Jae-eun Kang Miller

Research Interest

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Cognitive/Systems Neuroscience, Synapses and Circuits, Brain Imaging, Neural Degeneration and Repair, Aging and neurodegeneration, Neurobiology of Disease, Systems and Circuits

Research Summary

Our laboratory investigates what goes wrong in neurodegenerative disease at the level where it matters most—neural circuits engaged during cognitive behavior. We combine state-of-the-art optical technologies with sophisticated behavioral paradigms in mouse models to uncover how brain activity is altered and how it can be restored.

A major focus of our group is Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia. Although memory loss in Alzheimer’s likely arises from circuit-level dysfunction, the precise nature of these disruptions remains unclear. Our goal is to answer a fundamental question: How does Alzheimer’s disease alter neuronal circuit dynamics during learning and memory? To address this, we image neuronal ensembles in entorhinal–hippocampal circuits during spatial navigation and memory tasks using two-photon calcium imaging and miniature microscopes in freely moving animals. We also pair two-photon imaging with optogenetics to test causal links between defined neuronal ensembles and learning and memory performance.

In parallel, our lab investigates how aging and Alzheimer’s disease disrupt sleep and circadian circuits—vulnerabilities that are increasingly recognized as both early indicators and potential drivers of cognitive decline.

Across all projects, our mission is to translate circuit-level discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies that restore healthy brain function.

We are looking for motivated PhD students who are excited to work at the intersection of systems neuroscience, neurotechnology, and disease biology. Trainees in the lab gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge imaging and optogenetic approaches, mouse behaviors, and multidisciplinary collaboration.   

  • PhD, Neuroscience, Washington University in St Louis
  • Postdoc, Labs of Erik Herzog and Timothy Holy, Washington University in St Louis
  • Postdoc, Lab of Rafael Yuste, Columbia University

Grace Paquelet, Postdoctoral Researcher

Seung Yeon Ko, Postdoctoral Researcher

Fabliha Hussain, Lab manager

Zaheen Hossain, Programmer

Maya Rodriguez, Undergraduate Researcher

Mary Salim, Undergraduate Researcher

Alex Zhang, Undergraduate Researcher

Amber Abud-Romero, Undergraduate Researcher

Nik Patel, Undergraduate Researcher

Miller Kang JE, Miller BR, O’Neil DA, Yuste R. (2022) An increase in spontaneous activity mediates visual habituation. Cell Reports. 39(4):110751.

Carrillo-Reid L, Yang W, Miller Kang JE, Peterka DS, Yuste R. (2017) Imaging and optically manipulating neuronal ensembles. Annu Rev Biophys. 46:271-293.

Karimipanah Y, Ma Z, Miller Kang JE, Yuste R, Wessel R. (2017) Neocortical activity is stimulus- and scale- invariant. PLoS One. 12(5):e0177396.

Yang W, Miller Kang JE, Carrillo-Reid L, Pnevnatikskis E, Paninski L, Yuste R, Peterka D. (2016) Simultaneous multi-plane imaging of neural circuits. Neuron. 89(2):269-84.

Carrillo-Reid L, Miller Kang JE, Hamm JP, Jackson J, Yuste R. (2015) Endogenous Sequential Cortical Activity Evoked by Visual Stimuli. J Neurosci. 35(23):8813-28.

Miller Kang JE, Ayzenshtat I, Carrillo-Reid L, Yuste R. (2014) Visual stimuli recruit intrinsically generated cortical ensembles. PNAS. 111(38):E4053-61.

Miller Kang JE, Granados-Fuentes D, Wang T, Marpegan L, Holy TE, Herzog ED. (2014) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide mediates circadian rhythms in mammalian olfactory bulb and olfaction. J Neurosci. 34(17):6040-6.

Kang JE, Lim MM, Bateman RJ, Lee JJ, Smyth LP, Cirrito JR, Fujiki N, Nishino S, Holtzman DM. (2009) Amyloid-beta dynamics are regulated by orexin and the sleep-wake cycle. Science.  326(5955):1005-7.

Cirrito JR, Kang JE, Lee JY, Stewart FR, Bu G, Mennerick S, Holtzman DM. (2008) Endocytosis is required for synaptic activity-dependent release of amyloid-beta in vivo. Neuron.  58(1):42-51.

Kang JE, Cirrito JR, Dong H, Csernansky JG, Holtzman DM. (2007) Acute stress increases interstitial fluid amyloid-beta via corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and neuronal activity. PNAS. 104(25):10673-8.