebral cortex dynamically recruits neurons and allocates new functions during the acquisition of novel behaviors.
Professional Experience：
2019-2026 RIKEN (Japan), Center for Brain Science, Postdoc researcher
Educational Background：
2007-2011 Fudan University, bachelor’s degree
2011-2018 The University of Chinese Academy of Science, PhD degree
Honors & Awards：
2026 RIKEN (Japan), Center for brain science, Ohbu Award
Selected Publication：
1. Gu X, Joshua J, Prefrontal encoding of an internal model for emotional inference, Nature, 2025
2. Guan S*, Wang J*, Gu X*, Zhao Y, Hou R, Fan H, Zou L, Gao L, Du M, Li C, Fang Y, Elastocapillary Self-Assembled Neurotassels for Stable Neural Activity Recordings, Science Advance, (2019)
3. Liu D*, Gu X*, Zhu J*, Zhang X, Han Z, Tan W, Cheng Q, Hao J, Fan H, Hou R, Chen Z, Chen Y, Li C. Medial prefrontal activity during delay period contributes to learning of a working memory task. Science (2014) 346(6208) 458-463
*: co-first author.
