Welcome to the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Stony Brook University.

The Department of Neurobiology currently has 18 faculty with substantial research strengths in neural development, circuit function, computation, cellular communication through receptors, channels and synapses and neurological and psychiatric diseases. Total research grant funding for the primary faculty of $6.8 million dollars was received in FY 2008. Under the direction of Dr. Lorna Role, who arrived as Chair in April 2008, the department looks forward to continued growth, expansion and innovation. » more

Welcome to…

New Faculty Maya Shelly

New Faculty Giancarlo La Camera

Sr. Postdoctoral Associate Lucinda Davies (La Camera Lab)

Postdoctoral Associate Yury Garkun (Maffei Lab)

Postdoctoral Associate Ahmad Jezzini (Fontanini lab)

New Neuroscience grad students » more

Congratulations to...

Simon Halegoua, Research, New Painkiller with No Apparent Side Effects or
Addictive Qualities Near to Market » more

Alfredo Fontanini, upon receiving the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
» more

Gary Matthews, for his major review in Nature Neuroscience » more

Mary Kritzer, on being chosen Top Reviewer in 2009 for exceptional contribution to the quality of Hormones and Behavior scientific journal

Alfredo Fontanini, who was awarded the Ajinomoto Award for Young Investigators in Gustation. » more

Lorne Mendell. An international symposium was held honoring the scientific contributions Professor Lorne Mendell, Chair of the Department from 1988 to 2006 » more

Alfredo Fontanini, upon receiving a Klingenstein Fellowship Award

The Department
Chairperson, Dr. Lorna Role (PhD, Harvard). Dr. Role holds numerous grants and awards and comes to us from Columbia University.  Her research focuses on central cholinergic systems that have been implicated in disorders of memory, mood and motivation, and her work has implications for studies of schizophrenia, depression and Alzheimer's dementia. Dr. Role was recently awarded the NIH director's Pioneer Award (more). Find out about the research interests and backgrounds of all Neurobiology & Behavior faculty here.

Lab Spotlight...
The Laboratory of Chemosensory Systems and Behavior (PI: Alfredo Fontanini) focuses on understanding how neural networks and systems process gustatory and olfactory stimuli.

Tasting a food is a psychologically engaging experience. Tastes and flavors evoke a perceptual phenomenology that goes beyond the pure sensory dimension. A bite of our favorite recipe is capable of evoking a multitude of chemical-physical sensations, memories, desires and emotions, all unfolding over time. This multidimensional experience is not fixed and immutable, but it is highly dependent on the context and on the psychological and physiological state of the subject. We all know that a dish tastes better, for instance, if we are in a good mood, if it reminds us of a past pleasant occasion and if it is nicely presented.

Our Laboratory’s research focuses on studying in rodents: 1) how the multiple cortical and subcortical brain areas interact to process both the physical and the psychological dimensions of a gustatory experience; 2) how the psychological state of the perceiver influences spontaneous activity of the brain and the coding of chemosensory stimuli.

Our research relies on a combination of behavioral, psychophysical and electrophysiological methods to monitor networks of neurons interacting in response to sensory stimulation in behaving animals. Collaborations with researchers studying sensory perception in humans as well as unique interactions with professionals in the food and wine industry make our laboratory a unique environment for understanding taste, olfaction and flavor.