Dr. Samuel Wang

Biography

Samuel S. Wang is a Professor and the Director of the Neuroscience M.D./Ph.D. Program at Princeton Neuroscience Institute. His research focuses on information processing and learning in mammalian brains, particularly how the cerebellum contributes to sensorimotor processing and the effects of postnatal development on autism spectrum disorder. Wang's laboratory investigates both defined tasks that explore neural coding principles underlying sensorimotor learning and free behavior to track movement and social interactions. His work employs advanced experimental methods such as multiphoton imaging, genetically encodable calcium sensors, and viral tracers to map brainwide activity and study learning mechanisms at a molecular level. He is engaged in significant research on the neural mechanisms responsible for specific behaviors in autism and examines how disruptions in cerebellar development may lead to autism-like characteristics. Wang's contributions include using computational modeling and machine vision to analyze large data sets generated in his experiments. His past research has highlighted the fundamental principles of synaptic learning rules and the evolutionary relationship between brain architecture and behavioral complexity.

Research Interests

Experience