Dr. Tomomi Karigo

Biography

Tomomi Karigo is an Assistant Professor in the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Her research focuses on the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the development of social behaviors during adolescence. This period is marked by significant physical and psychological changes driven by hormonal shifts that affect not only personal appearance but also brain wiring. The lab's investigations target how stressful environments encountered during puberty can influence the developing brain, potentially leading to long-term mental health disturbances. They seek to understand the neural circuitry that governs social behaviors, particularly as it matures during puberty and how stress impacts this development. Employing advanced techniques from systems neuroscience, Karigo's research includes in vivo neural activity recording from freely behaving animals, optogenetics, and automated behavior tracking in rodent models, with the overarching goal of enhancing the understanding of social behavioral development and advancing therapeutic approaches to treat psychiatric disorders associated with social behavior deficits.

Research Interests

Experience