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Jianhua Cang

Jianhua Cang

Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor, Biology

Primary Location
Gilmer #183
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Primary Phone Number

Bio & Overview

The overall goal of our research is to study the organization, function and development of the visual system. With an integrative approach that combines physiology, functional imaging, genetics, molecular, behavioral, and computational methods, our research is mainly along two directions. First, we made a paradigm-shifting discovery regarding how sensory experience shapes visual functions in the cortex during a critical period in early life. Second, we have carried out a series of functional studies of the mouse superior colliculus, helping to establish it as a new model for studying visual information processing and sensorimotor transformation. We are now continuing both lines of research in mice by performing mechanistic studies of critical period plasticity in the cortex and visual transformation and development in the superior colliculus.

Academic Information

Department
Biology
Academic Title
Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor

Primary Education

  • B.S., undefinedPeking (Beijing) Universitynull
  • Ph.D., undefinedUniversity of Virginianull
  • Postdoc, undefinedUniversity of California, San Diegonull
  • Postdoc, undefinedUniversity of California, San Francisconull

Other Appointments

  • Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor, Neuroscience

Other Affiliations

  • MSTP
  • BIMS

Research Interests

Mouse Visual System, physiology, functional imaging, genetics, molecular, behavioral, and computational methods

Research Disciplines

  • Neuroscience

Research Opportunities

  • Molecular and Systems Neuroscience

PhD Programs

  • Neuroscience

Selected Publications

2024

DePiero, V. J., Deng, Z., Chen, C., Savier, E. L., Chen, H., Wei, W., & Cang, J. (2024). Transformation of Motion Pattern Selectivity from Retina to Superior Colliculus.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 44(20), e1704232024. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1704-23.2024

Miller, D. A., Grannonico, M., Liu, M., Savier, E., McHaney, K., Erisir, A., . . . Zhang, H. F. (2024). Visible-Light Optical Coherence Tomography Fibergraphy of the Tree Shrew Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Bundles.. IEEE transactions on medical imaging, PP. doi:10.1109/tmi.2024.3380530

2023

Sun, C., Zheng, S., Perry, J. S. A., Norris, G. T., Cheng, M., Kong, F., . . . Hill, D. L. (2023). Maternal diet during early gestation influences postnatal taste activity-dependent pruning by microglia. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE, 220(12). doi:10.1084/jem.20212476

Fu, J., Tanabe, S., & Cang, J. (2023). Widespread and Multifaceted Binocular Integration in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 43(38), 6495-6507. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0925-23.2023

Liu, Y., Savier, E. L., DePiero, V. J., Chen, C., Schwalbe, D. C., Abraham-Fan, R. -J., . . . Cang, J. (2023). Mapping visual functions onto molecular cell types in the mouse superior colliculus. NEURON, 111(12). doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.036

2022

Tanabe, S., Fu, J., & Cang, J. (2022). Strong tuning for stereoscopic depth indicates orientation-specific recurrent circuitry in tree shrew V1. CURRENT BIOLOGY, 32(24), 5274-+. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.063

Skyberg, R., Tanabe, S., Chen, H., & Cang, J. (2022). Coarse-to-fine processing drives the efficient coding of natural scenes in mouse visual cortex. CELL REPORTS, 38(13). doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110606

Li, C., McHaney, K. M., Sederberg, P. B., & Cang, J. (2022). Tree Shrews as an Animal Model for Studying Perceptual Decision-Making Reveal a Critical Role of Stimulus-Independent Processes in Guiding Behavior. ENEURO, 9(6). doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0419-22.2022

2021

Basso, M. A., Bickford, M. E., & Cang, J. (2021). Unraveling circuits of visual perception and cognition through the superior colliculus. NEURON, 109(6), 918-937. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.01.013

Tohmi, M., Tanabe, S., & Cang, J. (2021). Motion Streak Neurons in the Mouse Visual Cortex. CELL REPORTS, 34(2). doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108617

2020

Chen, H., Savier, E. L., DePiero, V. J., & Cang, J. (2021). Lack of Evidence for Stereotypical Direction Columns in the Mouse Superior Colliculus. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 41(3), 461-473. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1155-20.2020

2019

Savier, E. L., Chen, H., & Cang, J. (2019). Effects of Locomotion on Visual Responses in the Mouse Superior Colliculus. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 39(47), 9360-9368. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1854-19.2019

Xu, X., Cang, J., & Riecke, H. (2019). Development and Binocular Matching of Orientation Selectivity in Visual Cortex: A Computational Model. doi:10.1101/682211

2018

Barchini, J., Shi, X., Chen, H., & Cang, J. (2018). Bidirectional encoding of motion contrast in the mouse superior colliculus. ELIFE, 7. doi:10.7554/eLife.35261

Cang, J., Savier, E., Barchini, J., & Liu, X. (2018). Visual Function, Organization, and Development of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. ANNUAL REVIEW OF VISION SCIENCE, VOL 4, 4, 239-262. doi:10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034142

Shi, X., Jin, Y., & Cang, J. (2018). Transformation of Feature Selectivity From Membrane Potential to Spikes in the Mouse Superior Colliculus.. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 12, 163. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00163

2017

Ahmad, T., Bouwman, R. A., Grigoras, I., Aldecoa, C., Hofer, C., Hoeft, A., . . . Wildes, T. (2017). In-hospital clinical outcomes after upper gastrointestinal surgery: Data from an international observational study. EJSO, 43(12), 2324-2332. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2017.08.002

Levine, J. N., Chen, H., Gu, Y., & Cang, J. (2017). Environmental Enrichment Rescues Binocular Matching of Orientation Preference in the Mouse Visual Cortex. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 37(24), 5822-5833. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3534-16.2017

Shi, X., Barchini, J., Ledesma, H. A., Koren, D., Jin, Y., Liu, X., . . . Cang, J. (2017). Retinal origin of direction selectivity in the superior colliculus. NATURE NEUROSCIENCE, 20(4), 550-+. doi:10.1038/nn.4498

2016

Gu, Y., & Cang, J. (2016). Binocular matching of thalamocortical and intracortical circuits in the mouse visual cortex. ELIFE, 5. doi:10.7554/eLife.22032

2015

Wang, L., Liu, M., Segraves, M. A., & Cang, J. (2015). Visual Experience Is Required for the Development of Eye Movement Maps in the Mouse Superior Colliculus. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 35(35), 12281-12286. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0117-15.2015

Krishnan, K., Wang, B. -S., Lu, J., Wang, L., Maffei, A., Cang, J., & Huang, Z. J. (2015). MeCP2 regulates the timing of critical period plasticity that shapes functional connectivity in primary visual cortex.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(34), E4782-E4791. doi:10.1073/pnas.1506499112

Inayat, S., Barchini, J., Chen, H., Feng, L., Liu, X., & Cang, J. (2015). Neurons in the Most Superficial Lamina of the Mouse Superior Colliculus Are Highly Selective for Stimulus Direction. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 35(20), 7992-8003. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0173-15.2015

Levine, J. N., Gu, Y., & Cang, J. (2015). Seeing Anew through Interneuron Transplantation.. Neuron, 86(4), 858-860. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.05.003

Chen, H., Zhao, Y., Liu, M., Feng, L., Puyang, Z., Yi, J., . . . Liu, X. (2015). Progressive Degeneration of Retinal and Superior Collicular Functions in Mice With Sustained Ocular Hypertension. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 56(3), 1971-1984. doi:10.1167/iovs.14-15691

2014

Zhao, X., Liu, M., & Cang, J. (2014). Visual cortex modulates the magnitude but not the selectivity of looming-evoked responses in the superior colliculus of awake mice.. Neuron, 84(1), 202-213. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.037

Sarnaik, R., Chen, H., Liu, X., & Cang, J. (2014). Genetic disruption of the On visual pathway affects cortical orientation selectivity and contrast sensitivity in mice. JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 111(11), 2276-2286. doi:10.1152/jn.00558.2013

Chen, S., Yi, J., Inayat, S., Liu, W., Cang, J., & Zhang, H. F. (2014). Measuring absolute microvascular blood flow in cortex using visible-light optical coherence tomography.. Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference, 2014, 3881-3884. doi:10.1109/embc.2014.6944471

Liu, M., Wang, L., & Cang, J. (2014). Different roles of axon guidance cues and patterned spontaneous activity in establishing receptive fields in the mouse superior colliculus. FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS, 8. doi:10.3389/fncir.2014.00023

2013

Wang, B. -S., Feng, L., Liu, M., Liu, X., & Cang, J. (2013). Environmental Enrichment Rescues Binocular Matching of Orientation Preference in Mice that Have a Precocious Critical Period. NEURON, 80(1), 198-209. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.07.023

Zhao, X., Chen, H., Liu, X., & Cang, J. (2013). Orientation-selective Responses in the Mouse Lateral Geniculate Nucleus. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 33(31), 12751-+. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0095-13.2013

Cang, J., & Feldheim, D. A. (2013). Developmental mechanisms of topographic map formation and alignment.. Annual review of neuroscience, 36, 51-77. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-062012-170341

Feng, L., Zhao, Y., Yoshida, M., Chen, H., Yang, J. F., Kim, T. S., . . . Liu, X. (2013). Sustained Ocular Hypertension Induces Dendritic Degeneration of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells That Depends on Cell Type and Location. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 54(2), 1106-1117. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10791

Sarnaik, R., Wang, B. -S., & Cang, J. (2014). Experience-dependent and independent binocular correspondence of receptive field subregions in mouse visual cortex.. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 24(6), 1658-1670. doi:10.1093/cercor/bht027

Zhao, X., Liu, M., & Cang, J. (2013). Sublinear binocular integration preserves orientation selectivity in mouse visual cortex. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 4. doi:10.1038/ncomms3088

2012

Grimbert, F., & Cang, J. (2012). New model of retinocollicular mapping predicts the mechanisms of axonal competition and explains the role of reverse molecular signaling during development.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 32(28), 9755-9768. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.6180-11.2012

2011

Yoshida, M., Feng, L., Grimbert, F., Rangarajan, K. V., Buggele, W., Copenhagen, D. R., . . . Liu, X. (2011). Overexpression of Neurotrophin-3 Stimulates a Second Wave of Dopaminergic Amacrine Cell Genesis after Birth in the Mouse Retina. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 31(35), 12663-12673. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1100-11.2011

Rangarajan, K. V., Lawhn-Heath, C., Feng, L., Kim, T. S., Cang, J., & Liu, X. (2011). Detection of Visual Deficits in Aging DBA/2J Mice by Two Behavioral Assays. CURRENT EYE RESEARCH, 36(5), 481-491. doi:10.3109/02713683.2010.549600

2010

Wang, L., Sarnaik, R., Rangarajan, K., Liu, X., & Cang, J. (2010). Visual Receptive Field Properties of Neurons in the Superficial Superior Colliculus of the Mouse. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30(49), 16573-16584. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3305-10.2010

Cantrell, D. R., Cang, J., Troy, J. B., & Liu, X. (2010). Non-Centered Spike-Triggered Covariance Analysis Reveals Neurotrophin-3 as a Developmental Regulator of Receptive Field Properties of ON-OFF Retinal Ganglion Cells. PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY, 6(10). doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000967

Spruston, N., & Cang, J. (2010). Timing isn't everything.. Nature neuroscience, 13(3), 277-279. doi:10.1038/nn0310-277

Wang, B. -S., Sarnaik, R., & Cang, J. (2010). Critical period plasticity matches binocular orientation preference in the visual cortex.. Neuron, 65(2), 246-256. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2010.01.002

Failor, S., Nguyen, V., Darcy, D. P., Cang, J., Wendland, M. F., Stryker, M. P., & McQuillen, P. S. (2010). Neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia impairs plasticity in rat visual cortex.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 30(1), 81-92. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5656-08.2010