Richard Axel

A new neural code for position: generalizable spatial maps in mouse medial frontal cortex

The paper identifies a novel neural code in the mouse medial frontal cortex that supports spatial generalization through extrapolation of coordinates across regions.

Generation of a transgenic cephalopod

This paper reports the generation of stable transgenic dwarf cuttlefish expressing fluorescent proteins using CRISPR and transposons, enabling live imaging of cell dynamics during embryonic development.

Representations of the intrinsic value of information in mouse orbitofrontal cortex

The paper shows mice seek information for its intrinsic value, with distinct neural representations in the orbitofrontal cortex for information and reward.

Experience-dependent reorganization of inhibitory neuron synaptic connectivity

The paper shows that experience reorganizes inhibitory neuron connectivity in the mouse olfactory cortex, increasing network response dimensionality and discriminability of familiar stimuli.

Phased nanopore assembly with Shasta and modular graph phasing with GFAse

The paper introduces methods for haplotype-resolved de novo assembly using Shasta and GFAse, showing improved assembly quality with newer Oxford Nanopore reads.

Flygenvectors: The spatial and temporal structure of neural activity across the fly brain

The paper uses SCAPE microscopy to analyze neural activity in Drosophila brains during different behaviors, revealing both behavior-related and residual high-dimensional activity patterns.

A brain atlas of the camouflaging dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis

The paper creates a brain atlas of the dwarf cuttlefish using MRI, deep learning, and histology, identifying 32 brain regions and providing an interactive web tool for data access.

A rapid and bidirectional reporter of neural activity reveals neural correlates of social behaviors in Drosophila

This paper develops a bidirectional neural activity reporter in Drosophila and uses it to study social behaviors, showing fruitless is required for male arousal neuron activation by female cues.

Individual bitter-sensing neurons in Drosophila exhibit both ON and OFF responses that influence synaptic plasticity

The paper examines temporal dynamics of bitter taste responses in Drosophila, showing that bitter-sensing neurons exhibit both ON and OFF responses influencing synaptic plasticity and aversive learning.

Evolving the Olfactory System with Machine Learning

This study shows that artificial neural networks trained on olfactory tasks develop structural and functional features similar to fly and mouse olfactory systems.

Representational drift in primary olfactory cortex

This study shows that odor representations in the mouse piriform cortex drift over time, reducing classifier performance, and that continuous odor exposure slows but does not eliminate this drift.

Decisions in an Innate Behavioral Sequence

The paper characterizes the structure of egg-laying behavior in Drosophila, showing that sensory feedback from internal neurons governs transitions between behavioral actions.

The Imposition of Value on Odor: Transient and Persistent Representations of Odor Value in Prefrontal Cortex

This study shows how odor representations shift from piriform cortex to prefrontal cortex, with transient and persistent value-based representations emerging after learning.

Olfactory Landmarks and Path Integration Converge to Form a Cognitive Spatial Map

The paper shows how mice use olfactory landmarks and path integration to form a cognitive spatial map in the hippocampus, improving navigation and place cell representation.

Acetic acid activates distinct taste pathways in Drosophila to elicit opposing, state-dependent feeding responses

This study shows that acetic acid elicits opposing feeding responses in Drosophila depending on hunger state, mediated by distinct taste pathways.

Context-dependent decision making in a premotor circuit

The paper investigates how context influences olfactory decision-making by examining the role of the premotor area ALM in a delayed match-to-sample task.

A naturalistic assay for measuring behavioral responses to aversive stimuli at millisecond timescale

The paper introduces a Virtual Burrow Assay to measure mice's millisecond-scale behavioral responses to aversive stimuli without training.