Sonoda Lab @UVA

We are a neuroscience lab trying to understand how our brains parse complex information in the enviornment to guide perception and action. The lab will open in Fall 2026!

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Research

How the Brain Transforms Sensory Signals into Perception and Behavior

Our brains are constantly flooded with sensory information, yet they are somehow able to transform these signals into a seamless experience of the external world without leaving us feeling overwhelmed. This process is something we often take for granted, but disruptions in sensory processing are a common feature of many neurological disorders, often manifesting as heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory stimuli.

The goal of our lab is to understand how the brain processes diverse signals from the environment to guide perception and behavior. We use the rodent visual system as a model because it provides powerful opportunities to link neural activity, circuit function, and behavior. While we are always open to curiosity-driven projects conceived by trainees, we our currently focused on three major themes:

Circuit Function

How do individual neurons and neural circuits encode specific features of the environment? How is this information transformed and communicated to downstream brain areas?

Circuit Function

How do individual neurons and neural circuits encode specific features of the environment? How is this information transformed and communicated to downstream brain areas?

Behavior

When we think about vision, we often think of conscious perception. However, light also shapes many behaviors and physiological functions, including sleep-wake rhythms and mood. We study how the brain uses visual signals to guide both perception and subconscious behavior.

Behavior

Plasticity

How do sensory circuits change with experience? We investigate how the brain adapts to changes in the sensory environment and how these changes shape neural coding and behavior.

Plasticity

How do sensory circuits change with experience? We investigate how the brain adapts to changes in the sensory environment and how these changes shape neural coding and behavior.

Contact

Get in touch

We are always recruiting motivated trainees at all levels. If you're interested, reach out directly to Takuma (dadf@virginia.edu)